Editorial J^iote and Comment . 
Association Interests. 
One of the most difficult problems confronting large 
organizations, designed for mutual helpfulness and 
progress in certain lines of work, is that of providing 
scope and latitude at their regular meetings, for the 
consideration of such special departments as may be 
generally included in the membership of the associa- 
tion. For examples take the American Park and Out- 
door Art Association, recently merged with the Ameri- 
can League for Civic Improvement, into the “Ameri- 
can Civic Association,” and the “Society of American 
Florists and Ornamental Horticulturists.” In the for- 
mer there was a certain unrest among the members 
engaged as park superintendents, due to the lack of 
opportunity to take up the special details of park work ; 
and in the latter the gardener element in the member- 
ship felt that their interests had not found it possible 
to express themselves to their utmost to the uplifting 
of the particular branches of work involved. While 
specializing would seem to be the order of the day, 
yet with so vast a territory as our country covers, all 
national associations become more or less unwieldy ; 
or, in other words, they fail to meet the conditions 
best adapted to serve all parts on time, and minister 
'to the best interests of any section as occasion may- 
dictate. Since the summer meetings at St. Louis the 
American Association of Park Superintendents has 
been organized, and a Gardener's Association is rapidly 
being developed. About the best solution so far at- 
tempted is that of the architects, whose chapters exist 
wherever conditions demand, subservient in a meas- 
ure to the parent body, but our individual states are 
important enough and prosperous enough to sustain 
state associations which, affiliated with a national asso- 
ciation, might promise that the best interests of all 
should be maintained throughout the length and 
breadth of our land. 
^ 
Billboard Companies vs. Public Rights. 
The somewhat conflicting court decisions in- relation 
to the rules of park authorities providing for the limita- 
tion of billboard advertising in park districts, while 
discouraging, should serve as a slogan to inspire insist- 
ence on the part of the public that their rights must 
be respected. In connection with the case of the Bos- 
ton Metropolitan Park Commission, which was taken 
to the Supreme Court of the State, the Boston Tran- 
script recently made some very pertinent comments. 
It says the question is “really one of whether or not 
the people have the power to restrain encroachments 
upon their rights, and whether or not the public rights 
are above those of individuals.” Attorney-General Par- 
ker, of Massachusetts, has given an opinion that there 
is no legal reason why an offense to the eyes should 
have a different standing from an offense to the other 
organs, and that “any use of private propertv which 
materially interferes with the public comfort, except 
in those cases where the reasonable requirements of 
the owner afford him justification or excuse, is a nui- 
sance. . . . Since the public good justifies the 
spending of money to produce an aesthetic effect, the 
Court will not hold that a reasonable regulation to 
preserve the effect for which the public money was 
spent is beyond the power of the legislature.” From 
such an authority this would seem to be good law, and 
is also good common sense. It surely cannot be possible 
that the American people through their representatives 
in their legislative assemblies cannot enact laws to reg- 
ulate the offensive encroachments of commonplace busi- 
ness aggressiveness upon their higher rights. 
Vacant Lots Gardening. 
From time to time the question of improving vacant 
lots comes up for attention. A great deal has been 
done in various localities by improvement associations 
and public-spirited individuals towards remedying this 
blot on the plan of civic betterment, and from the fact 
that results have richly repaid effort in this direction, 
it is certain that the vacant lot offers a wide field for 
experimental reform. The success of the Philadelphia 
Vacant Lots Cultivation Association has amply justi- 
fied its organization. The scheme has grown from 
small beginnings, six years ago, and is now an impor- 
tant factor in the life of that city. It has been the 
means of giving employment to thousands of idle poor 
and has helped them along their hard road. There 
are comparatively few who cannot “tend garden,” and 
the healthfulness of the employment is a paying factor. 
During the 1903 season there was a total of 209 acres 
cultivated in Philadelphia and 86 in New Jersey. Some 
86 acres were also worked in co-operative farms. The 
details of the work of the Philadelphia Association are 
extremely interesting and afford a fund of sugges- 
tion for improving the vacant lots so numerous in our 
towns and cities. 
Municipal Art. 
A Municipal Art Society was recently organized in 
Cambridge, Mass., and it has already been called upon 
to advise upon the plans for the Cambridgeport Sav- 
ings Bank Building. Its officers and committeemen 
are well-known citizens and many of them experts in 
artistic matters. The society offers expert advice, free 
of charge, to individuals regarding the external aspect 
and design of new structures, both public and private, 
to encourage a more artistic and coherent treatment 
of the appearance of the streets. It also offers, as far 
as practicable, to co-operate with the city government 
for like purpose in all questions of civic betterment. 
By such influences, and through such channels, our 
public art should be vastlv improved. 
