, 1873-09-07
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS,

Some twonty yoars ago thoro happened to be q
| good doal OF oxcltonlont ovor 4 local election ln
Tho littlo town Of Northampton, Mass, which, at
shat time had population Of botweon 5000 and
| 8000 inhabitants. For sovornl wooks prior I'd
tho lay Of election tho candidates wero can
vasaed with that forvor which tho strong friand-
| ships mud doep-rootod projudicea Of a small
| community eau always provide on any
given subject. Tho littlo differences in
regard to school management or tho To-
cation of tho town-pump wore mngni-
aod into tho importance Of great national issues.
Tho good citizonB Of Northampton-th wero
fower bud oitizons in those days-had divided
themselves into parties and factions. The local
weekly papers had boon engaged III tho impor-
tant work Of giving direction to public aonti-
mont Tho pooplo had been thoroughly worked
up to tho duty Of tho hour, and passed final
sabbath in meditation and prayer Just
prior to tho election, which occurred on Mon
day. The preceding Saturday. bright
printer boy, about 10 years Of ago,
who deBrea to hnye his father elected to
tho school-Doard, went to his caso, aud sot up
a complete ticket Of his own, aoleottng, with adj
mirablo Judgment and perfect impartlality, tho
very best mon the Town Of northampton oon-
tainod, without rofcronce to any Of Tho tickets
already in tho field. Having mado up his tickcs
and corrected the proof, ho struck OF few hun
dred copies from tho old Washington hand-press
then III use, carefully tiod them up, aud carried
AI.7,A
designation wAatovor. Tho boy kept his
plan to himself, and put his ticket
into his trunk over Sunday. Bright aud
early Monday morning, he vent down town
with his bunch Of tickets in luis pocket. He So
lected some OF hiB companions, all glad Of an
opportunity to peddle elcotton-tickots, and dis
tributed tho ballots among them without expla-
nation or Instructions. They, In turn, passed
them around among tho honoat aud independent
electors Of Northampton. When tho votes ucro
counted that Monday evening, It waH found that
tho printor-boy's ticket WAS elected throughout
by a considerable majority.
We should say that this il model for munic-
ipal elections. We need not DO told that, in
city Of oyer 100000 Inhabitants, precisely tho
sa1no course would DO impracticablo. We an-
swar, that tho Northampton election was not
carried because bright boy had engineered his
ticket 80 shrewd1y, nor because 1t was sprung
upon the people at the opportuuo momont. His
particular ticket, uncanvasHcd mud without a
pnrty behind it, was successful because 1t was
composed Of the very best citizons for public
trusts, whose names wero sufficient guarantee
for their faithfulnees in ot1ico. The choice OF
such men should ba tho single purpose Of
oil municipal elections It is rarely TINT there
are radical differoucos amoug Intelligent mon
and good citizons in regard to the policy Of city
government, rs thore is usually concerning
national questions. II the machinery Of city
government is as simple as it should bo, tho
Chief object to be sought il the election Of mon
oaly and honestly. Wo havo had sufficient OK
amples Of tho dangers and hsrlships that result
upon commitment OF municipal affairs into
tho hands Of any other Glass; There iB
nothing to DO fearod from contraliza-
tion or CGsariBln II in our local Coy
ernmenss. Tho moro that power can be
concentrated In municipality, SO long as tho
Executive ls directly responsible to the pooplo,
tho better will DO tho result; Tho administra-
t!on Of Mayor Modill las boon notable in
stance of this. Tho " "ona-man power" which
John Wentworth once exercised many years
ago, when Chicago was sorely In need Of such
an administration, was Of incaloulablo benefit
to tho city. Municipal Issues arc always
tho same. Shall the taxes 10 thoroughly
collected? Shall tho funda be rigidly guarded?
Shall tho money bo honestly and economically
o1pouded7 Shall the lnws bo steadily enforced?
Shall the police be managed for tho preservation
OF peace and good order7 These are tho quos-
tions which suggest themselves at all municipal
elections. Tho only way in which they can ba
af}lrmativeiy assured is by tho choice Of mon
WhoBe oapability and integrity are coinoidently
suggested with tue very mention OF their
nhmea,
agaiust corruption in tho administration
Of municipal Affairs is an abandonment
OF all political divisions in tho aeloc-
tion Of the officer. While this would
have boon difficult OF comprehension to many
persons few years ago. it is now very genorally
understood and believed by Intelligent mon
everywhere. It seoms to bo particularly appre-
oated in Chicago. At the last two municipal
elections, the existing political parties cut no fig
uro, and the prosont prospect is that they will bo
abandoned in all future municipal elections. Tho
expression Of opinion eliojted from various prom
inent citizons Of Chicago belonging to both the
Republican aud Democratic parties has beon to
this eHoct. The appearance Of national politics
In municipal elections s Of itself indicative Of cor
ruption. There IL no natural connection botwcan
thon. Tho only purpose Of allying them ia to
make tho municipal government useful to tho
particular organization which succeeds in con-