The Portland daily press., 1881-02-28
The City Election.

Inc near approach OF our annual munic-
pal election ought to awaken lively inter-
est in every citizen. We are about to select
men to manage the city affairs for another
year, and considering the amount of prop
erty involved and the large interests which
depend upon the probity and good judg-
ment of these managers it is worth while for
every tax payer to turn aside few days or
hours from his ordinary avocations and to
give his aid to satisfactory solution of the
problem. In order to practically effect aoy-
thing it is necessary to give attention to the
primary meetings-the caucuses; for after
the nominations are made and the battle
lines set, most voters will support their re-
spective party nominees. At that stage of
the game the most that voters can do is to
defeat an undesirable nominee by electing
one on the other side perhaps not Iaueh bet
ter. The choice is then limited to two men,
neither of whom may be desirable; bnt in
the caucuses the whole field is open for Sc
lection. What we have to say about this
matter applies, of course, specially to the
Republicans, to whom we look for intelli-
and wholesome political action; but it ap-
plies also to Democrats in those wards
where they are likely to elect their nomi-
nees.
In the first place there seems to be little
question as to the mayoralty. Mayor Senter
is a gentleman of the highest character,
business man of many years experience,
practical and straightforward man, familiar
with affairs, and who has conducted the
office for the past year with the general ap-
proval of the public. There can be little
doubt Of his denomination and reelection.
and we can be sure that the CITY will suffer
no detriment in his hands. So the point to
which effort should be directed is the choice
of candid ,tes for Aldermen and Council
men. In this direction too little attention
has been given in the past. The result of
this neglect has been that many unsuitable
persons have got themselves into the
city government and the really discreet and
able men who have been chosen have found
themselves unable to accomplish the good
of which they were capable for want of in
telligent and faithful cooperation. We
may fairly congratulate ourselves that few,
Or perhaps no, dishonest men have had
places in the city government, but there
have been many who lacked the ability and
business experience to solve intellgently
the important business problems which have
met them. The remedy for this is simple.
Let our citizens go to the caucuses and there
nominate nobody for the position of Alder
man or Councilman who is not known to
have the age, capacity and experience which
will tit him to understand the business
which is given him to do. There is plen-
ty of such men in every ward in the city.
We all know them. They are men who
have proved their ability by successful con-
duct of their own and others business. and
whose integrity and dsinterestedness are
beyond question. No man should be chos-
en- who has the slightest personal interest
in dealing with the city, whether it be in
erecting buildings, selling or buying lands
or managing railroads. Proved capacity
and undoubted disinterestedness should be
the tests. They are not difficult tests to
bear. Many men nsger fully both require
ments. Let none other be chosen. Then
we can feel secure as to the good manage
ment of our affairs. 1t is easy to accom-
plish the desired purpose, if everybody will
take hold of the matter in earnest. 1t is of
no use for men to growl in counting-rooms,
shops, clubs or on street corners. That is
futile and childish way to remedy griey-
ances. Neither is there practical good sense
in waiting until election and then boiling
the ticket or refusing to vote. The way for
practical and reasonable men to accomplish
results is to go to the caucuses and nom
mate the kind of men they want Then
all will go well.