Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-11-30
Partisansh!p III City Affairs

! the tie Gr>, time in ;ir history
a ua. MUNICIPAL .>rtUmsnt, a part!
H.: - t,en Paced in the field
aAl the =, possibility for this iuuo',
t.u0 rests with certain ward ro.iticlan'
in a., KIHihIc+u party. Very icw 6
tie >r..i representative business m"r
g. he community endorse the move
Iatrt.r g.,-it Inorc than a rA--lt'
slp!"rt, Some Republicans rernil
ate II entirely. and II i 10y io mean
assured that it will lie succe->iul a
the polls on Tuesday next.
While there j. u valid excuse iol
parties in national contest, to deter
mine the outlines OF such changes IL:
time and experience may demonstrate
az ncce..arv in securing the greatest
good Ia American citIHr nship, IT mu>,
he admitted that the batter feeling
thus engendcred and the sometime,
doubtful results that are obtained from
the heated conflict Of personal in
terests necessarily involved, renders
them an expcdient that is not always
attended with perfect results. 1t is
the best means that have been devised
however, for advancing the statesman.
ship OF the times, and to give direc.
ton to public policy at the fountain
head. So far as the election OF Con-
gresSmen is concerned, there is valid
reason why the machinery of parties
with well-detned principles should be
employed, but when it comes to trans.
acting the business of a small com.
munity like ours, the ponderous ma
chinery of etatecraft is about as un.
wieldy as the use OF sledge-hammer
to crack a peanut. 1t is very little
the humble councilman can do that
will affect the tariff or promote the
free coinage of silver, and the Mayors
proclamation outside his limited ]uris.
diction, would have about a. much
effect as the Pope's bull against the
comet.
Hitherto our business men have
agreed that the best results of mnnici-
pal cooperation could be enlisted by
giving every man a voice in its man.
agement, and every enterprising citi-
zen an opportunity Of making his
individuality felt in shaping the policy
OF our local government. 1t was
unity that was deemed to be essential,
instead OF opposition and dissention ;
peace, instead of war; . hearty co.
operation instead of attempts to
thwart steadfast effort for the COM
mon good. So plain was this first
duty OF citizenship that every body
seemed to concede it to be the part OF
wisdom, without argument. But OF
late years there has crept in upon us
the methods of the cyclone States,
and it has at last reached the primary
duty of citizenship, and commands
severance Of that friendly community
of interest which long-continued asso.
citation has woven, and which in times
past has been productive of so much
benefit. If the Republicans have q
majority in the city. as these leaders
claim, the effect of drawing party lines
will be to practically disfranchise
nearly one.half our population; to
render abortive the efforts OF men who
may have done even more than some
of those sticklers for party dominance
for the development and prosperity Of
our city. Had the Republican party
made q record anywhere for the rigid
economy which the times demand,
there might be some excuse for this
action, but we search in vain for such
record. Without inquiry as to the
political status of city nominees for
councilmen before election, during the
past quarter of a century, only once,
we believe, have they happened to be
Democratic, and that board. in filling
its list of appointments selected only
two Democrats out of its eight officers
who drew salaries from the city treas
ury. Nor was the fact discovered or
commented upon until, Republican
council, elected by non-partisan vote,
attempted to impose party test a,
qualification, when as soon as the past
policy was cited the matter was
dropped.
The decision OF the public in this
important matter, will be materially
affected by the action of the non.
partisan convention tonight. Ifgood
men. representative of the business
interests, are selected, we believe they
will be elected. and the public service
will be free from the handicap which
party obligation always imposes.