534 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
with no sign of abandoning their efforts. The City Club of New York, the Municipal Leagues of Philadelphia and Milwaukee, the Civic Federation of Chicago, the Merchants' Association of San Francisco, the Reform League of Baltimore, the various civil-ser- vice-reform bodies, have done more than maintained an existence. They have increased in power, efficiency, and influence. Spas- modic efforts at reform have given way to regular and systematic endeavors. Of course, greater difficulty is of necessity encoun- tered in the maintenance of such organizations, because they can only appeal to the unselfish civic patriotism of the citizen ; while the "machines" and "rings" can and do appeal to the weaker side of ambitious, selfish, and designing men. That reform bodies can and do maintain their existence and extend their influence from year to year shows conclusively that civic spirit is growing in extent and wisdom.
In three states charter reform has occupied a prominent and conspicuous place during the past two years. California, Min- nesota, and Wisconsin easily occupy the first place in this matter. San Francisco's new charter went into effect January i, 1900, under the auspices of an administration that had been largely responsible for its adoption and was friendly to its proper enforcement. The results thus far have been satisfactory to the friends of municipal reform, including the Merchants' Associa- tion of the city, which, with Mayor Phelan, shares the responsi- bility and credit for its adoption and inauguration. Of course, there have not been wanting those who feel disappointed because the millennium is yet in the future and because there have been some mistakes made. These mistakes have been lessons for the wise administrator, and should not be permitted to obscure the predominating excellent features of the charter and of its admin- istration.
The experience of San Francisco has been such as to encour- age other California cities to take steps to secure newer and more modern charters. Under the constitution and the laws of the state a board of freeholders, fifteen in number, can be appointed charged with the duty of drafting a charter, submitting it first to the voters and then to the legislature. This system constitutes
