San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-05
A CAMPAIGN OF EDUCATION.
To The Daily Light:

To The Daily Light:
At the beginning of this municipal
contest it was generally understood
that it was to be one of education, and
it is but right that there shall be no
disappointments. This community
has been told of the reckless expendi-
lures of money without adequate re-
turns; of the unlawful transference Of
money from the sinking fund for gen.
eral purposes; of the unlawful pledg-
ing of the city revenues to obtain mon
ey at high rates of interest; of incom-
potency in obtaining a good title to
st. Mary's street property; of the city
hall costing $4,000 more than the con-
tract price; of the annual bduget ex-
ceeding that of 100000 a year over
the appropriations-not one year but
for several years; and OF contracts al
ways ending in costing more than
agreed upon, and in excess of value re-
ceived.
In casting about for the cause Of this
bad management in municipal govern
ments it is plain to be seen that the
most probable cause is that too much
energy has been displayed in poll
tics. Heretofore merchants and pro-
fessional men have not been willing
to seek office in city or county, because
the time they would have to devote to
the affairs of the city or county could
be more profitably spent in attending
to their private business, AMI they
Were. therefore willing to surrender
their home governments to profession
al politicians and chronic office seek
ers-even at the expense of bad man
agement and increased taxation. No
doubt this rule will always govern
many excellent business and profess
sional men, who could If they would,
lend talent and wisdom to home gov
ernments, and relieve themselves and
others of complaining of heavy rates
of taxation and corrupt administra-
lions. The conservatism in politics
heretofore displayed in this city has
been the cause of perpetuating in office
both city and county a set of men who
have long since ceased to believe that
they are governed by the people but
who believe they govern the people, and
from the powerful influence they exert
III HdillluS anu GlCCllIlSS
belief is in fact we'll founded. Per-
petuation in office of any one man or
set of men is unAmerican,an and unwise,
and is not Republicanism. The OBJ
ject of the laws for re-electing officers
every two or four years are frustrated
and the power these men obtain is so
great that they are always consulted
who shall represent us in our home,
state or national governments. EX-
ecutive appointments state and FEEDER
al, in most instances proceed from
from them through influence bring to
bear and not ne unto him who dares to
go against their wishes, for he will
never be returned to legislative or ex-
ecutive Office again by their aid. Ev-
cry act is for self and self perpetuation
in office.
When you reflect upon these few of
many facts, is it not time that every
free man should use his right and vote
against men who every year WELD
more strongly the political chain Of
slavery around us and all for self per-
petuation. 1t is of little import to
these men whether an important sani-
tary measure, like our present sewer
system is carried into effect or not,
it would look as il they were Indifferent
to having our high rate of mortality
about 90 per one thousand inhabitants
reduced to Is per thousand year,
thereby saving two hundred to three
hundred lives sacrificed to improper
sanitary conditions. Think of two
hundred and fifty collins laid side by
side filled with victims of sanitary neg
lect, and it is impossible to believe that
any one is so devoid of heart and soul
as not to be anxious to correct this
evil. Yet these office politicians are so
busy and intent upon themselves that
they perhaps never give this matter
a thought, but at the same time they
are spending money lavishly given by
corporations to defeat the very aim of
the important sanitary reform that is
soon to save life. 1t is pretty gener-
ally believed that Mr.. Callaghan Is
not favorable to the completion of the
sewers. He championed the water
works cause against the proposition to
issue bonds for their construction and
was defeated. He ran two years ago
asking to be allowed to construct them
and was defeated. He put the prop
ositions before the poole to vote him
money to construct them and was de-
feated. The sewers and all belonging
to it is a thorn in his flesh and the peo-
pie cannot afford to take chances of
having the sewer fund transferred to
the general fund and spent like the
sinking fund, and thus defeat the
sewers. Mr. Levy might possibly fin
ish them but no chances should be ia
ken on that. Elmendorf will finish
them by June IL returned to office,and
he should be allowed to do so. George
Paschal FASTENED his death by fighting
for the sewers that others might live,