The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-05

A Permanent Institution.
AS stated heretofore, the league is a.
permanent institution. It's officers and
workers will be on duty every week OF the
year, both in and out of the political sea-
son. Between campaigns 1t will watch
closely the course OF affairs in the coun-
ell and gather and compile accurate in
formation as to political conditions and
possible or probable candidates for alder
men in all the wards at the next election.
It purposes to enter each campaign thoro-
ly equipped for effective and successful
work. It's methods will be always above
board, bit, withal, practical thru and
thru. 1t will use every legitimate means
to reach results. 555t &5;.< 49, "A
In the important task it has set forl
itself the league3asks for, and feels ass
sured that twill receive, the Whole3heart-
ed support of all.unbiased citizens of Min
neapolis, without regard, tos. their party
utilization. 1t is convinced, too, that q
majority Of the voters in every ward OF
The city will approve its purposes and
methods. The league believes also that
it's entrance into the local field will meet
with a cordial response from avery con-
siderable majority of 1.-The present city,
council. 53s So :<sS
The personnel of the league gives ample
assurance to all future candidates that
they will be treated fairly and imparttally,
irrespective Of their. political affiliations.
race, creed or social condition. The voting.
public may beSequally certain that what
| ever statements of a; candidates. record or
| character. emanate from the league will
represent the unbiased judgment of it's ex-
ecutive committee, biased on a painstaking
and impartial Investigation Of all the ma
| terial facts in each individual, case. The
league can become a useful and permanent
agency in the municipal field of Mime
apolis only by obtaining and holding the
confidence Of the public and it can obtain
and hold that confidence only by thoro-
ness, fairness and fearlessness n:its meth
DDS, and always working to the end: Of
correct conclusions as to the candi dates
qualifications to put before Z the voting,
public.
Begins Near the People.
The wisdom Of the decision Of the Not-
ers' league to begin its work with the city
neapolis public. The aldermen are nearer
the people than any other of our city, Of
fcials. In raising the standard Of alder
men, therefore, you begin at the bottom of
the municipal structure. A still more ap-
pealing reason, however, lies in the fact
that under the Minneapolis system the
city council is the chief factor in munici-
| pal management In the council are vest-
ed all Of the most vital functions Of local
government. It is; both a legislative and
administrative body. It provides the funds
for the support of the various departments
directly, or thru department heads elected
by its own membership, takesS charge OF
the expenditure Of that money Thru its
committees and department. heads it con-
trolls and actively participates IN the ex-
penditure of more thar 81, 125,O0O a year,
nearly all Of which, under the municipal
4 systems Of; most other cities, is expended
4 under the direction Of administrative
4 heads appointed by the. mayor: The city
d council selects such important department
I heads as the city engineer assessor, com
Il missioner Of health city attorney, chief
= Of the fire department, building. Inspector
! city clerk and registrar\ and superinten-
i dent Of Observation-Disclosures department. and
4 takes, too, am active partsin the selection
4 of the employees Of all those departments
n It builds. pumping stations, Reservoirs, pc.
Il lice and fire engine houses, and has, charge
of all public property. Z, It selects the lo-
! cation of all new pavements, sewers. curb
4 and cutters, water mains and sidewalks
and awards the contracts for a1lssupplies
4 in these departments, and thru the several
\ street commissioners, has charge Of all
4 street gradings and repairs and the open
:! ing and laying put, Of new streets. Thru
IA the commissioner Of health. fthe council
4 has charge, Of sthe collection of the city
4 Cabbage sthe. supervision of all cases Of
! contagious disease, and in general guards
i the. public health. In the. city council alse
/ is vested the right, to- initiate and adopt
4 ordinances for the comfort and. safety OF
i the public. It deals. also with the
4 extremely. important problems connected
Il with the granting of new franchises and
Il the. control of the PUBLIC service corpora:
tons. -
.''~.'.-' Power Of the rcouncit:~.rs'-
i The proposition is 8 self evident, there.
fore, that the city council holds a powe,
i for good or evil in. the civic. affairs 81
4 Minneapolis of far more moment to the
i needs Of the citizens and taxpayers thar
4 either the national or state governments
i Our. peculiar situation truly emphasizes
II the necessity Of an alert and vigilant pub.
4 Tic interest in council affairs, and should
| make it plain to the voters that those
whom they select to represent them II
i the council should be men who posses
to notable degree the qualities that fl
Il for public service. They should be hon
= est, even aggressively so; they should bt
competent; they should be men who car
subserveA their personal interests to the
interests of their city. There are, sgrea
problems. Of municipal policy and admin
istration to be met in Minneapolis in tn,
coming years: In their successful solu
Il tion we are going to need aldermen O.
Il high order Of constructive and admin
istrative ability and of proven integrity
of character. And II is equally for tn,
ID material interests OF the humblest work
| ingfnan and the heaviest taxpayer tina
4 these problems be solved right.
4 by order Of the executive committee.
: ~ John Crosby,
4 %44a...% -. z - ~. President.
stiles r. Jones, .
& Il *