Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-04-21
REPUBLICAN RULE IN CITIES.


Close and candid observers of the signs
of the times and of social and political pro
gress, will, If they will personally inform
themselves, note remarkable contrast be
tween the administrations of affairs In
cities that have democratic rule and those
ia which the republicans are in power. In
Springfield we have had a strong republ.-
can mayor for a year. with the assistance
in executing the laws of strong repub-
lican police judge, and we have, as result,
a state of things which las not been known
fbr quarter of century-namely, the
glmbling houses have been utterly abolish
ell, and there has been great improvement
in other lines. Law breakers illegal liquor
sellers among them) have been effectively
prosecuted and adequately punished, and
now that we have a strong council, as well
rs strong mayor and a strong police
Judge, we may hope for still better results.
A more remarkable and radical change
has been made In Cincinnati during the
past year or two. under the administration
OIL mayor Amor Smith, a republican. Dem
ocratic crimes against the ballot box and
against the privileges OF the elector
have been punished and stopped There
Is now free ballot and fair
count in Hamilton county. Gin
cinnati has an effective police force. bet
Ter force than she has had for many years,
pH'er, In fact, than she has ever had, we
verify believe. The gambling houses have
bsen utterly abolished. When we say this
Oh cincinnati which has been famous, or
Infamous, for its gambling houses for half
century, we say great deal for the cour-
age, honesty and efficiency of the local sd-
ministration now in power. There we
have the president of the liquor sellers or
ganization publicly declaring that the
saloon-keepers will obey the new Sunday
closing law. Is not this something for
which decent and devout people everywhere
should 'thank God and take courageP'
But this is only beginning. Every
body knows what Chicago was under DEM
ocratic rule, with the democrat. Carter
Harrison as its mayor. There has been .
change under Mayor Roche, a republican,
Is shown in what the Chicago correspond
ent of the Boston Congregdtiondlist, re-
lgious journal, says in the issue of that
paper for April 10. This gentleman writes:
Gambling houses have been entirely sup
pressed. The more disreputable saloons
have been closed, and all that are open led
to greater pains to keep the law prohibit
ing the sale of liquor TO habitual drinkers
and to minors. This regard for law Is due
to the efficient work of the Citizens League
and the untiring watchfulness of Andrew
Paxton, its agent.
Many streets have been paved; the river
Is now lighted by electricity; new water
tunnels have been constructed, the eY-
pertinent of getting rid of the city garbage
In crematory been successfully made,
the discipline of the police force improved,
and several railroads compelled to obey
the law and erect viaducts over the streets
wnich they cross on entering the city.
While the work of reform has only begun,
1t Is source of gratitude to us all that so
much should have been accomplished In a
single year. As the republicans carried
the recent elections In and about the city
by large majorities, We have good ground
for hope that the present efficient city ad
ministratiOn, or one as efficient. may be
continued SO long that the people, no mat
ter what their political bias, will insist
on honest and efficiency both In the mayor
and the council.
This is from source that Is entirely un-
partisan. 1t is fair. 1t is true, and it
places the republican party in q most
favorable and honorable position before
the honest people-the fair-minded, good
citizens Of the country. One of the greatest
and most difficult problems of the day Is
involved In the governing Of large cities.
and we have given, in the foregoing. prac-
tical and vital facts which may be utilized
in the solution of these problems. Aud let
it be borne in mind. in connection with
this, that what the republicans have done
In cities they have done u the country at
large. They have always been efficient in
and this has been in no
case more honorably or indisputably illus
trated than under Governor Foraker's ad-
following and presenting
strong contrast to the inefficient and ex-
travagant administration of Ex-Governor