The record-union., 1895-10-01
POLITICAL INACTIVITY IN CITIES.

POLITICAL INACTIVITY IN CITIES.
The limitations which some men place
upon the duty they owe to the COM
munity in which they have their homes
are very narrow. In searching for
reason, for instance, for the dit1iculty
that is often experienced in securing
business and fully capable men to take
legislative positions in a municipal gov
ernment, difficulty encountered, by the
way, in all oities, these excuses have been
advanced that the experienced, the high
minded and the capable men will not
submit themselves to the manipulations
OF the political leaders; that the reward
is wholly insufficient; that the candi-
date has to promise too much and to en-
gage in methods that are repugnant to
mind not absorbed by a gross political
ambition that the caucuses, primaries
and conventions are run by machine
politicians and the desirable men are not
wanted.
If we analyze these reasons it will be
found that not one of them will e2-
cuse the citizen who complains OF
the results of failure to do his duty
and to have compelled as he might
have done due recognition. 1t is very
true that caucuses are run by those
who make ward politics an avocatIon,
but it is because there is as rule so little
interest manifest in these beginnings OF
government by the very people VINO
enter the complaint. 1t is not necessary
that the citizen should submit to BOSS
methods nor to be consumed by political
ambition in order to make himself felt IN
in city government. In short. If caucuses,
primaries and conventions are not con-
Quoted as they should be, the fault lies
mainly with those who fail to engage IN
these necessary political activities.
For il is quite as true in politics as III
government that people get about what
they deserve, which is another way OF
saying that he who neglects to concern
himself in the methods of promoting
candidates. is estopped from complain
ing of those who do.
The nearest to the truth is this, that 1t
Is selfishness which fathers neglect of the
order treated. It is because business
men, for instance, are SO self1shly ab-
sorbed in the conduct of their affairs that
they will not spare any time for the COM
mon concern of the community. And
this is said not Extensively. but as the
only frank way of expressing what to
our mind is an undeniable truth. If that
other proposition is true with which we
set out, namely, that every man owes
something of public duty doing to the
community in which he lives.
Ifthis truth were 80 deeply impressed
upon every mind as to produce conviction
and action, we would seldom hear Of
'.citizens' aud independent" and re-
buking aftermath organizations and ac-
tiyities, when the time came for choosing
nominees for municipal offices. For If so
many as six-tenths of all the citizens who
are able to do so and should do so, were
to take active part in the preliminarles OF
producing and nominating legislative
candidates, the work of conventions OF
regular parties would be of such an order
rs to be very little open to criticism.
For instance, in the late Republican
Convention in this city in one instance
the position of legislator for the city went
begping. vet there are not less than fifty
Republicans in that ward who are in
every way qualified by business capacity.
general intelligence. fixed interests. ex-
perience and the confidence of the people.
to serve the city in its common council.
No, we are more and more convinced
that the reason there is difficulty and
often fiat failure to procure the right
timber for municipal legislators, is due
to the objectionable selfshness OF tho
citizens who owe something to their city
and refuse to pay the debt. They expect
ideal government and contribute nothing
to 1t; they demand capability but refuse
service; they deplore the drift toward
jobbery and the spoils methods. but will
accept no responsibility and do nothing
TO prevent 1t. We shall not have in
American cities legislative bodies which
are truly representative OF the highest
interests Of the communities, until there
is break up along the lines of selfish
absorption in business, personal COM
fort and pleasure, that withdraw from
political activity so large body of our
citizens.
THE young California legislator Lsuge-
nour, whose disappearance we COM
mented upon some months ago. has re-