The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-03
rnE MAYonALrY question.

{
pie Of this city did not seem 10 be taking
the interest that they should in the ap-
preaching municipal election-that they
were permitting the Office seekers, the sa-
loon keepers and the sporting fraternity
to have all the say in the making Of the
! municipal ticket. The time for the cleo
ton is rapidly approaching. and if those
who have the most at stake are going 10
have voice in selecting the candidates
for Mayor and aldermen it &, time for
them to be active in the matter.
If there ever was a time when the in
| terests Of the city required close looking
| after that time is now. The city is
commanding more attention from all parts
of the country than ever before. This is
due to the fact that the extraordinarily
| fine commercial advantages and facilities
Of the port have been widely advertised by
the presence of the Seventh Army Corps
here for two months, and its departure
| for Cgba from here. Great transports
have come and gone day after day with
| out hitch anywhere, and the whole
country has been awakened to the fact
that here, on the South Atlantic coast
there is a magnificent deep water Sarbor-
harbor to which very large part of
the West and South is tributary-and
that there is no reason why It's commerce
! should not become many times greater
than it is.
But while so good an impression of Sa-
Vannah exists outside OF her limits, 1t is
for her own people to make the most of
this good impression. This they cannot
do unless they have a municipal govern
ment composed of men profoundly inter-
ested in the city's prosperity-men who
know how to get the best results for the
least money, and who are willing to give
some of their talents and time to the city's
welfare.
If the impression gets abroad that the
city is controlled by men of no particular
sbility-men who cannot protect the city's
interests. failing to make contracts in
which the citys welfare is properly guard
ed and giving away franchises without
getting anything in return-much of the
good impression which has been made by
the presence of troops here aud the en-
barkation of troops from this port for
! Cuba will be lost
We want men in charge of the city who
will ignore all personal interests when
they come into contact with the city's in
terests, and who have the ability to
bring down the tax rate without lessening
the ability of any one of the departments
of the municipal government to serve the
| pct
depend upon factions because the repre-
sentatves of factions, as soon as they get
into office, set about serving the faction
which elected Them and the general pub
lie suffers.
Under faction rule only the faction
leaders are consulted when policy is to
be adopted an office is to be filled or
contract given out. AS a general thing
there are not more than three or four of
these leaders, and this little clique runs
the city to suit ITSELF spending the public
money without regard to the interests of
the people and distributing the offices and
other favors where they think they will
do them the most good.
1t looks now as if this faction method of
running the city government, were to be
forced on the people again because of their
apathy and inactivity. While there is no
personal objection to the men who lead
the factions and thus dominate the city
it is not right that they should have such
power And they will not be permitted to
have it if the people cease to sleep on
their rights. And what we are urging
them to do now is to assert themselves,
and take a part in naming the municipal
ticket. We want the men chosen to run
the city government to feel that they are
under obligations to all the people instead
of to a small coterie of politicians. If
the Mayor and aldermen regard them
selves as representing the whole people
we shall have a government by the peo-
pie and for the people, and in which the
welfare of the people is consulted. That
is a much better government than gov.
eminent of a few politicians for a few
politicians.
The people should understand that if
they refuse to take an interest in select
ing a municipal ticket they will find at
the last moment that they will have 10
accept candidates chosen by those who
have axes to grind, and who intend to
gouge the public in some respect or other.
The time before the election is very
short. and if the people intend to do any
thing in the matter they should do it at
once. If they continue to delay they
may discover that they have waited too
long and that nothing remains for them
to do but to find fault with those who
have been chosen to run the city govern
ment for the next two years.
The Manila dispatches from time to time
| .....4g.,, 1opa l,,y 4Lo o,o L.,