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Show j THE IDEAL OF CIVIC : 8ERVICE Formorly to hold ofllco In a city or town government, placed an Interrogation Interro-gation mark against your roputatlon. If. a man wua elected alderman of a city,' his character wus gono. It was no uso trying to reform municipal or stato politics. If you did happen-to elect honest men, thoy would bo graft, era boforo tholr torms was out At least, bo many people believed. In a groat many places thoro was and Is reason for this feeling. Hut pooplo are growing discontented with sloppy municipal government. Probably tho greatest difficulty ln the way of efficient local government In American cities lies ln the unwll-llngness unwll-llngness of business and professional profession-al men to accept public office. They say they do not want to fawn and cringe for the favor ot politicians, nor consort with Tom, Dick and Marry Mar-ry In their "hangouts and loafing places. This may sound well as an excuse whon your neighbors ask you to run for tho school board or the state legislature. leg-islature. But moro often tho real reason Is unwillingness to give up tlmo from private affairs. Yet what satisfaction Is there ln going through llfo and doing nothing for your homo town? Whnt nn In glorious old ago It Is, when a man sits down on his dollars, and has no record of service to his fellows! The oxporlenco of holding office, oven In a local government or In tho loworing branch ot a state legislature Is a valuable and rewarding one to any man, no matter how high one's position in life. If a man Is Independent Inde-pendent and honest he has acquired an honor that no money can buy. Ho has helpod build a nobler town and a nobler state. If only our best and brightest men could tool the call to this service. Inefficiency In-efficiency and crookedness would disappear. |