St. Paul daily globe., 1888-03-15
MINNEAPOLIS
DUTY OF THE CAUCUS.

The Democratic aldermen-the major
ity of the city council-will tonight
meet to decide what is not a
very momentous question of itself,
but a question that may have
a very important bearing on the
political future. They will select the
man, the Democrat, who will succeed
II. B. JANNEY as member of the board
of police commissioners. If they
are wise, and have the good Of the
party at heart, they will select man
of whom they need not hereafter be
ashamed, for whom no apology will be
necessary. A mistake made tonight
will be keenly felt when the party is
called upon, in November, to render an
account of it's stewardship; but If WIS
dom and common sense prevail and a
clean, competent Democrat is chosen,
the party cause will be strengthened
and the party rule in Minneapolis be
perpetuated. Every Democratic alder
man should bear this in mind in casting
his ballot tonight.
~
The police commission system, as is
well known, is Republican inStitu-
ton, forced upon the people of Mime
apolis by combination of schemerS.
Not only was it unsought by the elect
ors of the city; but, on the contrary,
was strenuously opposed in mass meet
ingS in various parts of the city. But
without asking or caring whether the
measure was desired, the Republican
legislature, at the bidding of the local
bosses, forced it down the throats
of the people, even refusing to
submit it to popular vote. 1t was
scheme pure and simple, and a part OF
the system devised in the office OF
local Republican politician and carried
out by too willing Republican leglsla-
ture. 1t told the people of Minneapolis
they did not know what was best for
them: did not know what they wanted
and must be content with what the
bosses should prescribe. There was no
course but submission, and the appeal
to the ballot box to be made III the
fall. We have this police commits
sion: and, under the law which
organized it, the short term has eX-
pired and a new election is to take
place. The Democrats of the council
are to place their first man in that
board. and he should be the best. They
must do nothing to imperil their oppor-
tunity next fall when they go before the
people with this enforced, lnlqultous
legislation as an issue.
~
mi H. Of hn a
clean-handed, intelligent, capable man,
and party Democrat. The last is as
necessary as the first. The law is
framed with the express intention OF
making the board non-partisan, by pre-
venting any one party from securing
majority. twas the evident object to
prevent any political jobbery by limit
ing the membership from any one politi-
cal party to two. In the first election,
the law was overridden by the Repub-
licans, who put in, practically, three of
their own party. Mr.. JANNEY is a
Democrat in national campaigns, but has
never affiliated with the local Democratic
party. Consequently, the Republicans,
while not violating, really overrode the
law in his election. The Democrats will
elect a Democrat whose loyalty to his
party cannot be called into queston,a and
who will represent in the board the
party and its principles. If he is a DEM
ocrat who is clear of all party differ
ences and difficulties and who has
neither friends toreward nor enemies to
punish, it will be all the better.
~
The city is full of competent, clean
Democrats, and there should be no diff
Guilty in making selection. Choose a
business man, whether he works for
himself or for others, and man whose
name and reputation are above re-
proach He should have no record of
connection with rings, cliques or fac
tions, and should be no mans man.
Let the caucus unite on such man and
close the lips of criticism.