Daily Republican., 1884-06-09
Tho City Election.

It was but forlorn hope at the best to
hope that the Republicans would carry
the election for City Council last Satur-
day. The disposition of large num-
her of Democrats, dissatisfied with the
Water Commission, to assist the Repub-
iicans, could not be doubted, and in ad-
-dition there was general idea that the
Republicans had majority on the pop
ular vote, Notwithstanding the unfair
assessment machinery and the indispo-
sition of Democratic collectors to take
Republican taxes; but all this availsd
nothing in the face of an unfair gerry
mander of the wards which was in
tended to elect a majority of Demo-
cratic Councilmen, no matter how the
popular vote stood. Henry G. Conrad
was reelected President of City Coun-
Gil by the handsome majority of 1888,
and Mr.. Shippers pulled through by a
majority of 80. These majorities are
creditable to the Republicans in gene
raj, and to the candidates in particular,
when all the adverse circumstances are
taken into consideration.
The Republicans knew from the start
that their only hope for a Republican
City Council lay in the possibility OF
carrying one or moreDemocratic wards.
This, it was thought, could be done by
the great popularity of Mr. johnson in
the Third ward, and possibly that of
Nr. Eastburn, in the Second ward,
wards that had before been carried by
those gentlemen. 1t is evident, how
ever, that all tine weak places that then
existed amongst the Democrats OF those
wards had been healed, and they ap-
peared at the polls on Saturday in an
unusually solid force. There were a
large number of Democrats who for the
time forgot party and voted for the
Republican candidates, but not enough
TO overcome the naturally large Demo
cratic majorities in those wards Mr..
Eastburn, in the Second Ward, has
been defeated by 100 majority, and Mr..
johnson, in the Third ward, by the in
significant majority of - votes, but
still majority as potent, if fairly cast,
as if it were 1900. Fourteen more Re.
publican votes would have turned the
scale on the other side, but those fourteen
were lacking, and the Republican party
had to bow TO the inevitable. Had Mr.
johnson carried the Third ward the
Republicans would have had major
ity of one in the City Council, but al
this has not been done the Democrats
have that majority. The change in the
City Council will, of course, carry witt
it other changes in the government o
the city, especially change in city
officials. On the principle that to thu
victor belongs the spoils, all Republican
officials will be superseded BY Demo
cratic officials, and as the principle
contest was on the Water Commission
and the friends Of that Commission hav,
won, we may Of course expect to SCI
that Commission put into operation
We fail to see what else the Democrats
can do under the circumstances. Evel
those in the City Council who wer
known to be opposed to a Water Com
mission and were elected to Council will
that understanding, have voted steadil,
against the payment Of any money u
the employees of the Water Depart
ment, except through what they please,
to call lawful Water Commission. |
can hardly be expected that these gel
tlemen will reverse their action noS
that they have Il majority in Counci
To be consistent, they must, at the yer
first meeting OF Council, refuse to pa
the employees of the Water Depar
ment-indeed, they must ignore I'll
present management altogether. TIL
must bring on a crisis, and that yer
soon, lor lac dry, hot summer is on u
and the people must have water, eth,
from the Water Department, as no.
conducted, or from Water Commi
sion. Those Democrats who hOncs'l
believed that no change would be mac
while the question was pending b"fo
the Courts, and with that understan
ing voted the Democratic ticket, wi
most likely find that there will soon
no case before the Courts. 1t will
All easy matter for II. r. McIntire, Il
Chief Engineer of the Water Depar
ment under the Water Commission,
withdraw his suit against the Ci
Council, since the latter has becor
Democratic, and then there will
nothing in the way of the Water Coz
mission going into active operation. I
results of the next few days will be fl
of interest 10 the people, and will
watched with considerable degree
anxiety
THE Republican majority for CT
Council III the city on Saturday was j