The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-30

," HERE IS one phase of the
grand jury's inquiry into
Il. municipal rottenness, quite
apart from any probable
legal results, which certainly merits
ing advertised far and wide as mis-
governed city: as a city where valu-
able legislation directly affecting the
public welfare is notoriously a matter
Of barter and sale: in other words as
a city uninviting to the business man
who wishes to secure q new location
for his industry or commercial enter
prise. Our board of trade can extol
the economic advantages Of Scranton
in a way to create on open minds a
highly favorable impression but how
can it convince strangers that Scran.
ton is a safe abode for men Of honest
purpose when the political morals of
the town, as revealed from time to
time in legal proceedings, show up as
they are now being emblazoned in the
public prints?
We raise this inquiry, not to dis
credit the grand jury's work nor in the
belief that acquiescence in crime Is in
the long run wise policy, but rather
to bring to the attention of our busi-
ness men that they are very directly
and deeply interested in the problem
Of cleansing the Augean stable of our
city government so that this over
hanging menace Of ill-fame may thor
oughly be dissipated. The conditions
which make imperative such periodical
Investigations as the one upon which
our grand jury Is now at work have
grown up in this town in large part
through the non-participation of our
substantial citizens in municipal af-
fairs. Many men who are largely in
terested as owners Of property or Of
business enterprises in the welfare Of
the city have taken practically no part
whatever in the details of politics and
of city administration; they have not
used their influence to strengthen good
men in councils or to retire bad men
from places where they are dangerous;
they. have treated the whole subject of
city government as a matter of in
difference or as a theme Of jesting a
good many of them preferring to buy
special favors when desiring them and
being willing to let the rest of the city
business go as 1t may please.
The fault for Doodle councilmen is
not altogether with the poor specimens
of manhood who seek local office for
the purpose of selling themselves to
the highest bidder. Putting an occa-
sional boodler in Jail may make the
business of corruption a little more
secretive but it will not eliminate the
inclination to buy and sell nor perma
nently purify the currents of city gov
ernment. If Scranton is to be redeemed
there must be systematic and intelli.
gent movement having back Of 1t the
whole power Of the honest element of
our population and especially enlisting
men of ripe judgment and business
acumen who are not playing factional
games or working for this or that
dubious personal end but who are will
ing to fight practically for the protec.
tion Of their own pocketbooks and 70,
the real betterment of municipal af.
fairs A battle waged with determine.
tion on these lines under a Leadership
inviting public confidence and not in
methods Overshooting the heads of the
multitude could in two or three years
work a vast change for the better; but
unless this shall be done there will bs
very little permanent relief: not ever
though few additions should be made
presently to the population of our Jail