The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-01
THE CRY TICKET.

THE CITY TICKET.
On this last day Of lefsurely reflec-
ton that precedes the casting of the
ballots for city officers, the claims Of
the Democratic nominees on the gem
eraI ticket should sink deep in the
mind OF every good citizen of st. Paul.
That ticket is not open to a single
valid objection from any source.
The head of it, Robert A. Smith. is
among the best known and best loved
Of our citizens. He deserves the
wealth Of popularity that he enjoys.
Not only has he spent a long and ac-
tive life in this community, but under
his direction st. Paul has made its
greatest progress and achieved its
greatest successes in practical govern
ment. No man of sober Judgment who
has lived here for the past fifteen or
twenty years will deny that the adj
minfstrations Of Robert A. Smith as
mayor have been excellent; and that
this latest administration now draw
ing to close has been not only the
best OF them all, but the very best that
st. Paul has ever experienced under
any party or any man.
The claims Of Mayor Smith for re-
election are based, therefore, upon
proper public grounds. He should be
and will be continued in his present Of
fee, because under him st. Paul has
been among the best, IL not actually
the best governed city in the country.
He put an end to the orgies of crime
and the no less criminal inefficiency In
the police department that distinguish
ed the reigns of his predecessors. Hon
watchwords in the city government
Mayor Smith cannot be cajoled or bull
dozed. He goes along his own quiet;
honest. intelligent way, and that way is
also the way of self-interest for the peo-
pie Of st. Paul. Every indication is that
Mayor Smith will be reelected, as he
ought to be, by the largest majority
ever given to any mayoralty candidate
here.
The same high praise can be given
to Comptroller Betz and Treasurer
Bremen. There could be no greater
contrast than that between Mr.. Betz
and his predecessor. The present
comptroller is just as efficient, just as
watchfuI Of the public interest, Just
as scrupulous that every detail Of the
law be observed and every item of the
account be kept straight as was the
Pecksnifian McCardy. But Mr.aBetz
is also. straightforward, courteous and
unwilling to bend the bubbles OF the
law to help party or personal interest;
which his predecessor was not. The
accounts of the city have been well
kept. its credit maintained and the
comptroller's Office been dignified by
Mr.. Betz's administration. Treasurer
Bremen has won equally good opinions
on every side by his courtesy and eff
cheney. He is deservedly- one of the
most popular men in the city, and the
size Of his vote will be a surprise even
to his friends. He has guarded the
public funds jealonsiy, and his office
and that Of the comptroller's, working
tremendously together, have given st.
Paul an unsurpassed financial adminis-
tration.
The whole ticket should go through
not only without break, but with such
big majorities for all the candidates as
will serve the useful purpose of con-
vincing the voting public that the
faithful discharge Of official duties is
appreciated by the people, and that
venomous and untruthful assaults upon
public servants for mere party pur-
poses will be severely rebuked. Both
on their own merits and on the de-
merits Of their party opponents. the
gentlemen now filing the highest city
offices of st. Paul are entitled to the
practically solid vote of every be-
lever in official integrity and every
friend of good government. We look
to the ballot Of Tuesday to show
that faithful service viii be rewarded,
and that the campaign methods Of the
gutter will not be tolerated withou!
punishment.