San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-02

compose thd resent board Of alder
men ever held office in this city, and
yet what better is the city in any one
particular for their service? Judged
by results what benefit have they
been? Are our streets improved in
any respect, are they better drained,
cleaner in better repair? Are our
finances improved in any respect,
taxes lighter or better collected? Are
the regulations for the government of
the electric and other companies hold
ing city franchises any improvement
upon the methods of other years?
Have we anything to show at the end
of the two years term of service
wherein the city is any better of be-
cause an uneXceptiOnable class of citi-
zens have held the offices, composed
the board of aldermen and managed
the affairs of the city? If not, then
it is right that we should know it, and
find out why things are in their pres
ent condition. That the city needs no
end of work done to make it decent,
is notorious. That it is in an I'M
healthy condition is apparent. That
there are no decent thoroughfarcs
leading either to the depOts or out
into the country is the remark of those
who pass over these highways. What
is the lesson taught from these things?
The first and most obvious is that a
man can be very good citizen,
very capable man of business on his
own accounts and not De competent to
administer the affairs of the city. 1t
teaches that private business and pub
lie business are not one. That sue
cess in one does not guarantee sue
cess in the other. That the cry that
"A business man is needed for may
Or is a SpeciOus one and not to be
accepted as an uncOntrOverted fact.
There are examples without number
to show that some of the greatest sue
cesses in private life are not success
full in public affairs; also that men
who We're failures in private business
nav = DCtu very SuCCtSSl III
of public affairs. Grant was a con-
spicuOus example of the latter truth.
Cleveland also, if his public life has
been a success, and his admirers
think so, certainly. This only shows
that the selection of men for public
administration cannot be done success
fully, simply upon their private sue
ceSSes. San Antonio has tried it on
and failed. She is likely to try it
again and fail. Character Is the first
thing needed. That is individuality.
Personal positiveness. even to the
point of Obstinacy, is needed. Back
bone before and behind are indispen-
Siblp. Absolute reliability; broad
views of the needs of the city. i'm
personal views as well; pride in the
advancement of the city; knowledge
of what other cities are doing; belief
in the supremacy of the city over any
syndicates that hold its franchises:
unQueStionPd honor and honesty:
quick PERCEPTION of the best thing in
an emergency: prOmptness: contempt
for pie pleading: manlineSS: straight
fOrwardness-these are some Of the
things that are needed in the mayor.
and most Of them are necessary to fur
nish an alderman worth his salt to
the city. 1t is not the fault of men.
that they are not competent for these
things. but it is their fault that they
do not know that they are in compe-
tent. and permit themselves to be
thrust into places that they are not
qualified to fill. Incompetence. is
written over the municipal history of
this city in box car letters. and this
for a decade past. If this is not true.
then worse is true and worse name
than incompetency must be found for
It. 1t is time to make radical
change.