The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-02-01
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1895.
Ex-Governor Pattison for Mayor Of
Philadelphia,

cause of the gravity of the occasion
for reform there and the national
reputation of the reformer, 1t is case
the outcome OF which is being watch
ed in many places besides Philadel-
phia and places which are perhaps in
as much need of political publication.
If Democratic New York city needed
an exposure through the Lexow in
vestlgating committee, Republican
Philadelphia is not a whit better, and
she no doubt can reveal political cor
ruption enough to .nauseate the
Quaker stomach-that is if her true
inwardness" and hell-bent corruption
is fully revealed and properly dis
played,
The effort to defeat reformation in
advance of the election, by setting up
the claim that the reformer is ineligi-
BILE on the ground of his being a non
resident, seems to be somewhat like
the Queen Lane Reservoir, inasmuch
as 1t would not hold water or stand
the test of legal decision or constitu-
tonal law, when brought fairly and
squarely to bear upon the case in
point.
1t is said by impartial writers from
abroad, who have no finger or thumb
IN the reservoir pie, that Ex-Governor
Pattison's letter Of acceptance of this
nomination contains in itself a fair
declaration of manly principle and
purpose, well calculated to lift the
pending campaign In that politically
rotten city far above party lines
1t has taken Philadelphia many
years of costly experience to realize
the full wisdom of rotation of office
as the founders saw it; long time
to recognize the senseessness of con-
ducting municipal campaigns on
strictly partisan issues and within
strict party lines for the spoils the
various Offices can be made 10 shell
out by hook and crook.
Already the unbiased and those
seeking only good government are led
to hope for and prophesy reformatory
success through the general uprising
OF the independent voters of the city.
Tnls will be the more gratifying be-
cause all independence of action has
been SO consplcuously wanting in the
past.
by express terms of the law gov
ernlng or supposed to govern Phila-
delphla, the officers and members of
every municipal department are for
bldden to participate in political con-
ventlons or to impose or submit to
the levy of tax for political purposes.
Heretofore there has been no pre-.
tence to live up to this law, and polit-
zeal assessments have been levied and
collected right along much to the
detrlment of the minority and whole
some government for the majority
In fact Mr. Pattison holds that the
utter disregard for this law has been
largely responsible for the prevalent
corruption in the municipal govern |
ment. He promises, furthermore,
that IN the event of his election he
will at least make an effort to enforce
this purifying statute. That's why the
FOUNDERS love him less and hate him
more. Hitherto independent Demo- |
Gratis and Republicans have been run
by machine Democrats and Republi.
cans. A combination of forces alone
can now affect relief, and the better
element of Democrats and Republ-
cans have combined on Pattson in
the hope of that relief. In his letter
OF acceptance the Governor says;
I" will not only not permit the par
tlclpatlon of the officers and EMPLOYEES
OF the city government in politics,
but | will absolutely prohibit and
prevent it. will require of the
members of the fire, the police and
every other department abstention
from all display of party feeling or
interest and from every manner of
interference in political affairs" We
have no doubt the promise will be
kept in case the Ex-Governor is elect
ed. He deserves to be elected, be-
cause his success at the polls affords
the only hope of the redemption of
Philadelphia from the ring rule which
has blighted it for so many years.
Concerning this election the Centre
vile Record, of Maryland, says:
Ex-Governor Pattison, bv fidelity |
and integrity, has become fixture in
the confidence and esteem of his
fellow citizens in Pennsylvania. He
mas served them for two full terms as
Governor of the State and twice in
the position of Controller of Philade-
phla. He has just laid aside the res.
possibilities Of the Gubernatorial Of