Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-01-07
TWO CENTS
PARTISAN POLITICS.
Responsible for Everything that
is Bad at Fairmont.


Made Party Spoils-M organtowa
Warned OF the Danger aud the Re-
suits Of ignoring the Warming
Timely article on the Subject.
Murgantown held an election on
Thursday, and for the. first time In
her history Injected politics into the
canvass says the Fairmont Times.
As natural result the Republican
ticket was elected. We say as d nat
ural result because Masgantown is so
largely Republican that no other re-
suit could happen when party spirit
Is invoked In an election Yet, not
withstanding the large Republican
majority there the Republican ticket
was only successful by about sixty
plurality. thus showing that even In
Morgantown there are quite number
OF Republicans who are not willing to
swallow any kind Of ticket simply
because it Is labeled Republican.
The Judgment of these men Is likely
to be indicated during the coming
year. We have tried partisan politics
IN Fairmont, and the result has been
very discouraging TO that class Of our
citizens who pay the taxes and con-
tribute most largely to the promotion
OF the substantial interests OF the
city. In the first place 1t Is wrong
from the fact that In local govern
ment all citizens should be equally
concerned In the administration OF
municipal affairs. Party politics cuts
out the minority FROM all participa-
tion Ia these matters in which they
have an equal interest with the ma
jority, and precludes them from hav-
ing any voice In those purely local az
fairs which are Of vast Importance, to
their business concerns. For instance
1t is not 10 be denied that Democrats
are In control of at least one-half of
the business interests that are max
Ing UP the prosperity OF Fairmont.
Ii is perhaps equally true, that Demo
Gratis pay at least one half OF the taxes
Of the city, but yet BY the introduce
tlon Of partisan politics into our cleo
tions, these great interests which they
represent are denied any participation
in laying or discussing local taxation
or 10 directing improvements TO adj
vance the interests OF the city I'M
der partisan management Of local az
fairs, oppressive taxation Ii wrung
from the people to be paid as salaries
into the pockets OF political pets or to
be wasted In jobs to effect future po-
litical action, and those improvements
which would advance The community
in wealth and population are neglect
ed or repudiated by the men who
through the application of partisan
politics are selected to conduct local
affairs. Because, Ia most cases, the
men thus selected are not representa-
tive citizens, but are the mere tools
and henchmen of the astnte ring poll
ticians who select them for nomina-
ton because they will do their bid
ding, and who secure their election
after nomination by invoking party
name and party prejudice to delude
and fool the average voter OF their
politics into voting them into Office.
Morgantown and Fairmont are not
yet cities where men locate naturally
because OF superior business and social
advantages. Both will have q hard
struggle to maintain the prestige and
prosperity that have come To them
within the last few years by and
through the unremitting toll and
efforts of a few Of their public spirited
citizens. Therefore they cannot afford
to place barriers in the path OF their
progress. We do not know how Nor
gantown will be affected by her back
ward step In municipal government
but we know that Fairmont has
suffered by her high tax rate and the
misrepresentation Of public funds since
few designing men obtained control
of her municipal affairs through the
agency Of party. We know that as
town we do not present so many attrac-
tions to the outsider of enterprise ana
capital that we can hope 10 locate him
in our midst when he discovers thatif
he happens to be democrat no matter
how much taxes be may pay or how
much he may be interested in the
material development Of the commun-
ity, the fact OF his politics IS a per
petual barrier to his ever having any
voice in the selection of local officers
or the laying or discussing Of local
taxation. The real enemies OF Fair
mont and Morgantown are the men
who for purposes OF their own, and
not for the benefit Of these little cities
are injecting partisan politics with an
the abuses that are inseparably con-
nected Herewith into our municipal
elections. They are doing this place
more harm in business and indus
trial way than can be corrected by the
energies and the enterprise OF half the
business men who are earnestly seek
ing by every means to promote the
community's interests.