The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-07


Il oEel Henry Watterson con-
fcsses that he is in doubt as
to whether moral upheavals. such as
Scranton Is experiencing to a certain
degree, have not in the long run done
as much harm as good. The burden
Of our friends perplexity is thus un-
folded in tho Courier-Journal:
lndCr our system Of universal suffrage munic.
ipal 50, rrnmcnt everywhere seems to be largely
the sport and prey OF the professional ones who
are in politics ter what they may get out OF it.
The Semi.uCcasional waves OF reform do but rise
20 fall again; they pass like summer showers,
driving the neither elements indoors for a season,
when. the storm blown over, they come out
more oLous and mpudent than before II is per.
hops because good men cannot agree among
thcmsolvc-, While bad men are held together by
the cohesive power Of public plundor There
seems, indeed perpetual war between purism
and common sense; between the possible and the
impossible in reform; and thieves and thugs,
and all manner of knaycs take advantage of this
and derive great profit, In the leading marts
OF trade mon are foo Gcd with their own con.
Germs TO be always on the watch. Morality is
ever a volunteer rciormcr. Virtue is but an
amateur. The professional politician, by what.
ever party name he calls himself, Is a regular.
lie never sleeps lie never neglccts his business.
From the big boss to the little crook the dis
oplnc is perfect, the drilling constant It may
even he doubted whether the great moral up.
hravals which VIC sometimes in cities like
Sew York and Chicago have not in the long run
done as much harm good, because in every
instance they have been followed by the spec
tacc Of division or ncapacity, or both, among
the refornlcrs the consequent disgust Of the pub
.ic, and the return TO power of the old set
hunerier and more defiant than ever.
There does not seem to be iustifca-
ton for blaming the poor results in
American municipal government on
universal suffrage. If thieves, thugs
and knaves poll majority votes at
municipal primaries or elections be-
cause the idealst type of citizen Is
willing to submit to that kind of gov
ernmcnt or is too lazy or too cowardly
or too stupid TO take practical steps
to overcome It, then by all the rules of
fairness that is exactly the kind of
government he ought to have. To re-
strict the suffrage with a view 10 put
ting more power into the hands Of
good citizens who make a practice
"f neglecting what power they already
III.
not remedy it.
When looked a practically, the prob
lem Of securing good city government
net perfect government nor govern
mert that will suit every man who sits
in COSY reIreat and imagines things
which arc vain. but substantial and
fairly efficient governmant-is BY no
ma no ,,.,,l..
little commirglng Of energy with
common ser2e. The machinery for
getting good government already ex-
lists Il Isn't perfect. of course, but il
viii work verywcll If properly handled.
When there is q ward primary to name
party candidate for councilman, IL
iS very clear that the practical thing
To do is 10 get Il clean man into the
field as a candidate and unite upon
him the strength of those citizens OF
his party who want that kind of II
man to represent them in councils.
The political generalship which can
not accomplish that small local result
would be powerless to effect the diff
cult revolution toward partisan
ship in municipal affairs. There must
he party organization to bring and
hold men into line and the only reason
party organization sometimes sustains
bad men in office is because the voters
back of that organization are willing
to let the less desirable fraction of the
party membership have control of the
primaries and through them gain COM
mdnd over the organization.
Not only should good men be adyo-
Gated and practically supported for
local Offices, but they should also be
Instructed. Much as we think of Presi-
q dept Mckinley we don't let him have
his own way about everything. The
party that nominated him also adopted
platform and that platform was ac-
cepted by him with pledge to do his
utmost within constitutional limits to
secure its enactment into legislation.
The members of congress elected to
make the laws OF the nation were also
committed to certain broad platform
principles and few Of them are un-
manly enough to forget their obliga-
tions. Yet when party government is
applied to the government of a munich
pality the platform disappears and men
are elected or defeated for city office
on personal grounds almost entirely
producing irresponsibility. Nobody now
contends that this or that party is to
blame when this or that councilman
votes unwisely on a pending measure
or when the mayor approves an OBJ.
'noxious or vetoes a worthy ordinance
The consequence is that city govern.
ment reflects only the weaknesses OF
party government by being shorn OF
its elements OF strength.
Every man who runs for mayor, oil
councilman, or school controller, or al,
derman, or assessor, or controller, ol
treasurer, or any other elective city Of
flee ought to be pledged by his con.
stituents. before election. to a certain
platform Of principles and policies re-