Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-03-24
MONDAY NIGHTS MEETING.

MONDAY NIGHTS MEETING.
We ask all citizens to attend the meeting
to be held Monday night in the Grand opera
house. A measure honestly conceived and
carefully prepared in the direction of re-
construction of the city government is to be
fairly and thoroughly discussed by those
who favor it-or something on its general
plan-and by those who oppose 1t, and We
understand that anybody who wishes to
take a whack at it will have an opportunity.
The proposition that reform is needed can
not be disputed after the past few years Of
local legislation. We shall do much to-
ward the reformation by eiecting the can
ddates already nominated. We do not say
this because they are republicans, but be-
cause what we say is true. Everybody
knows that it is true. But our people may
become careless, in time. and invite the
political accidents from which the city Is
now suffering, and in such an event. II
would be well to have due share Of good,
solid republicans in the city's governing
boards.
We do not ask our people to support or
oppose the proposed measure. We simply
ask them to attend the meeting and to give
Its friends and opponents fair, unbiased,
hearing, and then decide according to their
own judgments and eonsciences whether
they will vote for change.
One thing is certain. Springfield has Inn
mense financial interests and 1t is vitality
important that they should be placed in the
hands of men who are honest and capable
financiers. 1t is quite possible that we
could well afford to pay good salary to
few men-such as Mr.. Marshfeld Steele
and Mr.. William Diehl. by way Of illustra-
tion-and we name these men because they
are not only capable but are not in busI-
ness or professional life and might be in-
duced to accept the position-to manage
our public finances as they manage their
own-so as to reduce both the public out
Idv aud the cost of administration That
is what we need to do.
We can name other suitable men of both
parties. The larger portion of our capable
men are In business life, but there are
other very shrewd financiers and at the
same time of spotless and indisputable in
tegrity. who might accept the proposed
positions were they rendered to them. We
have an almost irresistible inclination to
lengthen the list, but refrain from doing 50.
Our citizens will readily decide for them
selves who they are.
The question TO be decided is whether
such immense local financial interests As we
now have in hand can be safely run by
such men as may, at any time, get into the
council and board of education. and as are
now In both boards-men who are grossly
incapable and unfit; ignorant alike of the
principles of finance and political economy
aud of the matter. theory and processes of
educating the young. Most assuredly, We
must guard, in some way. against the pos
.ibility of putting the interests Of Il g
city and the public schools at the mercy Of
the incapabIes who are now so largely repIe-
sented In both the city boards.
We are sorry that the facts justify as in
tse use of this language, and that they are
50 apparent to the general public that we
do not need to use names.
We again urge all citizens to attend tie
meeting alluded to. and we ask all persons
who can intelligentiy and torcibly present
the points OF the measure, or who can offer
good reasons why il should not be adopted.
to attend the meeting and give their arsu.
ments and views freely and frankly, and
we bespeak for them fair hearing