Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-15

voters to elect a delegate In Congress. and
that Is as far as our representation could
possibly go-yOu would have the citlzenS
divided on national party lines. and. event.
ually, all the disastrous and diSgracefui
consequences of partisan politics In munich
pal affairs. Instead Of the union and har-
mony which now prevails In this and every
other organization Of citizens you would be
divided into warning camps, each party
striving first for partisan success, and only
incidentally for the progress of the Dis
trfct. It is notorious that politics. partisan
and corrupt politics. controls the govern
ment of most large cities in this country.
and that Is the reason why we have to con-
fess to the world that our one great fall
ure as people is in municipal government.
The boss and his ieutenants OF the ma
chine men who make business of poll
tics. and must be corrupt and corrupting to
succeed. say elsewhere who shall be nomi-
mated and who shall be elected. and who
shall have contracts and franchises. and
where public improvements shall be made.
and through the police department and
other municipal departments levy black
mail on high and low. There is no politics
in politics of this description: 1t is all cold
business on the part Of politicians. who. as
one Of them testified in New York, work
for their own pocket every time
Business, Not Politics.
Now. the management of the affairs OF
any municipality has nothing to do with
politics. The questions involved are all
business questions. The management of
the affairs OF the District OF Columbia. with
its 100000 budget and Its varied ana
complex interests. Is simply business ike
the management OF a great corpora.ion.
The taxpayers are the chief stockholders.
ecution of their will The method OF ex-
pressing that will Is unimportant Fhere
are other ways besides the ballot. But IT
is only In the District Of Columbia that the
citizens govern, expressing their WIN et
fectively through their organizations and
through newspapers. which, unlike those
elsewhere. are all Independent and nom
partisan. It is a human system. worked by
men. and therefore not perfect but 1t 10
more nearly than any other an expression
and an execution Of the public will. self
government by public opinion I challenge
comparison of its results with those Of any
other municipal government. And in theiv
fruits is the proof of their success. The
citizens like yourselves who now control
affairs, would have no voice in their man
agement. no effective voice, If we had par
tisan politics in the District and you would
be the worst sufferers But the District
itself has everything to fear from the threat
of the introduction of partisan politics. with
all its strife and corruption.
Attitude OF congress
.Coneress which does not deserve much
~ the .dya-,. cr,+,c,sr, nou, treats vour
" o -,
yourselves without regard to politics ana
with entire courtesy Republicans and
den,ocrats ara eouallv fair. Won are not
-. -. tho
asked your pon.ics. anu Is tta cha, v I'm IN
District are NOT ans s.te w INC Sas,a Tow
the best Of practical representation in Con-
gress. not only tnrougn tne senators AM
&c Tie rest NJ the co,ntrv hut through the
Commissioners. The Commissioners have
not the right to speak or vote in either
mouse, altnoush tney nave the lreeooIn III "
me oena.e iiOo ooe pm. ss.ta.r,.1d Nv Nv
snoochmeEtno mr. az a r,,le on the floor OF
either house rhev are sett,ed at the COM
Tnittaa tables And there the Commission
orc ora invited nv the committees and have
mi, oonortunitv to renresent the needs of
tha nfatr;ct Tbeir Views arc asked "a to
ali District 1e1isIatton RilIs which they
frame are introdnced "a q matter of course
hv The chairrnan of the district conmittees
ana al, other hills relating to the District
are raferrad tn them FOR Tenort They In
tI,rr a1wavs consult tho citizens The an
nronriat ion hiIls are Worried ont IN the
observation-disclosures, estimatas hv the comnit-
teos IN conrerenca with tho Sommissioners
who orc aIwavs +raatad courteouslv and
whose yJawa ore oenera1Iv accented And
HraIIv ofter anv D;atrict measure has