The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-17

one can never teri what Senator Eetehain
viii do. but the responsibility for the pass
sage or defeat of this enactment rests on
him more than any other one person. ex-
| cepting perhaps the Governor: and anx-
iety as to the course the Senator MAY
take is very great.
bill with N~ewarkers. We do not over
state the truth an iota when We declare
that nine-tenths of the citizens of both
parties are actively opposed to the meas
nre. n that its open advocates are linz
tied to a few professional politicians.
without sense of responsibility and guild
ed by selfish considerations alone. BY
this measure they have demonstrated
their unfitness. and their eases will be
and the party-men they have misrepre-
scented
The bill in question proposes to elect
time as county, State and National Off
GERS. The names would be all on the
same ticket. and there would be in some
1T one time. The act also provides for
The extension of the terms of the Jersey
Gity officials now in place, until January,
1888. and the same provision is made for
Newark member of the Board of Works.
Further, 1t delays certain appointments
f FL td defe Mayf the Until NIL o nsf the p 5analary Is and sRa
pressed by the last city election. There
was nothing omitted to make the bill as
disreputable as possible.
Newark has heretofore elected it's off,
GERS separately. Objection was made to
the election in october. because the time
was 50 near the State election that the
Independence of local contests was
thought to be affected. and the change to
spring was received with favor. The re-
suit has shown that the independence and
discriminarlcn OF the voters have been
exercised with remarkable freedom. and
that the will Of the people has been fully
methods which a been v~indicated as
fulfilling the first requisites of ponuIar
government would imperil the future or
~ p k 1n r,iv 71a ~ ~
for instance, as that of last fall with
questions of local interest, such as the
water contract, would be disastrous 10
local interests. On the other hand. to
attempt to carry through an unpopular
candidate for Mayor might. under some
circumstances. influence a National cleo
ton. But q greater objection is that the
voter would be unnecessarily burdened.
and his declaration of preference inter
Tered with And IN the primaries and
possible to get a fair expression of opinion
While deals and combinations hefveen
the baser elements in both parties would
All admit the value of political parties
IN matters affecting real political prin-
ciples, such as come up for consideration
in National and State affairs. Partisnn-
ship has its uses which no one who has
observed the course of National Govern.
ment can doubt, provided there is a mi
nority to check and ~criticise the acts of
a majority. But in city affairs the value
Of craftsmanship practically disappears.
When Newark want to decide as to
water, sewers, public buildings. schools,
libraries and all the infinite variety of
questions of local interest. the party ma
ehinery is a mere vehicle, and the voter
is expected to express mis- views with re-
gard to the questions according to their
merit, and not according to the party
name The exceptions to this rule are
growing fewer, and it is conceded by the
politicians themselves that they must
make their fight in city elections upon is
sues, which have no more bearing upon
party than the new High School has upon
international arbitration. OF course the
politicians, the professionals, do not like
it.
We submit that Newark is big enough
in size and great enough in the issues of
its local government to require all the
care and consideration that can be given
public questions in one campaign. Most
of us do not, indeed, realize what a mag
nificent city we have, and fail to APP
preoiate how prosperous it has been. how
successfully it has avoided the great
perils which threaten every municipality.
1t is a city worth working to help, and de-
serving the fondest patriotism of the best
men within it. 1t needs the aid of every
voter. and every voter is willing to do
his share at the proper time and season.
The people are opposed to the Com
bined Elections act, and it is favored only
by professionals, who seek to use gov
m for their own interests. 1t
should be defeated.