The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-30
PARTISAN MUNICIPAL PoL1r1Os.
Responsible Government alike In City, state
and Nation.

Responsible Government alike to CITY, state
ana Nntion.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: ! should
like to present some views on tho recent within.
"the enforcement Of municipal from State and
national politics" as hat term is now sought to
DO interpreted. There is no doubt in my mind
that M ny persons reasonably disposed are
deeply impressed with tho underlying idea OF
tho Low movement, the managers of which
point to tho new Constitutional provision relR.
tive to municipal elections as authority for their
claim that political organizations should have
no voice in the selection Of candidates for city
offices or in suggesting policies Of local admins.
%tration. Let us see how we'll this claim will
bear examination.
In the first place. the Constitution contains no
provision TO which tho force sought to be given
1t belongs. 1t is true, certain municipal elections
are so directed to be held that they will not
como upon q State or national election; but this
is all the Constitution says on the subject, and
tho object sought thereby 10 neither new nor
questionable. Town and village elections and
some city elections have for years been hold In
the spring, but no one ever dreamed thaton such
account neither of the great national political
pa ties could or should nominate candidates
for local offices. On the contrary, nm independ-
ent ticket was a rarity, oven In the days when
individual ballots made independent voting
moro effective than now Tho only object
Of tho separation of local from general cleo.
tons then was, as all wellinformod residents
of country districts remember, to secure a bet
ter class OF nominees by tho regular political
organizations. 1t was argued. II either party
put up inferior candidates. the voter could sc.
lect from the opposite ticket without danger to
the greater interests of a national or State can.
didate. And this is the only object to DO
ascribed reasonably TO our present Constitution,
because 1t merely extends the operation of q
long established system; and 1t is the only d.
yorcement Of municipal from national or State
politics that is safe or practicable. Most men OF
flesh and blood are partisans. Even in n street
fight the crowd OF onlookers will divide in their
How then can we expect that in a matter OF pub
lie concern persons will not support the candi-
sent ali that aati makes itssps for the SBe eneft OF T the n reRI5e,
according as the policies of the respective
parties are viewed by the %voteri
tional politics have. no place in a discussion as
city; but they are. intimately associated with
the selection of the man who is to be put in
and irm convictions will always see to it that
employed under him as will contribute to the
success IN a national or State campaign Of the
B By' he q Citizens ill., nsi'F UnioS. h@l' they Is Sd teil SS f tSae
II Tammany obtains control, the State and
natiS Mr are low lost to s,.t the R,ePpn6lIsan, and
interests and principles will be protected.
How the fact can be made clearer that the great
mass OF voters will always have in mind their
party preferences when voting for municipal
candidates j cannot conceive. or how any doubt
can be entertained that the votes will be cast so
as to render the success OF the voters political
party in a general election as nearly certain as
not arrive, in this country when municipal cleo
tions will be carried on other lines than those of
the uenharcatlon between the two great national
parties, And for one / would Rincare1v reorat
the approac of that day.
state governments have rs little to do with
national politics as municipal governments
have to do with State politics. No one would,
GoweyeT, have t,e temerity to suggest that
should not name candidates. The reason why
organizations in State politics is that the sue
ccssful party in a State campaign has a vantage
to a political party because we believe the best
interests Of the whole people will be sub
ssndidas toy t Of t inSfes par sy e MSo win Of c the
duct the Government upon the lines OF the
policy Of the party. To secure. therefore. every
legitimate advantage, to hold every strategic
intely the duty Of the honest voter. The mu.
same relation TO the state politics as the state
does to the NATIONAL. and it is as much the duty
party's, PRINCIPLES to see to it that the candi-
dates OF his party are elected to office in the
dates OF his party are elected in the State.
But there Is another serious aspect OF which
the new theorists have evidently lost track. and
which, 1t is well to present to view. As things
have been. il municipal officers abused their
trusts. the party which elevated them to office
was held responsible. And in the preservation
OF this system only can good municipal govern.
mcnt be reasonably expected. An officer de-
pendent upon tho good will OF hi party must
deserve it by such conduct as commcnds itself
TO his party. and the party in turn. to continue
predominant. must insist upon such action by
the official as meets the favor of majority Of
the voters. How different in he case Of a
sclf-corstitutcd committees candidate! Who
is there to hold responsiblei The official
He must in tho ordinary course yield to
a successor. and he may not be the real guilty |
party. II he be weak. as some supposedly great
men are, and be persuaded to indiscretion by a
sclf.constituted committee. are the voters TO
continue voting for subsequent candidates OF
that committee. or will they return to the old
practice OF voting for the candidates of a politi.
cal organization 7 And what guarantee IS there
that such a committee will possess any moro
honest or self-sacriticing membership than a
committee of n party each OF whom must submit
his claims TO leadership yearly to the people
w. f. KIssELBURGH, JR.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OFFICE, Albany, Sept. %.