The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-02-26
.lEnLEcr o. clvlc nuTY.


In q recent lecture before the civic
club OF the University Of Chicago.
Prof hudson said rhe election for
aldermen is more important than the
election for president OF iiie United
states" And he added III our com
munitiea should get in the habit Of
electing decent aldermen 10 every
ward, that would mean that the foun-
tains of political action would be
pure, and the presidency would take
care OF itself"
That is an intelligent application of
the automatic theory Take care Of
the dimes. and the dollars will take
care Of themselves When the peo-
pie become so impressed with the re
sponslilities Of the voting privilege
that they do not negleo to axe judi
cious use Of Il in the choice their
local officials. they will not fail to .lar.
form their duty ia state and national
elections. The reason why so many OF
our cities are ruled by corrupt organ!'
cations is not that bad men constitute
majority Of the electorate There
is not a municipality in the United
states where the friends Of good gov
ernment are not In the majority Uni.
ted and willing to take their part in
the control of local affairs ready to
do that which not only the public good
but their own Interests demand-rlng
rule and its consequences would cease.
The Chicago Tribune illustrates the
relative Importance Of aldermanic and
other local elections from the practi-
cal side by comparing the expendit-
uresfor local government with those
for state purposes It shows that the
disbursements OF Illinois for the last
fiscal year were about $6,S0e,OOO, and
those for New York state were s29,-
221 ,S95. The current budget. however,
for Chicago is s27 1881 .2Ss, and the dis
bursements of New York city for 1900
were ssO,77S,972.
The local government is that which
most intimately Affects the life OF the
citizen It touches his home, his
pocket, his property, and all his inter
ests material, moral, educational, ana
social, more closely and constantly
than state or national government. It
makes his environment beautiful and
wholesome or ugly and unsanitary, ac-
eurding to its Intelligence and it's ca.
pacity II expends his money honestly
or oorruptly according to its degree Of
integrity II lays the great bulk OF the
taxes he IS called upon TO pay and
it can sell his home II he neglects to
meet its demands, And yet there are
millions of the most reputable resi-.
dents Of American cities, men Of re-
6nement, culture. well to do, and Of
high social position, who habitually
abstain from any part in the control
Of local affairs. They will not go TO
the primaries or to the polls. They
appear to think it would be a sacrifice
of their dignity, their eminent respect
ability. to mingle with the vulgar
horde So the local bosses rally their
henchmen. make out their tickets, and
elect them And thus It happens that
men In whose hands no conservative
citizen would intrust any Of his pri
yate interests are chosen 10 contro
the destinies OF our municipalities
with their enormous and increasing
expenditures. Thus It happens tina
many Of our cities are piling mp debt
for unborn generations TO pay or re
pndiate
Once In four years, however, urbai