Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-06

find that their principal reasons for not
assuming an active part in the nomina-
tion and support of reform candidates
may be stated briefly as follows:
/. Because they fear that their opposi-
tion to influential politicians may be pun
ished by an increase in their assessments
for taxation, or by loss OF custom or en-
ployment, or by some other action injuri-
Gus to their personal or business inter-
ests
2. Because as investors. employees or 9TH
erwiSe. they have or hope to have scme
pecuniary interests in corporations, con-
tracts or Offices. which would be much less
profitable under a government too pure TO
be corrupted and toe intelligent to be out
witted.
3. Because they believe that it pays bet
ter in dollars and cents to submit to ex-
listing abuses than to eXpend the time and
money required for a long and difficult Sc
ries of political contests.
4. Because they consider that national
legislation affects their personal interests
far more than any probable action of their
local government. and that their national
party must therefore be supported in its
efforts to strengthen itself by securing com
plete control Of local affairs
5. Because they believe the local machine
of the opposition party is still worse than
their own, and that to promote its success
by wasting their votes on third ticket
would be only jumping out OF the frying
pan into the fire.
6. Because they have no faith in the pos
sibility Of subjecting politics to the prin-
ciplos Of common honesty, CIR public af-
fairs to the methods of intelligent bust
ness.
This list is not complete but it is sufIi-
cently formidable to show that the progress
of reform principles among the taxpayers
must continue to be slow and difficult, unless
city government can be made to appear much
more important and interesting than it haa
hitherto seemed to be.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY.
The difficulties which the reformer has to
contend with when he is dealing with the
taxpayers are certainly great, but those which
he is obliged to meet when he appeals to the
main body OF the voters are much greater.
This is partly because he has several times 9s
many people to reach. and partly because
those whom he seeks to convince are so sit
uated that many of his best arguments can
make but little II any impression, while those
OF his opponents are eagerly accepted. II Is
easy to see that although most OF the reasons
which prevent taxpayers from supporting re-
form movements have an equal or greater
weight with non-taXpayers. the latter have
no such motives as the former for opposing
the corrupt or wastoful expenditure of public
FUNDS. The assessor has no terrOrs for the
man who has no property to be taxed. He can
Wow with resignation. II not with pleasure
the increasing burdens to those who are bet
ter on than himself. He can look with favor
upon the doing OF unnecessary or badly man
aged work, the multiplication OF useless
oiices the squandering OF valuable franchises
and the payment Of eXtrayagant salaries be-
cause all these may be plauslbly regarded as
increasing the chances Of employment for the
wage earners, and especially for those who
do not oppose them. The man who has
no pecuniary interests to protect Is easily
persuaded TO look upon his vote in local
elections as rothing more than a means for
se1ur ng promise Of work, a transient favor,
or the gratitude of a friend.
There would be little II any exaggeratlon
in saying that in this country municipal
revenues and wealth producing franchises,
feeling OF personal or pecuniary interest In
making 1t either wise or honest
OPPORTUNITY OF THE ROGUE
II would bo difficult to imagine conditions
more favorable for political banditti or more
tempting to INSCRIPTIONS contractors and
monopolists. The Indifference OF the voter
Is tho opportunity OF the rogue and the re-
formers cry OF stop thief" can have but
Under our system OF manhood suffrage
there can be no security for public assets or
certainty OF decent government until the
majority of the voters are given much
larger and more direct tangible interest in
the results.
The scope OF our local governments must
be so enlarged that they will affect the
average voter as constantly and In as many
ways as possible. and thus cause him to re-
gard himself as an active and deeply inter-
ested partner in the proper conduct OF pub