The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-07
The Mayoralty.

Happily this time the national contest
has not required much attention. Min
nesota is so overwhelmingly for Roose-
welt that there was no need of ma
tional campaign. S ate, county, city
and ward issues and interests are so
many, however, that some of the most
important will fail to receive proper
consideration.
The two matters which are engaging |
the most attention are the governorship |
and the mayoralty, and even the latter,
close as it is to the interests Of this
city, has suffered from the overshadow-
ing interest taken in the other.
Minneapolis has had all kinds of
mayors. Some Of them have been men
of fine character and most excellent
executive capacity. They have taken
a pride in the city and have been jeal-
Gus Of it's good name. Minneapolis has
chance to get that kind of mayor
now. We are perfectly willing to stand
upon the proposition that during the
past twenty years at least, no man has
been before the people as candidate
for this place who was able to bring
to the office at the outset as good all
round qualifications as Mr.. D. P. Jones.
Apparently, this thing Of being a
good municipal executive isn't easy.
Some men fairly successful in other con-
nections don't succeed there. In
stances in plenty can be found in our
own municipal history. Being good
mayor is chiefly a matter of good in
tentions and good sense coupled with
sufficient energy and firmness to make
them effective. Some men fail in this
office who have good Intentions but lack
good sense; others fail who have enough
good sense but lack the good intentions.
But even conceding intentions
and good sense, and let there be lack
of sufficient energy and frmness to
make them effective, and we have
what we see in Minneapolis today-a
loose, flabby, inefficient, nerveless adj
ministration, which apart from the mat
ter of graft, which does not flourish as
it did then, presents few points of i'm
provement over the Ames regime.
The probabilities are that if you
should ask the opposing candidates for
mayor to write out their theories or
views Of what would constitute good
practical, common-sense kind of admin
istration for Minneapolis, there would
be no very wide difference between
them. Both would take a practical
view Of things; no cranky notions or
slabsided ideas would be advanced by
either. The difference would come in
the carrying out of their ideas. The
} present mayor has elaborated some
beautiful conceptions of municipal ad-
: ministration at banquets and on other
: public occasions, which bear so little
resemblance to his performance as
mayor that the identity Of talker and
doer would never be suspected if il
were not otherwise known.
What this city needs at the present
time is strong, forceful thoroly
! equipped man at the head of it's admin
istrative department. Our contempora
ry, the Tribune, will permit us to Dor
) row from it's editorial columns of Aug
IA, 1902, good statement Of what Mr.
= Jones may be expected to do if elected
1t is taken from it's description of wha
y he was doing at that time:
Mayor Jones is going about it Chi
. task) with equal frankness, vigor an,
y discretion. He is roofing out tn
u coarser vice of the winerooms and tn
y rank piracy Of the open gaming places
. he is driving every form and kind o
D. graft out Of the police force, and he ha
q put both the licensed and unlicensed in
. dulgences that breed crime and provok
' graft under the strictest surveillance O
honest authority. This is the way
. get the kind Of clean city men of sens
want to see.
- This was spoken of Mr.. Jones Will
acting as mayor in 1902, and after b
= had clearly indicated and entered upo
~ the line Of policy which he pursue
49, persistently during the five months {
- his occupancy of the mayor 8 offic
y With that Endorsement of Mr.. Jones
~ policy, the Tribune reioiced in the fax
that che could do much more than civ
. us clean city for four or five month
~ He can set up standard from whic
- elected mayors will not dare to devia1
80 far. He can demonstrate to the publ
~ that the kind Of administration we ha,
- described is possible; and for long tin
~ the public will refuse to accept al
~ other.'
~, How we'll Mayor Jones succeeded
~ fresh in the minds Of the people Of tn
na city. Without complaint Of mario
ness, puritanism, or unfairness to al
ia interest, he closed, on the LIST day
b. January, 1908, five months Of the mo
is effective and satisfactory administ1
be ton this city has enjoyed for mai
er years. What is desired now by all w
N are really solicitous for good Cover
ment is a return to the wholesome, vi
is orous, practical policy which Mr.. Jon
i'll exemplifed in his brief administrati
lg. "a policy which will guarantee.to tho
"a interests which require surveillance a,
re restriction, absolutely fair and reaso
re- able treatment in every instance, a.
OF which at the same time will have &C
OF scientious regard for the reputation
10 the city, it's general moral tone, f
~ the safety of life and property, t
~ restriction of social vice within reasc
ae able limits, the exercise Of all possik
- care and protection for the young a.