Why Mr. Childs Makes Field Trip Political philosopher and civic doer,

Richard S. Childs is working at the National Municipal League ofhe prac- tically every day-except when he is out making speeches, as he was doing when the accompanying picture was taken.

Here Mr. Childs is surrounded by inembers of the League of Women Voters of Arlington County, Virginia, just before addressing that group’s In- stitute on Local Government. The picture probably illustrates, writes Mrs. George C. Vietheer, president of the organization, “Why Mr. Childs makes field trips.”

The development of Mr. Childs’ interest in public affairs is not recent. Rather freshly out of Yale, he, with Woodrow Wilson and others, originated the short ballot movement which has done much to simplify the voter’s task. A few years later he established himself in history by originating the council- manager form of government which, now in effect in more than 1,000 com- munities and counties, has done more to produce the kind of local govern- ment people want than any other single device.

For years Mr. ChiIds’ attention was divided between a successful business career and active leadership of civic organizations until he reached the mandatory retirement age as a top of- ficial of American Cyanimid, when he

joined the National Municipal League’s staff as an unpaid volunteer.

In addition to carrying a heavy load of correspondence, research projects and seminars for foreign officials in the German and Japanese “democrati- zation program,” he is in considerable demand as a speaker before civic groups. Most numerous on his list of speaking engagements are state and local chapters of the League of Women Voters.

Jones Takes Formosa Post Howard P. Jones, former NML secre-

tary, will take over his new duties as ex- ecutive officer of the American Embassy at Taipeh, Formosa, in January, accord- ing to news reports, relinquishing his post as director of the United States High Commission for Berlin. Mr. Jones, who was in turn civil service commissioner and deputy comptroller for the state of New York before entering military service, since the close of World War I1 has been with the State Department in Germany in various capacities.

REVIEWERS WELCOME (Continued from page 562)

fine volume, . . . an interesting and well documented history of the League and its work.

-Journal of the American Judicature Society, August 1951

This important book places the mo- mentous contributions of the League to American politics in their true perspec- tive. It provides much invaluable in- formation about the personalities and other influences which have helped to shape the League’s work and program. The book is definitely “must” reading for all interested in the progress of local government.

-The American City, February 1951

Y oungstown Mayor Charles P. Hender-

son of Youngstown, Ohio, receiving a certificate from Allen H. Seed, Jr., NML director of field services, honoring citizens for backing the mayor’s campaign to drive out racketeers. Presentation was made at a Rotary lunch- eon.

Portland -Porrbnd Press Hsrnld

At Portland, Maine, Rich- ard S. Childs, chairman of the executive committee. of NML, presents “All-American Cities of 1950” award to Robert L. Getchell, acting chairman of the city council, in recognition of revival of town meetings on a neighbor- hood basis to inform citizens about their government.

Hartford For its “junior city council”

to promote interest of youth in public affairs, Hartford, Con- necticut, receives “All-Ameri- can Cities of 1950” award,

co-sponsored by NML and Minneapolis Tribune. Left to right, Mayor Cyril Coleman, “Junior Mayor” Carmen

race and Mr. Seed.