The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-24
The Main Point.

The Main Point.
The gentleman who mistakes his own
weakness as a candidate before the
people for sign that the people are
irreclaimably corrupt: and who repays
the party which has tried to do him
honor by fighting its nominees and in
sulting its manhood generally belongs
to one of two classes. Either ne Is a
knave, devoid of any sense of moral
obligation, or else he is the victim Of
self-deceit. In either case. he can well
be left to wrestle with his own infirmi-
ties of temper and of judgment; pitied.
perhaps, bu: not to be taken too seri-
ously.
The present municipal campaign will
not depend for its determination upon
men with grudges. While their votes
count the same as an equal number Of
other votes, their influence upon other
men is generally small: and it decreases
in proportion to the increased conspicu-
BUSINESS of their personal bias or malice.
The city government of u city the size
of Scranton is too big and too impor-
tant thing to be transferred from one
party to another simply out of defer
ence to the half-doZen or more men who
are personally embittered. These NAL
contents may imagine from the capac-
ity of their individual lungs for loud
defamation that they are voicing an
overwhelming public sentiment: but in
hours of sober reflection the masses
gain just conception of the facts, and
leave the party wreckers to their own
devices.
The main point for voters to consider
in connection with the Republican city
ticket Is not what class or clique is
meditating treachery to that ticket, but
whether the men upon it are honest,
manly and capable of fuiniling the
duties to which they aspire. While Re-
publicans. in this important presiden-
fealty to their party nominees. because
of the effect which municipal victory or
defeat would have upon the later, or
November, elections, this question of
ders it proper for men Of different par
tisan affiliations TO cooperate as tax
payers and as citizens in the elevation
of the best available men to municipal
positions OF responsibility and trust.
We do not disparage the gentlemen
on the Democratic ticket when we say
that. though as individual citizens they
be worthy men. good neighbors and
estimable companions, they do not pre-
sent the same measure of fitness for
public office that is embodied in the
candidates. of Messrs. Ripple, Williams
and Widmayer. Contrast Mr.. Bailey
with Colonel Ripple and you have an
untried man against tried one, whose
prior administration of the office of
chief magistrate of the city of Scranton
gave to him and to the municipality a
state reputation for good results. Stand
Mr.. Boland alongside Of Mr.. Williams,
and you have a gentleman who three
years ago was defeated for city treas
urer against one who. while in every
respect Mr.. Boland's equal, is now for
the first time candidate for an cleo
tive municipal Office, and who ought
therefore, on these grounds alone, to
have the preference. upon the prin-
ciple that Mr.. Boland has already had
his turn. Compare Mr.. Robinson with
Fred j. Widmayer and you again have
ineXperience against experience. not to
speak of the wise precedent which gives
to good city controllers, such an one as
Controller Widmayer has proved HIM
self to be, the reasonable Endorsement
of second term. Carry mis- method of
comparison down among the opposing
candidates for assessors. and you will
be confronted by the same conspicuous
fact that the Republican nominees. on
grounds Of fitness alone, are the SUI
periors and consequently the better de-
serve the confidence of the community
as it will be expressed at the polls next
month.
Thus from whatever standpoint it is
viewed. the Republican city ticket de-
serves not only the support of all Re-
publicans who value principles above
personal pique, but also the indorse-
ment of those members of other par
ties who care more for experience. abil-
ity and character in their city's officials
than they do for strictly partisan con-
siderations.