Early local progressives Another unit-transitioning topic …

“The Shame of the Cities” and “How the Other Half Lives” : Lincoln Steffens, writing for McClure’s magazine, captured “The Shame of the Cities,” criticizing Philadelphia, St. Louis, and a variety of other corrupt metropolitan areas: “St. Louis, the fourth city in size in the United States, is making two announcements to the world: one that it is the worst-governed city in the land; the other that it wishes all men to come there (for the World’s Fair) and see it. It isn’t our worst-governed city; Philadelphia is that. But St. Louis is worth examining while we have it inside out. … The corruption of St. Louis came from the top. The best citizens—the merchants and big financiers—used to rule the town, and they ruled it well. They set out to outstrip Chicago. The commercial and industrial war between these two cities was at one time a picturesque and dramatic spectacle such as is witnessed only in our country. Business men were not mere merchants and the politicians were not mere grafters; the two kinds of citizens got together and wielded the power of banks, railroads, factories, the prestige of the city, and the spirit of its citizens to gain business and population. And it was a close race. Chicago, having the start, always led, but St. Louis had pluck, intelligence, and tremendous energy. It pressed Chicago hard. It excelled in a sense of civic beauty and good government; and there are those who think yet it might have won. But a change occurred. Public spirit became private spirit, public enterprise became private greed.”

Jane Addams and Hull House: Born wealthy in Illinois, she was one of the first generation of “college women” … At the time few outlets were available for university-educated women—teaching? Volunteer work? Secretarial pools? Nursing? As she travelled in London she was strongly influenced by Toynbee Hall, England’s first “settlement house.” While she never would have children of her own, she served as a surrogate mother for thousands. Using her family resources to buy an old mansion from Charles Hull, she began to tend to the Greeks, Italians, Russians, Germans, and Poles in her neighborhood … Hilda Satt Polacheck provides one of the most famous accounts of life with Jane Addams and her group of progressive young women:

St. Louis’ Jane: Charlotte Rumbold She was a civic activist who agitated to make sure that the gains made by the World’s Fair activity wouldn’t fade and leave the city’s poor residents as they were. By crusading to have public baths built and to develop parks she helped to improve the quality of life for many. A city park is named in her honor: “Named in honor of Charlotte Rumbold, who was superintendent of public playgrounds and recreation in the Park Department from 1906 to 1915. She was active in developing municipal playgrounds, athletic and recreation facilities. During her administration 17 playgrounds were built. “