Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-02-23
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2s' 1899
City Affairs.
LOCK AND DAM.


sented in Washington of committee
of the Senate deliberately going back
ON the recommendation of the United
States Engineers, as to the location OF
the next lock and dam of the series,
appropriating vast sums for schemes
outside of and even against the sane
tion or recommendation of TIE Engi-
neers. What are the Engineers for
anyhow! Is the scientific knowledge,
accurate surveys and precise informa-
tion as to the needs of the Ohio river
of any avail in inducing Congress to
make certain Improvements rather
than others, or of any use whatever?
II not of any use, Way spend so much
money in keeping up the establish
ment?
NOMINATING BY CONVENTION.
The Australian Ballot Law, now in
force in Ohio, contemplates that as
rule all nominations shall be made by
party conventions. 1t, however makes
provision for names being placed on
the ticket by petition. Evidently this
proviso was made, to enable small
hamlets and sparsely settled country
districts to obtain places for their can
didates by petition. ,..
Both parties should, therefore, hold
conventions and make nominations for
the various offices. 1t is the dignified,
fair and proper way to name candi-
dates in a city of the size of Marietta.
In this way the political party to
which the officer belongs will be re-
sponsible for his acts. If the people
should become dissatisfied with his
conduct of the office, at the very next
election they can make their will ap-
parent by placing the opposition party
in power. So on each year would see
changes according as the party tenn
porarially in power had faithfully con-
Quoted the city business or had made
mistakes.
Some years ago the Republicans for
three successive years, held conven-
tions and made nominations for the
various city offices, This was before
the enactment of the Australian Ballot
Law. The Democratic party failed to
take up the gage of battle thus thrown
down and claimed that the convention
was only ring to try and control the
city offices. All the disaffected ele-
ments Joined with them and the first
year the candidates of the convention
had a hard time, but some of them got
through all right. The next year the
convention candidates did better and
the last year the Republicans elected
the Hon. Rufus E. Harte, Mayor.
It is doubtful just what the right
course would be this year in regard to
the proposed city organization. A
number of petitions nave already been
filed with the Board of Elections, thus
placing a number of candidates in
nomination. Some are of one party
and some are of the other. 1t will be
hard to induce a man to withdraw who
believes he has a good chance of being
elected and abide by the decision Of
his party convention. A candidate
who would do that would certainly de-
serve to be heartily endorsed by the
convention providing he was otherwise
acceptable. Party loyalty of that kind
seldom goes unrewarded.
1t should be definitely understood at
the beginning that this movement Is
not in the interest of any candidate, or
set OF candidates. 1t is not to deliver
Offices to Republicans simply because
this movement is to help bring order
out of chaos in election methods. In
saying this we do not wish to be un-
derstood as rejecting on any city Off
Ger or prospective candidate. 1t Is our
desire to see both parties hold conven-
tions and make their nominations.
If, however, the Democratic party does
not wish Ito hold a convention, let us
not hear the old song that it is a
clique trying to get control of the Of
fees. It is not that at ALL Let every
Republican join in and do his best to
make IT a success.
II each party had good strong city
organization it would help immense
ly in the regular work of the Fall cam
palgn, and relieve the county organiza-
tions of great deal of work now ex-
pended inside the clty.