facts, and the further and more important one that he had made a splendid record as a useful mayor, he was defeated by a young man who had the reputation of being a "first-rate mixer and a shrewd politician," who belonged to all of the secret and fraternal organizations in the city. Although the successful candidate was in no sense of the word a corrupt politician, or anything of that kind, he was ambitious, and his ultimate aim is said to be congress.

Mayor Landes was supported only by the City Club; he did not spend a single dollar during the campaign nor solicit a vote, but through the enforcement of the law had antagonized all the old gambling element. The entire wide-open town element were for his opponent, who also received the support of the liquor interest. It is the personal opinion of a local observer that the election of Judge Fisher will make no material difference in the conduct of the city's affairs, and that the support of the successful candidate by ex-gamblers and the saloon element will not influence him to do anything that will prove injurious to the welfare of the city, or to his own personal reputation.

Generally speaking, interest in municipal affairs in the whole South is developing very rapidly. The commission form of government idea is taking hold of city after city, especially in the southwestern section; and generally there is an evidence of a deeper interest on the part of the voters in municipal affairs and a keener desire on the part of officials to meet the increased demands upon them.

Tom Johnson's defeat in the Cleveland mayoralty campaign was one of the unexpected events of the last election. There has been no figure in municipal life about whom there has been a greater difference of opinion. Both in Cleveland and elsewhere men of unquestioned public spirit and high standards differ radically as to his sincerity. Along certain lines it seems to me there can be no reasonable question that he has done splendid work, especially along social and charitable lines. His eight years of service as mayor have been marked by an increasingly progressive and intelligent administration of the remedial agencies of the city government. There has been com

plaint, however, on the part of many, that he has permitted a condition of affairs tantamount to a wide-open city, and that he has been indifferent to far-reaching schemes of municipal improvement; although the physical condition of Cleveland at the present time would certainly seem to indicate that there had been a substantial improvement along these lines.

There is no doubt that one of the factors contributing to Mayor Johnson's defeat was his recent attitude on the street railway situation. After forcing the corporations to a point where they offered terms of settlement which a half-dozen years ago would have been considered, even by the most exacting, as beyond the reach of the city, he refused to accept the terms and insisted upon his own new ones, which were generally regarded on the whole as somewhat less advantageous than those offered by the companies. In saying this I am but reflecting the views of men who, until the last referendum campaign, which terminated on August 3 last, had supported Mayor Johnson in his street railway campaign, but who, in that campaign and since, have opposed him because of what they considered his unreasonable attitude.

Brand Whitlock for the third time was elected mayor of Toledo on an independent ticket, defeating both the Republican and Democratic candidates, his majority being 5,002. Mr. Whitlock was the successor to "Golden Rule" Jones, who had himself several times been elected on an independent ticket. Mayor Whitlock has made a good record, and has justified the confidence the people of Toledo have placed in him. He has attended strictly to his municipal business, and has not sought to build up a machine, nor to play politics. In this respect his attitude is in striking contrast to that of Mayor Johnson, who not only built up a strong and powerful organization, which he justified with considerable skill on the ground that it was necessary for the maintenance of the work in which he was interested, but who constantly played politics.

Chicago's Municipal Voters' League achieved what many regard as a most decisive victory in its campaign of last April -the fourteenth in which it had participated. Early in the year

the league took an aggressive attitude toward a most delicate and involved situation. With the improvement of the council the open, clear-cut issues, on which it was formerly quite easy to line up candidates in two distinct classes, have disappeared. The tests of aldermanic fidelity to the city's interests and capacity to serve them, are not so obvious and decisive as formerly. An alderman's committee work is a better test of his capacity; but the league courageously faced the situation, and election day saw the return of twenty-three candidates that it had indorsed, only nine of those to whom it was distinctly opposed being elected. The Survey pointed out that the total vote of fewer wards returning better aldermen were greater than the total vote of many more wards returning disreputable men. So disproportionate has the size of the wards become that the smaller wards with a decreasing population have come to have an undue representation in the city council.

The most notable outcome of the whole election was the choice of Professor Charles E. Merriam, of the University of Chicago, to the council. He was elected by the largest majority polled by any candidate.

