The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-03-03
A CUSTOMARY SLOP=OVER.

space w d SuCCSSSl I'll cApuSIUIOl VI lUS
narrow mindedness and it's well
known opposition to progress and
anything tending to elevate our mum
icipal affairs above the intrigue and
blighting effects Of ward and party
politics. After indicating its OppOsi-
tion to the policy ofall parties uniting
upon such man as John A. Willard,
E. d. Hubbard, John f. Meagber or
other prominent or influential citizen
for mayor, it goes out of its way to
give the gentlemen composing the
present council slap in the face. 1t
refers to the plan adopted for placing
in nomination a mayor and council
two years ago as scheme most sue
essfully worked" and adds that
latter two years Of practical expert
ence with a reform administration,
selected by half dozen men, it is
hardly possible that it will be reenact-
ed" 1t will be remembered that the
nominations were made by commit
tees appointed at great mass meet
ing of citizens held in the opera
house. Numbers of the best citizens
of all parties spoke on that occasion
in favor of non-partisan ticket, and
when the committee selected by the
meeting for that purpose had chosen
a list of six aldermen the names were
shown to John G.. Wise and all re-
ceived his appreciation, or pretended
appreciation, except that Of Joseph
Schlingerman in the First ward whom
he proclaimed as''untit for the place."
The actions of the administration of
Mayor Willard and this council have
been open to all, and the FREE PRESS
has no fault to find, unless it be its
disregard of the bids for city printing
last Summer, when the printing was
awarded to the highest bidder-the
ReUieW. But the FREE PRESS is not
disposed to allow this to prejudice it
against the policy of nonpartisan pol
itics Ia municipal affairs. If the Re-
Uieac has found the council faulty 10
any other point than this, it should
come out squarely and state it instead
of resorting to sneaking insinuations.
The insinuation that the FREE
PRESS favors nonpartisan admins
tration for selfish purposes or that it
"alwkys names Republican and gen.
erously extends to the Democrats the
privilege of endorsing the names so
suggested" is the veriest rot, and
could only have been conceived by a
brain warped and scared by jealousy.
In the present administration there
is scarcely Republican office-holder.
Mayor Willard was chosen as a DEM
ocrat, five of the six aldermen are
Democrats, the municipal judge, the
city recorder, the city treasurer, and
as many of the Board of Public Works
as the law permits are Democrats.
This spring the FREE PRESS has sug-
gested, CT rather has stated in it's
news columns that others have sug-
gested, the names Of J. A. Willard
and r. D. Hubbard for mayor, or
other gentlemen of equal prominence
and influence. We are not aware
that Mr.. Hubbard'S democracy has
ever been in question, unless by the
so-called organ of his own party. Half
of the names referred to as possible or
probable candidates for aldermen
have been Democrats, but no one has
been spoken of as Democrat or as
Republican.
The FREE PRESS reiterates it's stand
in favor of both political parties unit
ing for the city's good and in the
election of the best men that we have
to the various city offices, especially
those of mayor and aldermen. The
one thing that has held Mankato
back, more than all other causes, has
been the fact that the city offices
have BEEN considered the legitimate
prize of party and the object OF in
trigue and scrambling, in which the
the ward politician and political dead
beat have too often had haneful in
fuence. 1t is against this noXious
system Of ring rule and treasury
spoilation that the FREE PRESS
raised its ,voice two years ago and
does so again this year. 1t was in
favor of this system that the Re0aeD,
ever looking backward and a blockEto
progress and reform, has and
does now raise it's false alarm, seek
ing to prejudice it's limited num-
Der of readers against the efforts
toward real reform that alone can re-
suit in the continued growth and
prosperity of the city.
We ask all unprejudiced Demo
Gratis, who have the good of the city
at heart, to lend their influence toward
the enforcement of city affairs from
politics, in the interest of good gov
eminent, progress, and harmony.
/ Mr.. CLEVELAND has completed MS
90 bipat ond, mb of hnr Or NOT he has