The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-20
Where the Trouble Lies.

hibits members of the fire department
| from acting as delegates to party con-
ventions, from peddling tickets on cleo.
ton day and from otherwise actively
interesting themselves in elections. Mr.
Lapp's idea in inserting this rule with
the others is perhaps little in adj
vance of practice in most western
cities, but it is what years of expert
ence have convinced eastern cities to
be the proper course, not only as re-
CARDS the fire department but the
police department also.
1t is the duty of every citizen,
whether he be business man or clergy
man, rich man or poor, to take an in
terest in the affairs of the city IN
which he lives. The patriotism may
be doubted of the man who refuses to
take an active part in a municipal
election because there is or has been
corruption" in politics The first
duty of a'citizen, if he finds or sus-
poets corruption, is to turn loose and
try to reform things. The best gov
erned cities to-day are the cities where
the largest proportion of the citizens
take an active interest in the elections.
While it is desirable that as many
citizens as possible take an active in
terest in the coming city election in
Butte, and not in the election alone
but particularly in the primaries and
the conventions, yet the propriety of
firemen and policemen taking an
active interest in the matter may be
doubted. Butte has not yet the met
ropolitan system of police and fire
management, and until it has it may
be impossible to keep political flavor
completely out of the police and fire
departments. Yet there never was a
very good police department that was
not completely divorced from politics.
Butte will not have one until this can
be done.
When employees of the city realize
that their municipal positions for an
other year depend on their efforts at
primaries, conventions and elections.
ii IS not to be wondered at that police
men and other employees should mani
fest very deep interest in the success
of this man or that, of one party or
another. The position of policeman
and of fireman should be such as to
require no qualification save merit
A good policeman or a good fireman
who chances to be a democrat should
not feel that, no matter how faithful
a servant he may be, his job is no
good if the other party wins. There
never can be satisfactory service in
these departments as long as this is the
case. 1t is not a question of change
of administration or of party. The
oftener the change in administration.
the oftener the change in party, the
worse will be the police and fire serv-
ice, If appointments of police and fire
officers are TO be made in accordance
with each change of administration or
of party. Elect a reform citizens
ticket, and let the best possible men
in the city of Butte be appointed to
the various offices, and there will be
no perceptible advance in efficiency so
long as the system remains the same.
Whether Thompson, or Campbell or
Baker or Dugan or Wharton is
elected mayor of Butte the re-
suit will be exactly the same.
1t is the system that is wrong. There
is not man in Butte who can give
that city the police force it ought to
have so long as the police force re-
mains within the domain of politics.
1t is of more vital Importance to the
tax paying citizens of Butte to see
that the legislature does not adjourn
without legislation that will enable
Butte TO have police force that has
nothing to do with politics than it is
whether this man or that is elected
mayor or alderman.
1t is proper that policemen as we'll
as tiremen should keep out of politics
so far as active participation is CON-
cerned. The primaries and conven-
tions should be controlled by the tax
payers rather than by the office hold
ers But the participation of officials
in politics is only an effect. 1t is the
natural and inevitable consequence of
a system which makes a mans lob de-
pendent, not on his worth or faithful
ness, but on his party's success and on
his ability TO pull wires enough to get
an alderman nominated and elected
who in return will see that he is kept
on the force. The job of policeman
should be life job, conditional on
ability and good behavior. The same
should be the case with the chief of
police, the fire chief and the firemen.
When officials realize that worth alone
will retain their positions for them
and that worth will do this despite
politics, then nothing will be heard of
officials engaging i'll political contro-
yersies, and Butte will have in a few
years the service she so much needs
That is the only remedy. and until
this remedy is applied things will only
get worse the oftener administrations
are changed
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