People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-06-27
Mayor SaYage,s Veto.
To the Honorable Council OF the City Of We'll
lington, Kansas.

OeneuI OF the mayor IN making his
appointments, but really having for
its object the desire OF the council 10
correct as far as possible the failure
aud mistake OF our citizens at the
late city election in not electlng a
mayor that would no doubt have been
in full accord with the council In
carrying out your civil service ideas,
in continuing in Office a man whose
term of Office expired over two years
ago, and who was continued in Office
during the last two years by the re.
quest OF his friends, and and by his
own request, that if he might be
allowed to have the office one ear he
would then be able to retire with his
debts paid and gratitude unspeakable
toward the mayor for his kindness.
II the old saying is true, that he who
gives quickly gives twice, to that
might be added, that he who gives
twice as much as has been asked for,
gives four-fOld, for l not only allowed
him to hold the office the first year
but without any request gave him the
second year also. The manner in
which he repaid the kindness and
courtesy shown to him, during the
late campaign may meet with the ap-
probation Of the council and all other
civil service reformers in this country,
but viewed in the light OF practical
politics 1t seems to me that man
who is so partisan that he can not
vote for a man belonging to another
party zen after he has held Office
under him fer two years, that his
party loyalty and partisan convictions
would not allow him to hold Office any
longer without a great sacrifice OF
that respect that every man should
have for himself and his friends. And
while l know very little about mug.
wumps and their civil service ideas,
| always supposed that the genuine
mugwump and civil service reformers
were not partisan in their convictions.
but like the tadpOles and pOllywogs
that they so much resemble they
fiOated idly in the muddy waters of
the pond without any desire to emerge
from their embryonic state to become
perhaps the boss bull frog of the sur
rounding country. Viewed in the
domain of practical politics it is right
and proper that the president Of the
United States, the governor of state,
the mayor of city, should have the
right to place men in the different
positions under him who supported
his administration. If this can not
be done as was well outlined by a
member of this council at our last
meeting, there would be no need of
holding elections for placing an ex-
ecutive officer in the chair. Suppos-
ing that after our last state election
your party had been told by the state
senate that they would not confirm
any of the appointments Of "our great
redeemer," the great results to be
derived from that great victory might
have been largely frustrated. The
capital that had been driven from our
state by the lack Of confidence in the
late administration might not have
returned to bless our people with low
interest, and abundant credit. The
damnable liquor traffic, that lately
flOurished all over our state in spite
of the protests Of great moral and
patriotic party, would not today be
driven from our land. Railroad stock
yards and other corporate interests
would still for want Of proper legisla-
tion, fitch from our people their hard
earned money. Emigration and
capital that had been turned away
from our state by the "anarchistic"
declarations OF the last admlnistra-
tion would not now be rushing upon
US. In fact all the many blessings
that We enjoy as the result of this
election would have, by the refusal Of
the senate to confirm or pass the leg
islation so much desired, still be de-
MED to an indignant and outraged
community.
1t seems to me that il practical
politics can confer such blessings upon
our people, and we are told it will and
has done so. that civil service reform
when applied as you now seek to do
to the ancient and honorable Office OF
grave digger can for the present re-
main in allowance.
If the wise and patriotic course OF
our governor in spending every dollar
of his contingent fund in attempting
to remove from Office the appointees
Of our late governor even before the
term to which they were appointed
had expired, merits as it seems to the
approval Of his party; it seems 10 me
that the mayor Of your city might be
allowed the rights and privileges that
hos navar hafora haan doniad IN apy