The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-08
THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Careful study Of the results of the munic-
ipal elections OF Tuesday will probably dis
close some interesting tendencies, but de-
cisive party gains either way or any ma
terial change of party lines will not be
among them. If the Democrats made gains
in some localities the Republicans did in
others. and a slight preponderance either
way has no particular significance. Each
party carried some cities for the first time.
Municipal elections in an off year seldom
have much significance in their bearing on
national or state politics. The Journal is
we'll aware that il is the custom Of both
parties to attach considerable Importance
to such elections, but it believes both par
ties have overdone the matter. And such
elections have even less political signif-
canoe now than they had when party lines
were more closely drawn and when party
spirit was higher in this State than is the
case at present. The tendency is towards
the removal Of city governments and city
elections from the arena Of general politics
into that OF home rule and local issues. and
all must admit it is a healthy tendency.
Party ties and affiliations are less binding
with both Republicans and Democrats than
they formerly WERE. as compared with local
issues and interests. The independent voter
is more Of a factor In politics than he for
merIy was, and he is particularly apt to
exercise his independence in a municipal
election. There are thousands Of voters in
Indiana who recognize party names and
ties in national and state elections huf dis
regard them in city elections. Normally
they are Republicans or Democrats, but in
municipal elections they vote as they
please, being Influenced largely by personal
considerations or local issues. Probably
there was not a city or town election in the
State on Tuesday the result of which was
not materially affected by such considera-
tions, to the extent in many instances of
turning the scale one way or the other. Re-
ports from some of the cities where the
control changed hands or where consider
able gains were made one way or the other
state that only a very small per cent. of the
ballots were voted straight. Municipal cleo
tions afford a fine opportunity for scratch
ing on both sides, and it is awaited of TO a
much greater extent than formerly. In one
city which was carried by the Democrats
for the first time in it's history Republican
extravaganza in the management of city
affairs is assigned as the cause. If the
charge is well founded the party deserved
defeat. In another city the defeat Of the
Republican candidate for mayor is attrib-
uted to lack of confidence in him on the
part Of the business community. In still
another city a VIGOROUSLY unfit Republican
candidate for mayor was beaten by a re-
spectacle Democrat In whom the people
had confidence. This was not so much a
party victory as 1t was a victory for good
government. In all this there is a lesson
for Republicans. The party succeeds in
national elections because it offers the best
guarantee of good government and wise
administration and puts up the best men.
If 1t would succeed in municipal elections
it must do the same thing. The elections
Of Tuesday are no criterion as to how the
State will go next fall. much less in the
next presidential election, but they give un-
mistakable and gratifying assurance that
the voter is abroad in the land and that the
people are taking an interest in local gov
arnmant