Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1894-03-02

MARCH 2, 1894,
MUNICIPHL REFORM.
Rev. William Moore's Idea OF
The Right Kind OF a Mayor.
Following is a synopsis of Rev
William Moore's sermon ON ''The
Right Kind of Mayor" delivered
at the Congregational church last
evening: - g..
The problem of city government is
by no means an easy one, nor is it
a question new today. Ever
since city life commenced and the
need of dealing with civic matters
presented itself the question has at
tracted the attention of thinking
men in every age and in every civil
ized land. In our own country the
question assumes great prominence
because OF the rapid growth of the
cities-a growth not due entirely to
migration, but also to that gravi-
tation towards centers Of population
$50 characteristic OF American life.
/ We see how great this movement is
wien we reflect that twenty-five. pei
cent of our population is now to be
found in the cities and the impOr.
tance of the question is further seen
when we remember that the politi
cal, social and other powers of the
cities are far greater than their popu.
lation would indicate. But the
problem of municipal government is
to be considered not merely on these
grounds, but more particularly be.
cause the health, prosperity and
safety OF the entire population is
largely dependent upon the mayor
and council. In the country you
may have the fresh air in spite ol
the stupidity and criminal careless
ness of men, but in the city where
sewers are needed, and pure water
supply and clean streets should pre-
vail it is very evident that if officials
are elected who neglect these and
other matters the welfare of the
citizens will suffer accordingly.
In view of these facts, and of the in
f1uence which the cities exercise upon
the national life of the people it is not
an exaggeration to say that munich
pal affairs are of greater moment than
state or federal affairs, and that the
business capacity, intelligence and
moral Integrity of the mayor
and council should at least
be as high as those of the
men whom we choose to represent
us in our state and nation. Yet it
must be admitted that the interest
displayed is far inferior to that which
we exhibit in these other matters,
and that the character of the men
chosen will scarcely bearcomparison
with that OF men who represent us
in congress or in the chair of state
AS result OF this we find that the
government of our cities is in the
main a reproach and scandal. II
is true that at times the people RISE
in their might and with one gigantic
sweep clear the board Of boodlers
:, who fatten upon the public purse
The clearing out of the Tweed ring
and similar instances were here cited
Unfortunately the spirit of reform has
been too spasmodical and has soo1
spent itself. A different condition O
things is however now apparent
People throughout the land have al
last realized the fact that it is MOI
enough that the evil be checked, but
that for the sake of our national ex
istence it must be wiped out.
It is evident that if the evils
in our municipal government are tt
be remedied and honest administra
tion prevail that certain things hav'
, to be kept in mind and he actet
upon. One of them is that city poll
, ties should be entirely divorced from
: state and national politics. TIL
questions at issue are entirely differ
ent. The question of q mans po
, litical belief ought not to concern III
t in his candidacy for mayor or alder
2 man any more than the nature O
: his business. The truth is municipa
government is business not politics
{: The same principle therefore SHOULD
= prevail that prevails in the conduc
: of bank or any other business.
> We today are in the beginning Q
: the throes of another municipal cleo
r tion; already candidates have lie
clared themselves. AS to those can
didates or any other candidates tina
e may present themselves, I have moth
: ing personal to say. but the prin
y ciple underlying all is something
: concerning which it is eminently fiji
e ting to speak. Therefore bearing i
: mind the effect which good govern
8 ment or otherwise will have upo
= the future welfare of the city it isbu
right tl1at we give to- the questiO
that attention which it deserves.
The condition of Little Falls
J. somewhat out ofthe common, ther'
n fore the gravity Of the situation
y all the greater. We are accustOme
to speak of our city as all old settle
community, and so it is, and old Sc
tiers, pioneers in this section, al
: with us today and many ofthem al
e rightly hOnored for their many ste
n ling qualities. BUTT is none the les
n true that Little Falls is also a ne,
Il town. having those hopes and aspire
f. tions, having those advantages an
r, dangers peculiar to Tostnew comm,
J. mites. Like Phoenix it is risen, so t
/. speak, from the ashes of a dead pas
v to grow into a large and prosperor
+ city If the Inhabitants display Il trr
n amount OF public spirit and dete
> mine that the affairs of the city sha
he rightly administered. You'll
whethekin the individual or In tt