The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1893-01-07

aad Councilnen takes place tomor-
row.
This election is one of very great
Importance to this town; involving,
as it does to large degree, the
question of ajudicious and progres-
sive policy in our municipal affairs
and wise administration of the
finances. A mistrke in the selection
of tEe officers may canse US to lose
a year in the growth and develop
ment of the town and saddle upon us
a policy that will be damage
to the public interests for years te
come.
| Nevertheless we 60 into the cleo
tion in slip shod fashion without
any previous consideration of men
or measures; without any organiza-
ton; without any convention OF
voters; and even without any nomi-
nations. There has been absolutely
no agreement or united effort on the
part of any representative number
of voters to unite on a ticket of
good and responsible persons for
these positions. 1t will be a free
and-easy, go-asyou please kind Of
an election, in which every voter will
exercise a hap hazard choice be-
tween the whole number of citizens
with the chance of throwing away
his vote. Or, otherwise, as is most
usually the case, some single indi-
vidual with an axe to grind, or a
partisan or personal motive that has
no reference to the welfare of the
town, may print or circulate ticket
of his own individual selection, and
it will be voted blindly and care
lessly simply because voters find no
other printed ticket to vote.
Our municipal elections are thus
becoming mere trick and a farce, to
serve the purpose of few interested
persons in promoting their own ends.
This ought not to be SO. 1t is time
there was a new deal. We ought to
have some general convention before
these elections through which repre-
sentative men could be put in nomi-
nation for these offices. We can
not expect t, have the wisest and
best administration of our munich
pal affairs until this is done.
But so far as the election to NOR
row is concerned, it is now too late
to apply these precautionary meas
ures. We are bound to face the sit
uation as it is. And under the cir
cumstances the best thing for voters
to do is to vote the old ticket for the
present administration. There is
no other way of avoiding a possible
mistake, or of aiding possibly, few
designing persons in setting up a
job" on the town.
We know the officers of the pres
ent administration. They have serv-
ed us year with credit and salts
faction to the people. They have
been both discreet and progressive
in their policy. They have given
us safe and at the same time, lib
eral administration. There has
been no extravaganza or stinginess.
They are men who have the best in
terests of the town at heart. They
are men of character and judgement,
and can be confidently relied upon
to take care of the public interests
for another year
We think, therefore, that it would
be unwise to attempt to make a
change without having previous
general understanding where we are
going. We think that the discreet
voter will not take the risk of throw
ing the present administration over
board without knowing definitely
what he is getting in place of it,
He will scan very closely any other
ticket that has been put in circua
ton for the evident reason that he
knows it is not the result of any
concerted action by the body of
voters, but may be job sprung by
few. 1t will be a good deal safer
not to trade horses in the middle of
this stream. Let us try the present
administration another year, and
before another election devise some
general plan by which ticket can
be agreed upon in advance of the
election that will be representive in
its character.
We make these suggestions with
no motive Interior to the one con-
sideration of the welfare of the
town. We are opposed to any per-
sonal or partisan campaign for these
Offices. We know that there are a
select few who desire to make this
purely partisan contest, but we hope
that the good sense of the tax pay
ers will put it on higher and more
substantial grounds, and give us
an administration that will have
reference to the material interests
of the town. In other words give
us another term of the present ad-
ministration.
Bright Outlook for 1898.
The Philadelphia Times looks out
upon the following rosy tinged view
of the year 1898:
THE new year will come with