The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-06-06
For the Democratic Advocate.
Politics in the City Government

If there was any matter upon which the
public mind of Westminster felt assured,
it was that there was no politics in the
management of the governmental affairs Of
our little city. But recent events have
shaken the public faith on this point. 1t
is matter of common knowledge that
the disposal of the patronage within the
control of the Federal administration, so far
as it concerns Westminster, had caused Il
considerable division in the ranks of the Re-
publican party, and threatened to impair the
strength of its opposition to its chief oppo
neut The election this fall Being a very
important one, involving the selection of all
the state and county officers, it is desirable
that IN undivided front should be presented
against the Democrats. Federal authorities
had caused the breach and were powerless to
heal it; the state and county patronage were
in the hands of the enemy, with fair prospects
of remaining there; but favorable opportu
nifty to score point was seen in the city
government, always hitherto above the suspi-
cion of party bias or tendency. Accordingly,
by stealth and indirection, it has been sought
to make use OF the municipal patronage for
the qualification of the divided party. o
Temporal o moreS! UbiHdm gentiHm
sunius an qua UrJe riUimus? Is the nope
our citizens have cherished of making this
town a beautiful, convenient and agreeable
one to be destroyed by the blighting influence
of political strife? Are our municipal inter-
ests to be made the football of contending
party factions? And are all the efforts of our
public spirited and enterprising men to induce
! the establishment of industries among us for
the development and prosperity of the town
to be defeated by political schemers who seek
the advancement of their personal ends?
| And wherefore? In order that our city fathers
/ L L. al. / I A l.
amends for their remissness by rewarding
party services which have been ignored by
| the only power to which they had n right to
look for recognition and remuneration. If
this ne so it is well that measures be taken to
arrest the evil tendency before it has wrought
the ruin of all our hopes and interests.
Our government has been non partisan, and
| there can be no doubt that all the best ele-
ments of the community are anxious to keep
it so. 1t has been the custom to select three
representatives of each of the two parties to
make up the governing power known as the
| Mayor and Common Council. During the
past ten years the clerk and collector has
been a Republican; or whatever doubt there
may have been as to his political predictions
in the past. however equivocal his position
may have been, now, at least, he would not
deny that he is a Republican. There has
never been any objection to him on that ac-
count. Time and again his friends, Democrat
and Republican, have rallied to his support
in municipal elections, and considered his
interests in casting their votes. But now that
he no longer needs the office for himself, ii is
said he is seeking to dictate his successor on
the grounds Of supposed political iaYors rend
cred to him by the gentleman whom he names
and to use for this purpose his influence with
the Republican Mayor, growing out of long
family intimacy.
VIII the city authorities allow themselves
to be so used? VIII they permit selfish dem
agogues and place hunters to drive them into
the appointment of politician who has not
besa able to get anything in the distribution
ofthe larger lavors of his party, in order that
he may be reconciled and he and his friends
may be brought TO the support of the party
plans with their old time energy?
The citizens have declared, with surprising
unanimity, in favor of another candidate who
is put forward in behalf of non. partisan city
government. A word to the wise is sufficient
JUSTICE.