El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-09-10
Machine Victory In Kansas City
Kansas City Journal.

Kansas City Journal.
Many good citizens will wake up this
morning to a realization of the fact that
their in difference to the interests Of
the city contributed to the defeat of
one of the most important reforms
ever proposed in this municipal
ity. Machine politicians who
profit by the present system of police
organization in Kansas City, and the
toughs and crooks whom they organ
lied to commit fraud in order to defeat
the measure, knew before they went to
sleep last night that their efforts had
been successful, not so much through
their own organization and fraud as
through the characteristic Indifference
of many we'll meaning but hopelessly
lethargic citizens.
The home rule and excise amend
ments are defeated, only about half of
a full vote being cast. The opposition
was out in force. The police depart
ment was under the direction OF Gov
ernor Stephens representatives, and
nearly every man on the force, directly
or indirectly, worked for the defeat of
the proposed reform, some OF them
through sympathy with the present sys-
tenn and some through fear CT opposing
the commissioners now in power. The
patrolmen remained away from the
polls. They could not be found when
reporters were spotted, and conse-
quently few arrests were made, and
those that were made were on war
rants. Frauds were committed in
many precincts, and many of them in
some of the precincts. The high
handed methods employed in the most
notorious elections ever held
in Kansas City were resort
ed to, and crimes were committed
even more openly than ever before for
the simple reason that the criminals
had little to fear from the police de-
psrtment The methods of the OPP
position were the strongest immediate
evidence that great reform is needed,
yet these methods won the day.
But the good citizens" who remain
ed away from the polls are guilty Of
almost criminal indifference to public
veal. There can be no doubt as to
public sentiment if full
expression could be secured
at the polls. The people dbhor the dis
graceful abuse and mismansgement of
the police department of Kansas City.
They know that the evils of the pres
ent system have become q stigma on
the city's good name. Yet there was
not sufficient moral assertion to secure
30 per cent representation of the vote
of the citv at this special election-an
election more important to the stand
ing and stability OF the city than most
general elections are.
The stay-at.homes cannot plead ig-
norsnce nor forgetfulness. They were
reminded day after day by the press of
the Importance and time of the cleo
ton. They were informed of the Or
gauizstion of the opposition.
They were told of the misrepre-
sensations that had been made against
the cause of home rule. They were
told that frauds would be committed in
order to secure its defeat and that
these frauds would be sufficient to car
ry the day unless there was compar-
atively heavy vote.
There will be many regrets today
Men.who mean well, yet would not
take fifteen minutes from their bust
ness or pleasures to cast a vote in a
worthy cause, will chide themselves
for their indifference and wonder at the
apathy of their neighbors. The cause
has been lost, but the b anne rests upon
the friends as much as upon the foes
OF home rule.
In affairs of this kind a city deserves
no better fate than that which its vot-
ers impose upon it, be the imposition
the result of error, corruption, or indif-
ference.