The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-08

Az OBJECT LESION ~ POLITICS

Az OBJECT LESSON ~ POLITICS.
The election Tuesday was an object les
son in politics. In our Judgment II has
disposed OF the '.Citixens' ti.kst" ~ q
means Of municipal reform - the baseless
fabric OF vision. We are not assailins
the sincerity Of those who differ with us
In opinion: We are only pointing out that
the slsction OF Tuesday demonstrates
ansv that '.Citisens' ticket" IL not re-
ga-ded with popular favor - the best road
70 municipal reform. A municipal or
citizens league. composed Of good men OF
Ill parties. who keep watchfui eye over
public business. who expose and denouncc
wrongdoing or demand explanation OF
what seems to Be obscure or unwise or in
sxpcdiens In the transact ion Of pubic
business, In . good thing: IL holds tho
party In power mp TO high ideals and
threatens them with overthrow Cor
misgove rument or administration.
Such Ieagne lifts the standard of munich
pal administration higher in all pasties
and keeps it thereI It warns parties in adj.
vance OF their nominations that municipal
reform must be assured in their party
lines by good nominations and good con-
duct II the party expects new lease Of
administration. But q citizens ticket in
advance Of the nominations Of the various
political parties 10 . mere barren ideality
that has seldom proved In practice Of the
slightest benefit to tho community. II
Ill parties are so completely in the hands
Of boodiers or incompetents that none but
boodieYs or incompetenss are nominated,
then and not till then arc we face to face
with m emergency that would seem to
Justify so doubtful political expedient
o citizens ticket
Passing from the theory Of q citisens'
ticket to practice. il has confessedly been
= failure In this country. II 10 easy to
quote the history Of the municipal admin.
istrstion Of great European cities like
Paris, Berlin, London and Glasgow, and
inquire why the methods of European
municipal administration canno, be made
our own; the answer is that our form of
government 10 different; the vote is in
every mans hand In the United States:
our political habits of independence of po-
litical voice and action are so different
from those or European municipalities
that We are obliged TO accomplish our
governmental work here not in obedience
90 theories but In consouanee " 18th wha.
h practicable. The political education OF
che average American Is such that he will
not leave his own party for a
citizens ticket 30 long as he does
not despair OF good government aud
municipal reform within the party lines
There Was nothing in the history of "citi.
sens ticket" administrations In this eoan-
cry that encouraged any honest Repubh.
can 60 believe that municipal reform
would be the gamer by voting fer citi.
sens tickst, therefore. he voted with his
party, nreferring to rest the responsibility
for good or bad government with his
party.
We are not disposed TO question
that a number of Democrats voted Tues
day for the Republican ticket even as two
years age number OF Republicans voted
for the Democratic nominee. bu, the re-
sponsibliity for the administration rested
with the Democracy: they failed to Justify
the confidence placed In them by indie
pendent voters and they suffered for their
failure. These independent voters knew
that IL VAS OF no use 60 vote for the eiti-
sens ticket; Its nominees were AZ least nc
better than those of the Republican ticket,
I, had no responsibility behind IL IL sue.
eessful: il had small chance al
success: for any Large diversion 81
the reform vote TO the citizens
tiese, would only serve 10 elect The Demo
cratic ticket. The head OF this ticket wa.
respectable. bat sho convention that nom
mated him WAS clearly Wolfe con,
only have been the election of Wolf in
Sleeps clothing. As natter OF practical
common sense. therefore. the independent
municipal reform vote refused TO divide
aimee there MAS danger in division Of shs
election OF the old Wolfe Democratic al
Vas elected. IL would be ticket without
any party responsibility. and. Judging By
she lessons of the past, would not - likely
20 give Us "a improved administration
il did rot do go In Portland, Or, and in
she recent debate before the Nations
nueicina. reform conference a. ranaiel
pAia IL Was frankly confessed by the lead
Ing speakers that ''eitirens' tickets" Ia,
net helped the cause Of municipal reform
In practice.
The factor o. human nature can net b
left oas in politics. and II 1, 80 aitsenis "a
dssaeh a man from his raT:y except ia
event Of It's failure % nominate = trust
worthy ticket that sissssns' tlcses, s>ner.
slly fail OF success and leave the cid ring ia
power. cr IL thsv saeeee<s are soon car
sussa by tho politicians ser revenue anYv
81 both PARTIES. Tas Philadelphia psrss
sa disegssias this problem of mgasespA
refovfa. fssors tns organization OF raunics
PAL league composed Of coed estlxsrs o
Gil parties. whose snaiaenos shall be 4
make oil parties give nominations tina
essare . descent administration. aad IL,