St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-01
THE MAIN IssuE

lSlIullht uUl1ilN.
THE MAIN ISSUE.
In some respects the present munic-
ipal campaign is the most peculiar one
known in the history of the city. For
the first time a candidate for the chief
municipal Office is held up on the toast
ing fork by his own party organs while
he is being roasted to death. This pc
cularity has attracted public attention
until popular interest is so absorbed in
the personal quarrel now in progress
between Candidate KITFER and the
Pioneer Press establishment that there
is some danger of the real issues OF the
campaign being lost sight of.
1t should be kept in mind that the
people of this city who are in
teri sted in the city's welfare are
fighting to perpetuate good munich
pal government, and are seeking
this end through the election of the SUI
perb ticket placed in the field by the
Democratic convention. 1t is matter
of only mOmentary concern, at most,
whether KIEFEK or the Pioneer Press
comes out On top in their personal
quarrel. But 1t is matter of vast con-
Germ, and far-reaching in its conse-
quences, whether MEIER or SMITH
comes out on top in the election next
Tuesday; and it is to that fact we wish
to direct the attention of the voters. and
to keep their attention fixed upon it.
There is an almost universal feeling
in the community that Col. KIEFER is
an unfit man to be entrusted with the
administration of municipal affairs.
The Republicans recognize the mis-
take they made in nominating him.
hence the outbreak of the intense frac-
tional war in the Republican organiza-
ton. Therefore it is not necessary for
us TO urge the reason or to submit the
evidence to show why Col. KIEFEH is
not qualified TO make capable mayor.
They are matters of such notoriety that
the voters have right to take practical
knowledge Of them, and will do so unless
they are diverted from the path of duty
by becoming too much interested in the
personal wrangles now iii progress.
ST. Paul has great deal at stake in
this municipal election. The credit
and reputation Of the city, the pros
perity of the community, and the
development and extension of all
our business interests are involved.
This Democrats have sqnarely and
honestly faced the situation and met all
of its requirements by placing ticket
in the field that commands the respect
and confidence of all classes. The
candidates named on that ticket are
men Of experience in public affairs; they
are personally known to the voters to
be men of approved business methods
and up to the highest standard of in
tegrity and capacity. Every one feels
that under the administration of the
several gentlemen named on the Demo.
cratic ticket our municipal affairs would
be perfectly safe, and that the continued
prosperity of the city would be assured.
1t is not so, however. with respect to
the opposition ticket. There is we'll
defined apprehension among all classes
of society that our municipal govern
ment would soon be running at loose
ends in case the Republican candidates
should be elected. We are not making
this statement in the spirit which usu-
ally actuates campaign arguments. We
are merely asserting a solemn fact,
which has impressed itself upon the
conscience Of every voter who has given
the matter intelligent thought. We
know that great many Republicans
will vote the party ticket out of a sense
of duty to the party. and yet we are
equally we'll assured that deep down
in the bottom of their hearts is the con-
viction that they will not be perform
ing patriotic service. They will ain
to reconcile their sense of duty to the
public interests with their allegiance to
party, with the comforting reflection
that vote for KIEFER will not count,
inasmuch as he stands no show of being
elected.
We ask those citizens of Republican
tendencies-and we know most of them
to be good citizens-who intend to vote
for KIEFER merely to exhibit their party
loyalty, to pause and reflect upon the
consequences of their act. Is it the
clearest exhibition of party loyalty to
approve those things which bring dis
grace upon party? When. as in this
| case, party organization has fallen
under control Of an INSCRIPTIONS lead
ership, does it promote the party's well
fare to blindly follow such leadership?
But, above ali, are there not. public
considerations which are of greater
import than mere party organization?
| The poor man is equally interested with
| the rich man in the maintenance of good
government. 1t is not only to the inter-
est of all to have good government. but
| it is to the interest of all to have the
best that is attainabe. There is noques-
ton in the minds of the st. Paul peo-
pie as to which ticket promises the best
municipal government for st. Paul, the
one headed by Mayor SMITH or the one
headed by Col. KIEFER. When the Re-
| publicans admit that the Democratic
ticket is the best, it is hardly worth
while for Democrats to waste time in
establishing the fact,