The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-03-23
The MsyoraIity.

Ono week from tomorrow the man
who will officiste as Mayor of the city
Of MankatO for the current year will be
named, and that name will suggest
many things. II will indicate, inso.
far as tho chief executive Of the
city eau throw his influence, and
needed reforms, stringent regard for
municipal laws, improvements and the
general advancement of our city's in.
tcrests, or the reverse. Ii is therefore
important that VIC should be careful,
very cautious, in whom these matters
are entrusted. Many people have gain
ed the idea that Mayor is II sort Of
figure head. an honorary member Of
our city fathers elected to preside over
the deliberations of the Council that he
requires No special fitness Tor the posi-
ton; that anyone can I'LL the seat; in
fine that it would be az we'll to have no
Mayor were il not required by law.
To satisfy people who have such On
exacted idea of the office, il would DO
an easy task to name man who would
I'LL the bill. But their view of the mat
ter is happily not supported by the
majority Of residents, and well it is not.
There is not an Office in the city that be-
gins to have the Importance attached to
it that the msyorality has, and not one
that requires the care in the selection OF
its incumbent. To he true representa-.
tive OF the interests of the city over
which he is the chief guardian, he
must be conservative, though firm and
unfiinching; OF a positive, though not
domineering character; patient and
persevering; fearless; clearly and reso-
lutely on the side of all wholesome and
practical reforms and Improvements.
and one capable of exercising
care, caution and good judgment In
everything. He should also be man who
is alive to the beauties and advantages
of his own city, and one who feels that
his growth and prosperity to a very
great extent depends upon the growth
and prosperity of the corporation. He
should be man who appreciates that
things material must be pushed il we
would ever accomplish anything. In
short he should be business man with
business ideas, and with sufficient
back bone to brave the criticisms Of the
few chronic grumblers with which
every community is afflicted
We unquestiOnably have men in
MankatO who would make model May
ors, but the difficulty is to nominate
and elect such men. II the city ever
needed u practical, level headed, thor
ough-going Mayor, she needs one the
coming year. In all probability action
will have to be taken in the matter of .
more satisfactory water supply. Not
that Hubbard j. Co., are derslict in any
part Of their contract with the city, for
such is not the case but that the city
can supply herself with water At less
expense than under the present system
is attested to by those who are in
position to know, and certainly it is
the duty Of those who are elected to
protect the interests of the people to
take Immediate steps in the premises;
and economize in every particular
where. the public receive benefit.
The FREE Press has in mind several
very good men who would fill the Of
flee with honor to themselves and cred.
it to the city, but at this time prefers
to call no names. 1t is certainly to be
hoped that both parties will take care
to nominate representative men, and
then, whoever is elected, we shall be
sure not to suffer from the choice.