Daily Republican., 1884-05-16
Hsw - Defeat she watsr Csn,nls'

II the people Of Wilmington want .
Water Commission then they will
elect Democratic City Council II
they do not want it they will elect
Republican City Council. We do not
believe the people wantit, because with
| the exception Of the Boss" and lit
tie coterie of "Mse-too" politicians
that expected office under him, nobody
| sincerely petitioned the Legislature for
la Water Commission such az has been
attempted to be fastened upon the city.
A number of persons did sign such pc
titions, and amongst them were a few
Republicans, but everybody knows who
have mingled much in public affairs
how easy it is to get signatures to pc
tition.
But it has been fully demonstrated
since the Water Commission bill passed
the Legislature that neither the Repub-
licans or the Democrats want Water
Commission. In fact, so great is their
repugnance to it that, backed by popu-
lar opinion, the majority in the City
Council has actually rebelled against
permitting it to 60 into operation. The
people are opposed to it because, first, it
is a reflection upon their capacity for
local self-government, and in the next
place because it increases the number Of
office-holders, weakens city securities
and entails an increase of expense upon
the x-payers of the city,
They are opposed to it because there
is not ample security thrown around
the new tangled concern to make money
and property secure. Honest men
might carry it on without injury to the
city except an increase Of taxation, but
if those in charge had any desire to
speculate and line their pockets, there
is nothing in the bill to prevent them
| from doing so. Under these circuln-
stances the people show their good
sense by opposing such an effort to-
thwart the honest will of the peo-
| pie expressed at the ballot box,
and so potent and strong has this op-
position been that the superior power Of
the State has been invoked to
put in force SO unpopular measure as
! the Water Commission. But the work
of opposing this piece of tyranny will
cease if a Democratic City Council is
elected.
Now are there enough honest Demo-
Gratis in the city who have greater OBJ
| jections to the Water Commission than
| they have love for their party to defeat
this Objectionable measure? We be-
lieve there are, indeed we know there
are. TO such we say that the only way
by which the Water Commission can
succeed will be by electing a majority
of Democrats to the City Council
Let the City Council remain as it now
is-that is with a majority of Republi-
can mem bers-and the Water Commits
sion will not dare to lift its head unless
warmed into life by decision of the
court. Nothing can be gained by elect
ing Democrats to Council who even pro-
fess to be opposed to a Water Commits
sion, for when they get there they will
be compelled to abide by a caucus de-
,cision of their party, whether that eci-
sion be in favor Of a Water Commission
or opposed to it, and it is well known
that caucus would support the Com
mission. Let no Democrat then be lie
ceived who is opposed to a Water Com
mission and who wants to vote against
lit. The only way to make the vote ef-
fective Is by voting in favor of the Re-
publican candidates for the City Coun-