Detroit is to reap the benefit of the state-wide liquor law passed by this year's legislature and known as the "Warner-Crampton Act." It provides that no licenses for opening additional saloons shall be granted where the ratio of saloons to population is as I to 500. Where, however, this ratio is exceeded, as it is in Detroit (the ratio is about I saloon to every 250 people), further relief is found in the provision which states that any person engaged in the liquor business who shall a second time be convicted of violating any of the provisions of the act, shall thereupon forfeit his license. Detroit's Municipal League continues an active factor in the intelligent consideration and presentation of municipal affairs. Grand Rapids is entering upon a new and helpful period of municipal development, in which the Municipal Affairs Committee of the Board of Trade is playing a conspicuous part. Another series of meetings designed to arouse interest has just been concluded, as well as a civic exhibit.

A federation of civic societies has been formed in Milwau

kee that bids fair to accomplish important work for that community. Among other things, it is devoting its attention to measures providing for home rule, nonpartisan election, and the elimination of the dollar from municipal campaigns. In the words of the president of the federation:

The great majority of our people are all right. If they have the power, better conditions will be almost certain. Control by the people over their own municipal affairs, and the election of city officers by a majority vote instead of by pluralities, would greatly benefit the city.

The most important single movement in the city has been one on behalf of the protection of the public schools and an attempt to enforce the law, which the administration dominated by the mayor has tried its utmost to render nugatory. The persistency with which the fight is being conducted is an evidence of the sterling character of the citizenship back of the

movement.

Throughout the West the interest in municipal affairs occupies a large share of public attention; and the number of improvements, both along administrative and physical lines, is increasing with rapidity. Here and there are signs of a temporary reaction, as in Kansas City; but on the whole the movement has been forward, and the results achieved during the past year satisfactory.

The cities of Wisconsin are on the whole very well managed, barring the city of Milwaukee, which seems still to be subject to the fascinations of a successful political leader, who has more interest in his personal advancement than in that of the city.

Des Moines, Iowa, has made very satisfactory progress under its new system, the five commissioners elected eighteen months ago having measurably fulfilled the expectations of them.

St. Louis has chosen a new mayor to succeed Rolla Wells, who for eight years gave the city on the whole a most satisfactory administration. His successor, although of an opposite party, is likely to continue the good work begun, and to improve upon it.

There has been a considerable improvement in the character of the city officials, not only in St. Louis but generally throughout the West: although here and there an unfortunate and notable exception, of which Kansas City may be cited as the most conspicu

ous. The present mayor of that western metropolis is proving to be a reactionary, and is sympathetic with some of the least desirable elements in the city. The Democrats of Kansas City and St. Louis, who for years have been supporters of the state appointment of police commissions, are now becoming advocates of municipal home rule because the governor of the state is no longer a member of their own party.

Kansas City has given some indication of its attitude toward the present mayor by defeating a series of bonds totaling $4,000,000 which had been vigorously advocated by the mayor. It had a chance to show the civic intelligence and independence in its vote on the proposal of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company for an extension of its franchises. Notwithstanding that these franchises have sixteen years to run, the company succeeded in passing through a complacent municipal legislature an extension of sixteen years to make the term thirty-two years in all from the present. The reasons given for this extension, which was passed with undue haste, and approved with equally undue haste by the mayor, but which fortunately must be submitted to the voters of the city, was that the company needs to be refinanced and can do this on better terms with a long-time franchise. The company's proposition was to retain 5 per cent. annually on the valuation of $33,000,000 (no doubt an exaggerated valuation); to give the city 50 per cent. of all over that return, giving the city representation on the board of directors; reducing the fares of school children under twelve to 22 cents; reserving the right of the city to reduce fares generally throughout the life of the franchise. The voters passed upon this proposition on December 18, defeating it by a decisive vote.

If anything, the Pacific Coast cities, with the exception of San Francisco, are more progressive than their sisters of the Mississippi Valley and the Rocky Mountain region. Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, and Los Angeles are contributing their full share to the solution of important municipal problems; and while they suffer from periods of recession, their general tendency is toward a more enlightened and effective administration of