The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-19
muN1orPA1 REFoRM.
TFrom the Buffalo News.l


St. Clair McKeIway, A. NJ, Ii. D., re-
gent Of the university of the state of
New York, delivered an address before
the American Social Science associa-
ton at Saratoga last week on Munich
pal Reform, in which he produced some
excellent thoughts on the changes for
the better which have been brought
about during the past few years. Mr..
Mex asks: rs a municipal par
ty solely for municipal purposes, organ
lied and conducted on municipal lines
alone and pledged in the event of sue
cess of administration on these lines
alone, possible as a. permanency in our
American cities?" His answer is that
such an administration is a fact in no
American city at the present time. All
municipal reform administration has
been occasional
1.-THE duration of only one that re-
call, " says Mr.. McKelway, has lasted
through two terms Mr.. McKelway, it
will be seen, does not believe in perma-
nent municipal reform from partisan
sources, but admits that some good re-
suits have come from spasmodic efforts.
He recalls Carlyle's advice to one who
came to him with a prescription for all
the wrongs of the world. go home"
he said. go down on yor knees. Con-
TESS your sins Get pardoned if you
can. Then rise, thankful that there is
one who is a little less of a rascal than
he was"
Mr. McKeIway points to the fact that
the Independent movements which
brought Mr. Low and Mr. Schieren to
the head Of the municipal government
of Brooklyn resulted in excellent adj
ministrations of affairs by the two men.
Mayor Strongs efforts in New York
have tended to the same end. But these
independent movements were lost in
partisan Affiliations before many
months had passed. 50 that there was
not and is not now a really distinctive
municipal reform administration of af-
fairs. No matter how fercely the con-
tention is against the rule Of politicians
and no matter how great victory may
be gained on Independent lines the po-
ntical machine will finally envelop it all
and independent municipal reform be-
comes partisan municipal reform after
ALL
Mr.. McKelway encourages himself
with the belief and strives to encourage
others with the belief, that the conati-
tutfonal change already obtained will
not be rescinded. Reforms may not al
ways go forward. They may for awhile
stop, but they do not go backward -
That depends upon the tone and tenn
per of the political machine that gains
the ascendency in city or county. We
believe that New York, Brooklyn, and
Buffalo have won municipal reforms in
the past three years that cannot be dis
carded by political bosses or removed
by political combinations or machines at
any time in the future. Mr. McKelway
is of the opinion that the time is com
ing when politics will have almost as
little to do with municipal business as
with commercial business and then the
public business, from one party, when
they must be paid out Of the taxes of
both parties, will be appreciated. The
municipal party for municipal purposes,
which I yet hope to see, viii, indeed,
have the buttresses Of the constitution
as wei as the moral support of the best
citizenship with it in its efforts"
The foundation of permanent munic-
ipa1 reform is lone election at a time"
a non-partisan administration, and the
strict and honest enforcement of civil
service reform in municipal affairs. Add
to these strict integrity and honest
dealing, the supremacy of the laws and
fidelity to institutions Of the republic. /
These will make municipal reform a |
to all the people