The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-03
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
TUESDAY, APRIL 8. 100
MIR. W light.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to
President Mckinley now that his political
associates in Congress are doing all they
can to disrupt the Republican organiza-
ton, that he should be subjected to the
added pain of hearing the indignant pro-
tests of the ninety thousand negro Italian,
and Irish residents of the District, who
have been described and classed en- bloc
by Mr.. John B. Wight, President of the
Board of District Commissioners, as
chronic and habitual lawbreakers, equal
TO the criminal conditions in any city
The President may not regard himself as
responsible for the prejudices, vagaries, or
Inaccuracies of the official in question; but
IL must be remembered that the latter is
his own appointee, and that since the APP
pointment, there have been numerous cir
cumstances and developments tending TO
show that it was made without adequate
enquiry into the qualifications of the bene-
ficiary. Mr.. Wight, whose own opinion of
his ability and good intentions may be ex
cellent, has never been representative of
anything here or elsewhere. His eleva-
ton to the office he holds was a disagree
able surprise TO a great majority of Dis
trict citizens, and his course since assum-
ing the Presidency of the Board has not
been of a character to change public opin-
ion with regard to him. Yet. in spite of
his natural limitations, owing TO the weak
ness of the Democratic representative in
the Commission, he has been able TO con-
troll and run the Board with no satisfac-
ton to anybody but himself, and, perhaps,
a select number OF interested friends and
hackers. His latest performance, in Great
ing a new class of misdemeanants. hitherto
unknown to the science of criminology.
and consisting OF ninety thousand me-
groes, Italians. and Irish, will, We as
sumo with confidence, render it as inn
possible as it would be improper for the
President TO reappoint him on the expira-
tion of his term.
Mr.. Mckinley must realize by this time
that, if anything it is more important that
able, upright and representative men
should be appointed to responsible Offices
lying parts and provinces of the country
The President of the United States is, in
the largest sense, mayor of Washington
Other cities of the Union may be well or
badly governed without concerning the ma
tional authorities; but it is different in
the case of the Capital. Its peace, solvency, |
sanitation, and decorum are matters di- |
rectly connected with the record of the !
President and his Administration. and re- |
suits are watched and criticised through |
out the Union. Federal officials in Alaska |
or Oklahoma may indulge in errors of |
commission or omission and, If they be |
not very fragrant or criminal. nothing |
much VIII be thought or said outside of |
the immediate locality. But as to this |
great municipality Of the United States. |
the whole country sits in judgment on the |
officers who. for practical purposes. are its |
mayor and common council, and holds them |
responsible for its economical and respect |
able government.
Mr.. Mckinley made one OF the numerous
mistakes Of his Administration in putting |
Mr.. Wight in position to iniure him po- !
litically just on the eve OF a Presidential |
contest which does not look any too prom |
Using for the party or the people now in 1
power; but, as far as the case in point is
concerned, most of the i'll effects may per-
haps be neutralized by prompt removal of |
the offender. Mr.. Wight is not the kind of |
man 10 be missed from public life.