The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-29
MUNICIPAL REFORM.

The object and purpose of the Citizens
League as stated in an appeal to voters
published in the Journal of yesterday, are
very commendable The common remark
that municipal government is the weak
point in our political system has been veri-
fed by experience in many cities. Differ
ent causes have been assigned for this
as the methods of making nominations for
office. the operation of unrestricted suf-
frage. the introduction of partisan politics.
the corrupting influence of corporations,
the political pull of lawbreakers, etc.
Without averring that any of these causes
are operating in this city, 1t must be adj
mitted that they are as likely to develop
here as in any other large city. Therefore,
any movement that looks to antagonizing
them deserves encouragement and support.
Without specifying any particular abuses
or evils to be remedied, and without for
mulating any particular plan of action, the
proposed Citizens League evidently aims
at an improvement in municipal govern
ment. Its objects are stated follows:
1. To secure the nomination and election
of aggressively honest and capable men,
irrespective of party affiliations to all city,
township and county offices.
businesslike administration of municipal,
township and county affairs.
3. To watch the conduct of public af-
fairs by officials, with view to making a
public report on these matters.
This statement does rot involve any new
theory of popular government, and the fact
that it is offered as the basis of move
ment for municipal reform shows that in
the opinion of some these plain require
ments OF good government have been neg
| lected. If that is the case, II Is the fault
of the people, and the remedy is in their
| hands.
The Journal fully concurs in the state
| ment that the efficiency of laws, for
instance the city charter and the county
and township reform laws, depends, after
all, on the men who administer them" 1t
| follows, of course, that none but honest,
fit and capable men should be elected to
Office. There are various grades of So
| called honesty, fitness and capacity, but
| the successful administration of local gov
eminent requires the highest order of each.
| How to get it is the question. There is no
way of preventing unfit and unworthy men
from seeking office, nor of drafting men OF
recognized fitness and ability into the pub
lie service against their will. Party organ
| izations cannot be ignored, and it is not
desirable that they should be. They are
a necessary and valuable part of our po-
| litical machinery. Neither can party meth
DDS be discarded. FOR they are an insep-
arabic feature of our political life. But
both parties can and ought to be made tc
understand that there is a growing demand
for the introduction of cleaner and better
methods in politics. and for the nomination
to Office of none but men of recognized
| character and fitness, and that the number
of voters who will not be dragooned into
voting straight tickets against their ind
vidual judgments is constantly increasing
The proposed league can do a good worl
by impressing this fact on the party lead
ers and managers of both sides TIL,
leaguers need not expect to get an idea
government this side of heaven or the mil
lennium, but by patient and well-drecteC
effort they ought to be able to create
public sentiment in favor of municipal re
form that will make itself felt in all nom
nations and elections.