The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-14
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
BY ABBOT KINNEY


early commentators on our institutions.
he praised the strength of our local
self government, especially the New Eng
| land township organization. He was i'm
pressed with the soundness of our politi-
| cal foundations as shown IN local affairs.
| This local political unit was small. Pub
lie policy was determined, measures Or
dered and officers selected IN open meet
ing. At such meeting all citizens we're
present and all could be heard. The pub
tic business and the conduct of public
officers was directly under the eye and
open to the question of every citizen.
Partisan political machinery was abso-
lutely unknown.
The Office sought the man. We note
ih the New ENGLAND township records
frequent fines on those who declined to
take the public offices to which their
fellows elected them. Public office was
then duty an6 not a private privilege.
Imm grafton bstween 1850 and 1915 was
small. The American population taken
in districts was homogeneous. Trans
portaton was difficult. Industry was To-
cal and largely of the family. Tastes
were simple. Religion was strong. The
At that time per cent of the Ameri-
can people resided in towns of S00U or
more people.
Every ons of these conditions has
changed, until today 80 per cent OF our
people live in cities. Transportation and
banking wonderfully facilitate exchange.
Industry has become specialized. Pro.
duction has increased for each worker.
Wealth is great. Standards are high.
Simplicity Is gone. Religion is weak and
the family as a political and industrial
unit is no more.
The increase OF our population is no long
er from our own lons, but is now due to
immigrants. These, with the versatile
and migratory tastes of our own native
born, have made our population less
homogeneous than it was. The federal
census shows chat the population of
America owed its increase largely in the
last decade TO inn migrants and not to
births over deaths.
We all desire increased population,
| advertise for it,speculate on it and hurrah
when we get it. But we unite in letting
the other fellow provide the population.
We are desirous of increasing population,
put we are diIaiu W nave cuilureH ou1-
selves.
Our standards increase geometrically
while our nc cans of attaining these grow
only arith m etically.
About 1884 the political partisan ma
chine commenced its life. Nov it domi.
mates down to the election of q constable.
In our early history, and, in fact. to a
recent period the primaries and conven.
: tons that now rule us politically were
! unknown. The Australian ballot law
and the Porter primary law are the first
laws that even indirectly recog nize the
existence of these extra constitutional
methods.
The real political government of this
country, the power that makes policies
and names our public officers, is the
csbal or boss of our political partisan
| machine.
| This power is without personal respon-
sibility and exists Independent OF the
| popular will.
Its growth is cue to its advantage in
using The public business as a means to
| serve private ambition or to increase
personal wealth at the general expense.
The political machine 1f our parties is
no. of the people nor for the people.
(! 1t exists for private snds. 1t is no part
of our constitution and had no legal life
| 1t is absolutely irresponsible. Party pol
| itics is mere incident or tool of the
| political machine.
\ The New England township principle
| of direct popular selection of all execu-
| tive officers depends for its benefits upon
| the imm ediats and direct control of the
! public business by the entire body polite.
The general meeting of all citizens was
and IS the only and solitary means of
selecting all subordinate executive officers
exclusively on public grounds.
The growth and concentration of our
population creates conditions that render
the transaction OF any public business
by means of meeting of all voters en-
tirely impracticable.
The history of the Roman republic
demonstrates the inpossibility of an In
telligent, honest and patriotic conduct OF
public affairs by the entire body of cleo
tors when these become too numerous.
We have insensibly drifted about for
a practical political application for
changed conditions. and nave fallen into
our partisan machine organization.
Under this system party at once divides
us and the cleft goes from crown to heel,
from president to constable.
The party primary election Is the
means by which we man the convention.
This system nurses the party and the
faction. The old township plan uniting
locally all citizens and recognizing no |
party, has disappeared.
The effect OF the political machine IS to |
transfer allegiance from the nation to the |
party. No convention ever represents
the whole people. rarely even It's own |
party. The machine uses public office |
for party reward anG tends to made |
personal emoluments our dominating !!
political aim. and to diminish regard for |
efficiency in the public business.
Two-thiras uf the chief county and citv |
officers OF Los Angeles do not perform
the duties of their offices. Some of then, |
are unwilling to give an honest ana COM
petent service. Indeed, competent SER
vice in public Office is not now demanc.
ed. Others are quite incapable of per-
forming Their official duties.
The total result of our political ma.
chine method is an expensive ant in. |
efficient government.
Our present system in state county and
city is either without unity of plan and
action or else it is directed by political
combines like Tammany or the Kelly e.
Crimmins Co. OF San Francisco. or by
bosses like Tweed, Buckley, Quay or
Burns.
The sole object of such control of public
business in public plumber. This is OBJ
tanned by patronage" and the taxing of
subordinate officers for their places by
privileges solo to business men, to private
persons or to corporations and to the
blackmailing ana license of crime.
Besides this, all public supplies and
public work must pay tribute that goes
TO enrich the party faction or boss. The
character OF the suDDlies or tho sorvi.,o