Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-01
The CITY Council Ticket.

Who of US has not recently heard II
said, I've ought to try to elect a good
city Council this Year, The remark Is
20 Oft repeated that. realiyTit has usurped
in small talk the place that tho weather
held for ages.
Yes; the conviction II abroad, and grow
ing. that VIC ought to have n fine body
of men In our Council next,term. and tho
people would joyfuliy vote FOR men or
notably strong intellccts and great busi-
ness experience IL such could DO induced
to come out as candidates. The thing to
do-the practical work now necessary
is TO influence more good men to an
nounce themselves as candidates.
II thee were days when ward meetings
were In vogue. the unthinking public
would arrive at the conclusion that the
hesitation which we see on the part or
many men whoge services in the city
Council are desirable. was due to the
ward-meeting system. We should hear
the remark: What gentleman is going 20
submit his claims TO packed ward meet
ing? &c.
Such things were said OF old. and said
so persistently that the wardmeeting
system was abandoned in favor OF pri-
mary elections. The change was n popu-
lar one. The primary remains popular
but who can say that it has given us
councllmen Of a higher grade than ward
meetings did? We are not arguing In
favor OF a return 10 the old system-oh
no, that belongs to past which VIII
never return-but the public must know
that the present system entails upon the
candidate far greater labor and expense
than the old system did. Truth TO say
many worthy men have horror OF gong
into a primary contest, and II we would
secure their services in the Board OF
Aldermen or Common Council. We must
not only persuade them 10 announce
themselves as candidates. but must
promise to help them in their primary
election canvass. 1t is enough for man
whose services are craved by the pubic
70 be willing TO give those services with
out being required TO spend a month s
time anu IlutL lllOIlg W kNl VIVID e''N
both Of these things are necessary, and
If the candidate will not, or cannot, do
them for himself his friends must do
them for him-unless they are willing
to see him march to defeat
The cost in time and money OF getting
a nomination Is not the only drawback
TO securing popular candidates. Another
drawback is the cruel criticism TO which
councilmen are subjected. The only Juen
who really know how TO run the Rich
mond City Government are the men VINO
never have been-and never will be
entrusted with that duty. Similarly. the
only men who really knew how the bat
ties OF the Confederacy should have been
fought were the men who could never
bear the smell of gunpowder.
For. our part we yield TO no one in
earnestness Of desire 10 see experienced
business men-men of Intellectual
strengthen the next city Council. for
that Council has great problem before
It. II has got TO find way to continue
present expenses without increasing taxa
ton, or It has got to revise and reduce
the city's expense account. The mere put
ting out 10 contract Of the work OF Dig
ging sewers will not save us from de-
felt More retrenchment is needed. 50
we say that the problem before the CITY
Council is a mighty one. Nor shall we
consent to put all the responsibility or
our present financial condition upon the
City Council. The people for years ana
years well knew what was going on in
the building OF the City Hall. and con-
scented TO it, In fact, 1t was under
stood to be a sort OF price which We
engaged to pay to get ourselves out OF
political predicanent.
However, all that belongs to the past
We recur to 1t merely to say that few
Of US are without blame in the matter;
also. to say that our City Council is not
so desperately bad as some suppose; yet
might well be improved.
Those are valuable citizens who are at
work trying 10 get more good men 10
list themselves as candidates for noini-
nation but even more valuable are those
citizens who 30 farther and pledge the
candidates whom they would have chosen
that they will open their pocket-books
and pull off their coats and so to WORK
for them. In not other way can the very
best material be obtained. and. upon the
whole. we may say TO our fellow-citizans:
If you are in earnest show 1t by your
works.