Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-02-28
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY IS, 1895.
A Non-Partisan City Government.

The abSurdltN OF partisan poullCS
in affairs purely local, and especially
in the local affairs of town or small
city. is a fact so self-evident as to be
almost automatic Its influence has
never been more strikingly illustrated
than in the conduct of municipal af-
fairs in This city since the year OF Its
birth, and even for years before-eVen
when it was Yet a town.
Let us not be misunderstood. We
do not mean to say that there have
not been able and capable officials III
the municipal government of the city
of Ellsworth. both in the mayors
chair and in the board of aldermen;
nor do we mean to cast any reflection
upon the integrity or whole hearted
ness of the present outgoing city gov
eminent. These gentlemen are all
well -known and successful business
men-men whose loyalty to the town
cannot be questioned.
Nevertheless, the board, during the
past wear. as in all previous years, has
Enthusiastically been partisan, and
many of its acts have been done for
party reasons, and have been justitia-
BILE only on that ground. Many of
these acts are Unsuitable on political
grounds. but unjustifable on purely
business grounds, and would not have
been done, in many cases, by mem
bers of the board in the conduct of
their own private affairs. The disad-
vantage of this state of things, as we
have said before, is so apparent that 1t
is not necessary to enter into detail
A movement, started a few weeks
ago with a view to the nomination
and election of a non partisan board
of municipal officers, met with a most
hearty response True, there We're
men in both parties who questioned
its expedieney and its possibility. The
joint request of the city committees of
the two leading political parties that
the recently organized board of trade
express is opinion as to the propriety
of non partisan government met with
prompt action was taken by these two
committees The result of their work
may be found in our news columns,
which give in detail the w ork of the
caucuses held last Thursday after
noon
The importance HI, az ton OF the
caucuses cannot be overestim1ted. If
it result, a. il tf.bably Wy. in the
election Of the Citizens ticket next
Monday Ellsworth will have taken
her place in the ranks of progressive
cities. ard her future, from munich
pal as We'll a. from a material stand
point, Is rendered more bright. This
city las IN is hands in the near future
much work. for which the board of
trade Is responsible. The establish
ment OF a creamery here is assured;
nnless al signs fail, an electric rail-
road Viii be built connecting the Falls
with The DAY. The Importance OF a nom
partisan government at the inception
of such undertakings is of vital con-
sequence, and every right minded
citizen should hail with delight its in
coming.
1t is to be regretted that the action
of the republicans in Ward 4 is not in
harmony with the caucus work in the
other four wards. 1t is entirely proper
to say that Mr.. Maddocks, the citi-
zens' candidate for alderman in this
ward. would not be, under ordinary
conditions, wholly acceptable to re-
pubhcans; but Mr.. Maddocks as a
docks as non partisan alderman are,
we have every reason to believe,
somewhat different men. In any
event, he is reasonably sure to repre-
sent the fourth ward in the next city
government anyhow, and it would be
vastly more advantageous for the cit
liens of that ward to have its repre-
sentative elected as a non-partisan.
Of the gentleman who heads the
citizens ticket but little at this time
need be said AS an able lawyer, as d
successful business man, he is known
by all to possess qualifications which
especially fit him for the position to
which he will no doubt be elected.
It is the duty-and it ought to be re-
garded as a privilege-of all right
minded citizens, of all who have the
best interests of the city at heart, to
enter heartily into the movement,
which at this writing bids fair to wipe
out of existence, for year at least,
partisanship in our local affairs, and
to put into Office a city government
which shah conduct municipal affairs
AZ limos on Tbio h