The Irish standard., 1894-01-20
SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1894.
GOVERNMENT OF CITIES.

GOVERNMENT OF CITIES.
The people of Minneapolis are under
obligation to the B lard of Trade for in
viting DR.. Washington GLADDEN. to leo
ture in this city on municipal reform. A
crowded house greeted the social re-
former at the Lyceum Theatre last
Tuesday evening, and standing vote OF
appreciation and thanks was rendered to
him at the close of his instructive ad-
dress. Men of the various political par
ties listened in rapt attention to DIR
GLADDEN., and when he declared that
<sHome rule in the largest sense should
be the right of every city and that the
legislature of Minnesota should have no
more power to impose charter on the
city of Minneapolis than Congress had
to impose constitution upon the State
Minnesota" the audience expressed
their appreciation by applause. That
was Democratic doctrine which was fre-
suently enunciated when the Republican
legislature of this State appointed po-
lice commission for Minneapolis few
years ago. DIR. GLADDEN. favors zone
man power for the government of city
and would hold the Mayor responsible at
ter concentrating executive power in his
hands. He would give the Mayor the
appointment of all heads of departments.
One man can drive team, guide ship,
run locom olive or command an army
better than five men can, and with sim
Gle responsible head in the city govern
ment, the people know whom to praise
or censure. There is safety in a multi
tude of counselors but confusion and
wreck in multitude of bosses. He
would abolish the wards and thus get
rid Of the ward bosses and che ward
healers, and elect the council and the
board of education upon general ticket.
Having established system Of execu-
tive responsibility giving to the Mayor
the appointments and removals of heads
of departments he would introduce civil
service reform by having competitive ex'
aminations of applicants for sub coordinate
positions. Such changes as these would
tend to the publication of municipal
and the people had the
20 wer to adopt them in spite OF the
party politicians. Municipal politics
follow the lines of national politics, and
are utterly destitute of meaning. Neither
party in a municipal contest has any
ideas to contend for; nothing is at stake
but the possession of the offices. The
only principles involved are John Ran
dolph's famous seven-tive loaves and
two fishes Politics which rest upon
such a foundation are not likely to rise
much above the curb stone and the gut
ter. If these are among the causes OF
the ineffi cheney and corruption OF NUM-
nal government some of the first steps
Of reform are clearly indicated.
!. DR.. GLADDEN. favored the holding OF
municipal 1elections entirely separate
from state and national elections. The
mistake of holding them at the same
time was demonstrated in this city at the
last election when the candidates for
Mayor were discussing the tariff problem
instead of municipal affairs. The Repub
I;can candidate carried around q tin can
10 prove the ;beauty Of the Mckinley
tariff in developing infant industries, and
,sid scarcely anything OF his policy for
The government ofthe city. The Repub
|ican party is responsible for holding the
election simultaneously with
tha state and national elections, knowing
hat they can poll larger vote in that
Ray. The speaker advocated the forma-
ion Of non-partisan leagues for the ad-
,ancement 6 good municipal govern
,nent ana an hours most instruc-
ive addrss following words: mo
nan iyeth ye are members
ne Of. another must in some good de-
RS prevail before our cities will be fully
from that bondage Of corrup-
q; ~ under which they now groan and
avail together. Bat every word Of
lear testimony, every set of good will,
l vsry S1nselfish effort 80 promote the
1 ali,rnon 4 veal bring q little
.,.lrer w an III tha deliEeranoe.