The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-07
srxrrIE. WsDxEsD1Y. YEs. ..
xxsonm IN CITY GovEErnrsr.

REFORM IN CITY GovERNMKSr.
Franklin Mcveagh, Of Chicago, holds
that the trouble with municipal govern
rent Ii '.ths indifference and neglect Of
good citizens. No city government In
frse country can rise above the level of the
political energies Of the people. II the
good citizens will neglect the duties Of
citizenship tho duty necessarily falls on
She bad citizens. Political corruption rests
on tho wreck OF good citizenship"
This IL only ssying what we have always
maintained. that eternal vigilance II thu
price Of good city government as well ss 1t
IL the price Of liberty. There Is no substi-
tute for il where universal suffrage pre-
walls. This Is all good 90 far as ID goes.
but IL does not 60 far enough. At the re-
cent meeting of the national conference
for good city government held at Philadel-
phia Mr.. Roosevelt. Of New York city. hit
the nail squarely on the head when he
pointed out that many of the numerous
failures that have been made In movements
toward municipal reform during the last
twenty years have been due to the reform
ers Themselves. Impracticabie methods
have been employed. Ifthere was limited
suffrage in this country. A. in Europe.
then the methods employed there to obtain
good municipal government would be APP
plicable here, but those conditions do not
exist here; they never will and never
ought to prevail here, 90 all attempts to
transplant the municipal administration
Of European cities to the United States
will fail and they ought to fail. In this
national conference for good city govern
ment 10 Was frankly confessed that munici-
pal reform through the nomination OF "a
citizens ticket" had generally fallen TO the
ground OF It's own weight. 1t Is not suffi-
cient to reform city abuses for clique of
men TO get together, recite the situation,
declare what ought TO be done, name
ticket and then expect every one who
wants good government to support ID on
their say 90. Such schemes have been
tried again and again. and tho men
prominent In them. discouraged by their
first failure, have after that usually become
the strictest party men. why7 Because
they find out that the most powerful
means TO secure good government IL 10 en-
trust one or tho other of the political
parties with the government and then
hold them to strict party responsibility
for their administration.
The government Of . city Of a.. 600 peo-
pie ought to be either Democratic or Re-
publican or Populist, for in that event the
responsibility for good or bad government
IL fixed upon distinct political party ia at
exists not only In Seattle but all through
the state. II the party in Seattle gives the
city good government is strengthens ID
oil through the state; IL adds to its repu-
tstion. enhances its credit for putting none
but good men. honest and capable, In
Office. and II IL does not do this il dis.
credits the party not only In Seat.
tie but all over the state. Suppose
Tammany Hall gave New York city
an excellent municipal government,
would it not immensely strengthen the
Democracy in the Empire state1 Ii does
not do this, and the Democracy was beaten
in fsas because Tammsny hail insisted on
forcing tainted judge upon the Demo
cratic state ticket
Hold the political party In power 20
strict responsibility for NAL administration
and You put both political parties on their
meitle; they say We cannot afford TO
weaken our party by mai-sdministratlo ION.
for If we do the people will give us a vote
of want OF confidence ny e!ec;ing the
ticket of thsopposition. The opposition
is stimulated 70 make good nominations.
because they wish 60 succeed; and the OPP
position is stimulated 20 upright admins
tration because they know that they
are on trial: II they are iuconpetsn.
or uafaithiul they will DO sure TO he re.
placed by the party they turned out Of
power, Nothing but this strict holding OF
political parties 20 stern responsibility for
their municipal administration Will give
us good government. lie, both parties
understand that they sill not be con-
tinued in power an hour beyond the time
they forfeit public confidence hy ineempe-
tent. corrupt o. ex;Eayagant administr..
tioa.
80 CAsf StsANA SsAAANe - WH8t - CA4a&1
"a citizens ticket" Practically "a ci..
sens ticket" 10 generally failure whether
81 IS elected or Is defeated. Ii Is generally
Q failure il II is victorious at The polls be-
cause IL it is guilty Of inefficient or mai
administration its &nsye or foel is held 4,
no political responsibility. The nerso-
crate. Republicans and Pepulisss can all
say, Never shake your CORY locks 81
Us; he IS no ogaoer 81 oar making 4"
u Democratic Or Republican or Popugist
administration fails the architect of ruin
10 their particular knave or tool. They
selected him. and the party feels the shock
Oil over the state. 80 there is s severe
political stress resting upon The political
party IN pewsr TO select good tsckc, ana
give good administration. because shev
kaow that az the mex. election they can
net dodge responsibility for failure. Ths
arehsiee; Of ruin IS their particular scoun-
are, knays or fooi. But AZ aGnin.s.ra-