The Minneapolis journal., 1902-05-10
MUNICIPAL PROGRESS

1t really begins to appear that Amer
leans are about to accomplish victory
greater than those that have set half the:
world a-shaking in its boots for fear Of
our commercial 1roWess. We are BEGIN
ming to develop signs of being able to.
govern our cities WE'LL In the review Of
the years municipal progress submitted
Thursday to the National Municipal
League by it's secretary, Clinton Rogers
Woodruff, there is abundant evidence of
an UPWARD lift in municipal government
throughout the country.
The review is very comprehensive and
considers in detail the conditions in
many cities, but hardly anywhere is
there a discouraging sign. From. one
side of thee ountry to the other come
reports of the overthrow of corrupt city
governments, the punishment of bribe-
givers and bribe-takers, the reforming OF
charters, the revision Of state constitu-
tions with the interests of municipal home
rule kept in mind, the gradual disappear
ance of general political lines in munich
! pal elections, all increasing interest
among business men in city politics. a
general disposition to guard franchises
! jealousy, the election OF good and strong
men to municipal office, the acquirement
| by reformers of practical political wisdom
Even Pennsylvania, the seat, of the most
I: heartlessly corrupt political organiZa-
tion IN the United States, has awakened,
and the reform forces have won splendid
victories in Pittsburg and Harrisburg
7r- orJ
the value Of Organization. is plain. The
general municipal program of the munich
+ pal league has been generally used as a
guide and the reformers have had some
thing definite to work for and. what is
more Important, something practical and
attractive to promise the public. This
| program has been used from Boston to
Honolulu. .,.,t. j
! Mr.. Woodruff says that in number of
cities the reformers have been very sue
4 cessful in publishing the names OF candi-
dates favored by them without regard to
party lines, but purely on the basis OF
/ personal worth and probable fidelity to
official trust. The overwhelming success
:: of the aldermanic candidates ,indorsed by
cent to call for extended notice. Equally
remarkable was the result in Cleveland
where the reformers Endorsed the whole
democratic legislative ticket because II
was made W. of q superior class Of men
In Boston the reforners have got con-
troll of the board of.education in simi-
lar manner. z
To point a local moral from this part o1
Mr. Woodruff's report it might be suggest
ed that there is great field here. by rea-
son of the primary election system, fol
the work of a local reform Organization
Of some sort, With numerous candidates
offering themselves for the choice of thu
people for party nominations the voters
are in great need OF expert advice. Whe1
the candidates are nominated the voter!
are inclined to take the party's word fol
it that they are all right, hut prior to tht
nomination. in the primary election. tn,
voters have little to go by EXCEPT th
words of the candidates and their friends
II strong body Of absolutely urpreju
diced or unbiased business men were t,
say that such and such candidates wer
worthy of support 1t would greatly sim
plify the situation. The purpose of sucl
Endorsement is not to help one good can
didate against another. but nlefely to ad
wise the people whom they should no
vote for. In pnany easss all the candi
AAtes would bs indorsed. and the creates