The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-04-05
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

reference TO the local anu eOltOTIdl
pages of newspapers published IN
various parts of Montana shows q
fierce conflict between political and
other organizations to secure posses
sion of municipal offices in certain
cities of the state. In a few instances
the struggle is developing into what is
appropriately called a ''dirty cam
paign,' each aspirant for Office be-
ing represented by his opponents as
the most unfit man that could be Sc.
lected for a position of honor, re-
sponsibility and trust.
This custom of throwing mud at fel.
low citizens nominated for public Of
fee by their friends may possibly in.
dictate the presence of civic pride and
righteousness TO a greater extent than
in communities where municipal af-
fairs are not the subject Of partisan
strife, but the results obtained under
the latter conditions are certainly as
satisfactory as in cities where the
ward boss and heelers are SO active
at the present time. The citizens of
many of the smaller Montana towns
have banished politics from municipal
affairs, and pull together to secure a
business administration that shall be
for the good of every individual in.
terested-a departure from the old
time method favored by politicians
that has proved of great public bene.
fit. The Yellowstone Journal, in
commenting upon this improved plan
OF conducting municipal business.
makes these sensible remarks:
If all the world, or even all of the
United States IA run on the Miles
City plan as to public affairs and
public policies, what a millennium
there would be. Here it is within IL
week OF a day on which a mayor, two
aldermen and sundry other municipal
officials are to be selected and not a
ripple stirs the placid pool of public
content. The secret of it all is tina t
ten or a dozen years ago the people Of
Milestown reached the sage conclusion
that as a municipality it was not con.
cerned in tariff or free trade, single
or double stand ard, colonization or
scuttleism, or any of the political
pros and cons that the average citi.
zen it suppo. ed to get warm: over
every few months. W. just naturally
decided that there was nothing in it
50 far as our wi affairs were con.
cerned. That all we wanted from our
municipal officials was honesty, q
spirit of civic pride, thorough infec.
tion with the microbe Of municipal
progress and Improvement. and rea.
sonable economy: not the economy
Thai balks at necessary expenditure
because tive haven't got the money"
but the kind that will go ahead and
do the things that are necessary for
the public good and trust TO the peo-
pie furnishing the money when they
see that the work has been honestly
done.
Party endorsement is never given to
this policy or that, to become a cam
paign argument in the next election.
Nothing tina, is done by the city gov.
ernment is considered in u political or
partisan light. If there is Il difference
OF opinion in the municipal congress,
it is such an honest difference as part
ners in business might have over
methods of accomplishing a mutually
desired end. 1t is perhaps question
able whether this plan could be car.
ried into the government OF the larger
cities. |, would be Il great blessing
if it could, and quite often it Is AT.
tempted in s~o,called ''citiZens'' nomi.
nations. but there is no question about
its adap,abili,y TO and merit in the
government of the smaller municipal
ties, and though Miles City led the
van be several years, it is gratifying
to note that some of the other smaller
towns in the state are following that
lead.