The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-05

DllnS OF 1actlOTdl pOlltlCS, some
| citizens of Pittsburg are med
ilatiNg a non-par,isan CAM
paign for recordership next spring. One
! OF their number. James Francis Burke,
proposes that thirty representative tax
payers, Including business, profession
al, religious and labor interests, get
together in respons. TO public call and
ballot secretly, each time eliminating
the Lowest candidate, until some person
shall receive a Majority Of all the votes
cast. this man to be supported ut the
primary election by all the interests
purpose Of securing primarily Il busi-
ness-like and progressive city adminis-
tration, without special regard to party
politics.
The plan is attractive in theory ana
might under exceptional conditions
work temporarily for the public atlvan-
tage. Its great defect is that il lacks
cohesive qualities. We have seen in
New York how fusion at the polls spells
confusion afterward. because it has be-
hind it no disciplined party organiZu-
ton. In Pittsburg or Scranton there
would be another difficulty arising from
the fact that the second class city
scheme of government is in some re-
spects ineStricably involved with legis-
lative affairs ut Harrisburg, which are
emphatically on IA political and purti-
san basis. The man does not live who
could succeed in giving a satisfactory
administration as recorder of either
city without in some measure showing
partisan affiliations. either at home or
in connection with legislative activities.
Conditions beyond his control would
force him into relationships political
and partisan in their bearing.
BY means of IL standing committee OF
manent political parties; operating
through these parties to secure the
nomination, in the primaries OF each, of
the best available men for city and
ward offices; and exercising through
Investigation and publicity IA steady in
iuence in behalf of upright and pro-
sressive government, ii would be pos
sible gradually to bring about an inn
proved condition in municipal affairs
without interfering with party organi-
cations. But spusms of reputed non
partisanshlp occurring at intervals pre-
sent little prospect of genuine better
ment and tend at length rather to dis
courage than 10 encourage The
assertion of the best civic influences.
In our own city the approaching
choice Of IA recorder calls for practical
rather than theoretical intelligence. One
of three parties--lhe Republican, Dem
ocratic OF Labor--will till the Office
and use it 10 further partisan as We'll
as public ends. Candidates among these
parties are already announcing them
selves, or being discussed by their
friends. The Republican primary, in
deed has alreadys been called. Only
fifteen days remain in which candidates
wishing 10 enter ii may register Only
forty-one days separate us from the
primary election itself Really, excluding
sundays, only thirteen days are avail
able for the decision as To who, among
Republicans. shall be available for this
manifestly important Office, whose oc-
cupant Is virtually a general manager
for the city.
The matter deserves serious attention.
In The raid of gambling dens in New
York, the police do not seem TO be able
10 catch anything but dens.