The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-21
WANTS NON-PARTISANSH IN
CITY AFFAIRS.
o the Editor of the Press.

" WV - q Soos
oeg leave to ask space In your crowd
ou oolumns, to set forth in plain terms.
80 pain eItizen, few general ideas
ieA"slve to CUR municipality. The time
- :,, near when the machine political
WIZ ne set in motion, and full soon the
nsno WIZ De on. AS investigation seems
u oe the order of the day let us look
aDoU0 as investigate ourselves, and in
the pariance Of the street see where we
are at.
1t Is presumed that all high minsel
citizens are interested in good citizenship,
an able administration of CITY affairs.
and rigid endorsements of the laws
Upon this point there should he no divis.
ion of opinion. hence no issne raised
What then is to be feared? II Is tba hal
ance of power rs welded by the ru n, ele-
ment. 1t has become patent to all intel
ligent citizens that this is a menace IN
good goVerhment, and danger greatly
to be dreaded. Now 1t follows tbat II
so be there shall arise movement sfronr
enough to oyer-balance this sla,nent
victory will be on the side of law and
order. Is it possible to accomplish tbisp
Let the intelligent and law -abiding ciri.
zens answer. Iho clergy have sSartefi
the ball rolling. All then that Is needed
Is that public sentiment shall bea aroused
to the proper pitch and the thing is as
Sured. .s4
Let every aw-abiding citizen constitute
himself committee Of one TO soc that
sohriety, and temperance prevail and the
object is accomplished. But there should
he concert of action, and q start sttthe
fountain head, which Les santecedent to
the caucuses. 1t is an established fact that
whenever we attend caucus we find
that the whole thing has been pre-sr-
ranged, the list made up, and some good
fellow tells US that it's all HKed-inixed
would better express it-and we are forced
to take the medicine however bitter the
dose.
1t issthe duty of every man be his
| station high or low, to study the cues
ticn which concerns his own city, and
lend his time, his voice, and his influence
TO secure It's interests.
Ex-President Harrison, i'll his new
book entitled "This Country of Ours"
says: We are alert Us TO foreign foes;
the drum tap rouses the heaviest sleepers.
But we are a dull people as to internal as
saults upon the integrity and purity OF
public administration.
1t should be the aim and intent to
place In nomination for municipal offices
only those men whose character is above
| reproach, and whoiike Caesar wife arc
| above suspicion, This non partisan move
ment comlnends itself to all Interested In
good government. Leaving party entire
y in the background. Republicans,
Democrats, Populists and ProhlDitionists
can meet on common ground, No eur
render of devotion to the policies repre-
scented in national and state affairs need
be made. 1t Is possible to be non-parti.
san in municipal matters.
Much has been sad concerning the
primaries and the management thereof
The citizens can institute primaries, not
dominated by ring rule, boss rule, or
any othsr rule except the Golden rule.
Let the principle he Intoxicated that
personal efficiency, not political exigency,
is the true criterion of public service,
and that he serves his party best, who
serves his city best. Let us follow the
example set by the larger cities. Place
our standard high, and then fight up TO
it, regardless of party tie. or affiliations.
LEWIS II. MCKINNEY.