The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-03-18
NExT MUNICIPAL ELEC,
ZTON.

gun to Detray umlStakaOle evlden-
ces of ebullition and aspirants for
the marshalship and various other
positions of trust or emolument are
even now bending every energy in
efforts to form combinations which |
will advance their personal and pc
cuniary interests. While nothing |
definite can be learned as to the |
stage of development which marks |
the progress of these as yet en-
bryotic cabals, rumor has it that
at least one has secured the nomi- |
nation of an entire ticket. Whether
this faction has also perfected ar
rangements for the election of the
ticket is OF course exceedingly
problematical and it is not the pur-
pose of this article to discuss the
question. 1t is safe to say that self
interest is one of the strongest mo-
tives governing human action and
no surprise need be expressed when
men endeavor to further their pc
cuniary or material welfare. All
honorable efforts are laudaSie and
it is therefore in no spirit of con-
domination that The Gazette offers
a few suggestions pertinent to the
issues involved.
In the first place, the election of
a city administration for the town
of Lafayette is a matter of grave
public Importance and by no means
should be left to the tender mercies
of any man or set of men intent
primarily upon the qualification of
personal ambition or the acquisition
of pelf at the public expense. 1t
has been the unfortunate experience
of this city, for years to allow its
entire machinery to be controlled
and m AIDE subservient to the will Of
some politician sufficiently shrewd
and successful to select and elect a
Council and mayor pledged to do
his bidding. Some wears ago, this
practice was relegated to the back
ground by the regular nomination
of municipal ticket by the people
in public meeting. The administra-
ton then selected certainly deserve
praise for the honest, economical
and business-like manner in which 1t
conducted the city's affairs. Later
another set of officers were chosen,
and while severe criticisms have
been expressed as to their manage
ment, yet any fair minded citizen
will consider the peculiar and al
most insuperable difficulties with
which the present administration
has beer. confronted ever since its
induction into office.
No doubt there exist just grounds
for many complaints and possibly
some better selection of officers
could have been made. However,
let our people give the devil his
due, and address themselves to the
problem of rectifying existing evils
and securing the future by the Sc
lection of municipal ticket whose
personnel shall be guarantee
against all that savors of favoritism
or maiad administration. This is a
matter that appeals to all good citi-
zens irrespective of factional diff
| ferences and should receive thought
full consideration as it is of vital
importance to the welfare and pros
perity of the entire community.
There is too much at stake for the
public generally, too much at stake
for the business and professional
men, to permit one or two designing
politicians to manipulate and con-
troll the entire municipal govern
/ ment from mayor down. And yet
if nothing is done to prevent it, this
4 will inevitably follow. The proper
remedy therefore lies in the prompt
and intelligent consideration of the
subject by our people in order to
arrive at some satisfactory solution.
Let there he an earnest, we'll
directed effort made to place in
power true and tried men. whose
character shall be a pledge for the
faithful and judicious exercise of
all vested authority: