The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-13

uphill fight against carter
Harrison, Democratic incumbent and
aspirant for a third term, has added to
the interest of Chicago politics by for
mulating declaration of principles, as
follows:
l. An honest economical and business admin.
Is,ration Of public affairs.
. Public schools must be taken out and kept
out of politics.
g. Towns. taxing and other governing bodies
must be consolidated into one great Chicago.
t. 4 faithful, fair and honest enforcement OK
the merit system.
:. The complete separation OF the police from
politics and political influences, and mainten'
ancc Of a higher efficiency and discipline.
c. The cxaction Of full and fair compensation
for franchises and special privileges.
:. Radical change in special assessment de-
partnent. Money collected shall he used only
Tor the improvement for which collected, and
the surplus promptly related
:. Fair treatment for all the people.
o. Tribute shall not be levied or collected from
the criminal classes
10. The river must be dcepcncd and made adc-
qultc to the demands Of the present and future.
II. Business, factories and industries should
be encouraged.
Il. Streets and alleys must be kept clean,
passablc and safe at all hours.
The professions of a candidate for
office are always worthy of attention
even though they sometimes fall short
In performance. We note the above
! platform, however, less through inter-
est in the particular fight that gener-
ated it, than because it illustrates a
method which should be more preva-
lent in municipal politics. For hun
dred years there has been theoretical
advocacy of n-partisanship in mum
icipal affairs and practical exhibition
of partisanship. Even the non-plrtls-
ans become partisan when trying 20
carry their ideas into effect. The need
of parties, one to propose and another
| TO oppose, is established in the ground
| work of Anglo-SaXon civilization ana
| theorists can no more uproot it than
they can fly.
This being conceded, why should we
not have municipal platforms as we'll
| as state and national platforms, with
| party responsibility and accountability
| as Well established in the local as in
the broader field? The difference now
| between a Democrat and a Republican
running for IL local office, especially
| for councilman, is frequently only Il
| difference between personal traits; and
| the voter has no means of knowing
when he casts his ballot what princi-
! pies of city government or what de-
! tails of city legislation he is helping IL
! forward or hold up. The lack of party
responsibility leaves the voter in the
! dark and gives the councilman free
rein To do as he plCascs. Not having
been pledged, the latter violates no
| promises but can, IL he wishes, be as
! eccentric as a runaway horse. He does
not have to be consistent. He does not
have to pay heed to public opinion. All
| he needs is a personal following in his
own ward sufficient to insure his re-
election and lie generally constructs
! this by means not htted to the light OF
day
IT, on the contrary, party pledges
We're eXacted, they might be broken
but the party which should permit
them to be broken would have tc
reckon afterward with public opinion
Its leaders would be impellcd by mo.
tives of self interest to prevent an ut.
ter sacrifice of public confidence. The
Republican or Democrat elected tC
council from an outlying ward would
not be a political guerilla, at liberty Il
consult always only his own whlms; III
would be part Of the general party
column, subject to the general restraint
and liable to party discipline. II ht
broke away from a party pledge, tn,
party's interest would calf for his re
demption or punishment. II he stood
loyal. the party's interest would urge
His continuance or promotion.
The tendency in cities TO break away
from restraint has brought into til,
field of municipal politics a host o.
quixotic independent movements an(
prettily labeled reform enterprise,
which have occupied public attention
very largely but proved absolutely in
effective in fact, The trouble will
them is that they lack the cohesiv,
force of long-established party loyalt!
to hold them together and sustain
machinery for their growth. New Yorl
had its Parkhurst Nnd its Mayo
Strong; and today II is worse in tn,
mire than ever. The reform movemen