The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1891-03-26
5AUK CENTRE HERALD
THURSDAY MARCH 26, 1891.
CITY ELECTION.

One week from next Tuesday the city
election will be held, at " hich mayor,
treasurer, two aldermen from the first
ward, and one for the second viii be
chosen, and 1t should be the aim of every
citizen to do all within his power to Sc
cure good set of officers. Fortunately
party strife has never entered into our
city elections. The issues have been more
personal than anything else, but it is
sincerely hoped that no offensive person
ality will crop out in the approaching
contest. Thus far but two candidates
have been mentioned very prominently
for our chief executive officer, viz: w. d.
Townsend and Michael Hogan. Either
of them would make good officers. Both
are men of affairs, active, energetic, self
possessed and imbued with full measure
of public spirit. Neither haye any per-
sonal or private purposes OF. ends to be
subseryed, and either of them would
make valuable and conservative mayor.
The HERALD confidently assures its read
ers that the interests of the city would
be conscientiously called for under the
administration of either OF them. But it
is not the mayor who shapes the policy
of the city, or makes that policy effective.
The city council is well-nigh absolute in
the matter of local government, and it
concerns the city far more to have
good council than good mayor. 1t is
the council which authorizes the expen-
ditures, cares for the poor, directs the
public work in all it's branches, equalizes
the assessment and levies the taxes. The
good order, appearance and, in meas
ure, the very prosperity of the city de-
ponds upon the action of the council.
What is needed at this time is a council
which shall have Just appreciation of
its responsibility and sufficient business
insight to discharge its duties vigorously
and economically. Every dollar expend
ed during the next year should be made
to count. There is a wide difference be
tween parsimony and economy. There
is withholding that tends to poverty;
on the other hand there is a prodigality
which eventually leads to ruin. Between
the extremes is happy mean which will
bestow the greatest benefit upon the
greatest number. What the city wants
is a council which will discover this mean,
and shape it's course accordingly. There
will be two vacancies in the first ward
the term of Alexander Moore expiring,
and the resignation of Alderman Morse
having been filed with the city clerk.
Thus far but three candidates have been
Observation-Disclosures Moore, Arthur Scriv-
ener and ]. NJ. Garfield. Other names
may be suggested before election. In
the second ward there does not seem to
to be a very eager desire for aldermanic
honor. M. F. Woodbury. is the most
prominent candidate at this writing
but there is plenty of time to develop a
score or more of candidates.
In the selection of candidates to vote
for every citizen should sink every per-
sonal consideration and vote only for
such men as he is>satis6ed, upon due re
Fiction, to be best qualified for the po-
sition. The government of a city like
ours is not childish play. and the position
Of alderman is not sinecure-much less
should it be used an an instrument for
giving expression. to,petty spite and mar
row preiudices.