r of the liberties
of the people and guardian of the light of civic idealism.

I believe in my people--in the sincerity of their hearts and the
sanity of their minds--in their ability to rule themselves and to
meet civic emergencies--in their ultimate triumph over the forces
of injustice, oppression, exploitation and iniquity.

I believe that good food, pure water, clean milk, abundant light
and fresh air, cheap transportation, equitable rents, decent
living conditions and protection from fire, from thieves and
cut-throats and from unscrupulous exploiters of human life and
happiness, are the birth-right of every citizen within my gates;
and that insofar as I fail to provide these things, even to the
least of my people, in just this degree is my fair name tarnished
and my mission unfulfilled.

I believe in planning for the future, for the centuries which are
to come and for the many thousands of men, women and children who
will reside within my gates and who will suffer in body, in mind
and in worldly goods unless proper provision is made for their
coming.

I believe in good government and in the ability of every city to
get good government; and I believe that among the greatest
hindrances to good government are obsolete laws--which create
injustice; out-grown customs--which are unsocial; and antiquated
methods--which increase the cost of government and destroy its
efficiency.

I believe that graft, favoritism, waste or inefficiency in the
conduct of my affairs is a crime against my fair name; and I
demand of my people that they wage unceasing war against these
municipal diseases, wherever they are found and whomsoever they
happen to touch.

I believe that those of my people who, by virtue of their
strength, cleverness or thrift, or by virtue of other
circumstances, are enabled to lead cleaner lives, perform more
agreeable work or think more beautiful thoughts than those less
fortunate, should make recompense to me, in public service, for
the advantages which I make it possible for them to enjoy.

I believe that my people should educate their children in the
belief that the service of their city is an honorable calling and
a civic duty, and that it offers just as many opportunities for
the display of skill, the exercise of judgment or the development
of initiative as do the counting houses and markets of the
commercial world.