The record-union., 1892-02-08
THE CITY ELECTION.

zens should manifest the liveliest interest
in all activities of that order. Good COM
munity government, economic and dis
Greet administration of municipal affairs
materially affect public morals, city
prosperity, and largely conserve the busi-
ness interests of every citizen.
The ideal city government is that in
which public affairs are administered
upon lines the correct and upright busi-
ness man would adopt for the prosecu-
ton Of legitimate and prosperous busi-
ness. There should not, therefore, enter
into it any party political issues or con-
tentions. The RECoRD-UNIoN has held
uniformly for many years-in common
with the best thought and expression of
the age-that party politics and municipal
government should be wholly divorced.
Wherever practice has most nearly ap-
preached that ideal the best and most
economic government has resulted. The
spoils system is inseparable from party
political domination in city affairs.
We cannot reach at one jump the nom
political level in administering the affairs
of the city. But the people can make
distinct approach to it by independent
action in choosing from among the can
didates presented by party and independ
emily. Thanks to the official and secret
ballot system and petition nominations
this can now be done more easily than
ever before, and we are convinced that it
will be done at the approaching election,
and so thoroughly that no party partisan
can possibly attribute the election of any
candidate wholly to party influences or
the crack of the whip of the bosses, and
thus all who are elected will be free men.
AS an independent journal, having the
welfare of Sacramento more at heart
than the concerns of factional or local
party triumphs or defeats, the RECORD
UNION, now that all the candidates are in
the field, exercises its right and dis
charges its duty as the friend of good
government by considering the qualifica-
tions of the candidates and suggesting to
voters the line Of conduct that it believes
will inure to the greatest good of the city.
1t believes that common prudence, the
dictates of economy and fitness, demand
the election of William Mclaughlin for
Trustee, E. C. Hart for City Attorney,
John B. Rodgers for Chief of Police, and
Tom Scott for Fire Commissioners
The reason for selecting these citizens
from the three classes of nominations
low made, are simple and convincing.
Mr.. Mclaughlin has for three years been
Street Commissioner; during that period
of time more street and walkway i'm
provement has been prosecuted, and more
general, good, permanent highway work
effected than in any ten or fifteen years
of the previous history of this city.
Whatever aid has been given by citizens
to this accomplishment, it remains that
Trustee McLaughlin's administration has
the credit and is entitled to it, because it
was within his power to have stood in
opposition and have refused to be open to
conviction. On the contrary, he has been
progressive in all his policy as Street
Commissioner. The RECORD UNION has
had occasion to differ with and sharply
criticise some of Mr.. McLaughlin's Iegis-
lative ideas. 1t has probably more
sharply criticised him than any other;
but it has never had reason to find fault
with him as a Street Commissioner. On
the contrary, it has applauded and ap-
proved his course, and believes now that
the people ought to avail of his experience
by his retention as the head of that de-
partment. Experience, the mother of
skill, is the one thing that most of all
others, with honesty, vigor and straight
forwardness, a city needs in its admins
tration.
William Mclaughlin is positive man;
the people know where to place him and
where to find him; he does not create
doubt by vacillation, nor distrust by in
ability to determine lis policy. Concern
ing the matters and things in which we
have differed with him, we have admired
him for his directness. firmness and total
absence of weakness and concealment.
We believe that he of all other candidates
pre-eminently is best fitted in this period
of transition from the old to the new in
the history of Sacramento, to promote
the interests of the Street Department
and carry on the work so well begun.
His opponent, Mr.. Green, is a good
citizen; we believe him to be upright and
deserving the respect and esteem of his
community; but he cannot bring into the
discharge of the Office the fitness of expe-
rience: he will have to learn at the ex-
pense of the city all that Mr.. Mclaughlin
now knows concerning streets, drainage, 4
grades, pavements, and generally of city
affairs. Neither has he that familiarity
with the financial condition and the
economies of the city which three years
of very severe experience has given
Mr.. Mclaughlin. City government he
has not made a study and he can bring to
it nothing of the results of thought. read
ing or trial in that special and most i'm
portant realm of economics. All which
also is to be said of Mr.. Tibbitts, and
likewise of Mr.. Croly. They are good
citizens, but comparable with Mr.. Nc
Laughlin they cannot bring to the Office
the essential and Ichief requisite, famil-