The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-24
SUNDAY, APRIL "a, 1904.
EoR GOOD GOVERNMENT.

FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT.
The Globe believes heartily in
every movement that looks toward the
securing of a good municipal govern
ment 1t believes that this duty tran
scends for the conscientious voter even
the obligation of party, and that in local
affairs it is right and proper for him
to consider first of all the personal
honesty and ability of candidates for
Office and the likelihood that they will
give the city such an administration
as it needs and ought to have.
We can say in all sincerity that this
election presents one of those too in
frequent occasions when the demands
of party and the demands of civic
spirit absolutely coincide. The Demo-
cratic voter in ST. Paul may feel that
he can go to the polls a week from
Tuesday next and put his straight tick
ct into the ballot box with a clear con.
science. From top to bottom the list
of candidates is one of which any
party might be proud; and one which
any voter, regardless of party, may
support With the consciousness that he
is serving the public interest we'll.
The candidates for general municipal
Office stand on their records. No man
in all st. Paul is so we'll and so favora-
1,lx- lyDovr-,, o- ToIoo~+ c,.;41. r1
his political enemies are. wary of per-
sonal attacks upon him. They put on
instead the cowardly mask of simu-
lated respect, and charge him with
permitting weakly such improprieties
as he would not sanction. The answer
to this is found in the facts. A stream
neither rises higher nor sinks lower
than its source. In a city where re-
sponsibility is diffused, where all the
officers and all the members of the
various local boards are nominated by
party conventions and elected by party
vote, you may have good mayor and
very bad city government in other
respects. In st. Paul, where RESPONSE
bility under the charter is SO largely
concentrated, this cannot be true. A
weak, vacillating or corrupt mayor
could no more create and conduct a
satisfactory administration than one
can grow grapes from thorns or figs
from thistles.
The vindication of Mayor Smith Of
ficially is the record of St. Paul under
his charge. Law and order are main
tanned, life and property are safe, men
and women may walk the street un-
molested by night or by day. and the
criminal and the crook give ST. Paul a
wide berth. The city is we'll kept. and.
Notwithstanding it's increasing popula-
ton and enlarged demands, the tax
rate has been lowered and is still de-
Ginning. The city comptroiIer's Office
has been so admirably conducted as IN
win applause at home and abroad.
The affairs of the city treasury have
been managed with equal ability and
with scrupulous honesty. All the books
are open to inspection and all the rec
ords are clear. Mayor Smith, Comm
troller Betz and Treasurer Bremen are
entitled on the basis of their records to
the unanimous vote Of this community.
With regard to the assembly ticket
1t is st. Paul rather than the Demo.
cratic party that is on trial. Our peo-
pie have complained frequently of the
inferior quality of nominees for office.
They have said that the good citizen
stays away from the polls in discour-
agement because he has offered to him
only choice Of evils. They have
blamed party government and bossisne
and thousand other. things for this
condition, and have always plead that
they would elect good men if good
men were offered to them. 1t has been