The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-15
POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS.

Efforts are Oelng made 10 arouse IN
taxpayers OF every community; the bus
mess men who are afraid to express thei
political opinion or go TO the polls anC
vote for fear OF losing a customer: tht
conservative element, who never tax,
any interest in politics, to at least II
to the polls and vote. If they will dc
this, and take part in making the nomi'
nations, Astoria, as well as every other
city will have business like admins,
tration AMI reckless extravaganza will
be relegatei to the rear,
Philadelphia has given the country .
timely object lesson in demonstrating the
public's ability to master and demolsh
a supposedly invulnearable political ma
chine. The effacacy of not few old.
fashioned methods of dealing with
"grafters' and corruptionst has been
established, and some new ways have
been discovered for meeting new abuses.
Under Mayor Weaver's leadership the
organization" managers have been fore.
ed to abandon their iniquitous gas lease
hold-up. This surrender showed what
bership dues large sums of money were
timent can exercise in defeating propos-
ed betrayals of the public trust. Mayor
Weaver's subsequent warfare on the
Philadelphia machine has proved with
what ease and thoroughness corrup,
political organization may be smashed
when once the voters band together res
olutely for its destruction.
The mayors latest blow at the odious
local rings is one which might well be
initiated in many other municipalities. |
1t is sweeping order to all municipal |
employees TO withdraw their support and |
countenance from an organization |
caught red handed in an attempt to
plunder the city. The new director of
the department OF public safety issued
on Monday a notice to the bureau
chiefs under him that membership in
political clubs is hereafter not only not
to be considered "a cause for appoint
ment, preferment or promotion" but as
detrimental to the maintenance of prop
er discipline in the department" This
change of attitude on the part of the
city administration will practically eman
cipate all city employees from political
control and will extirpate the so-called
ward clubs, which have been used as
clearing houses for Office brokerage and
for the collection of political assess
ments. II
All employees were previously made to
that activity in these clubs |
was a prerequisite to advancement in c
the city service, and in the guise of mem. i
machine leaders. The Philadelphia Led
every year for the use of the
machide leaders. The Philadelphia Led t
ger estimates that 100000 was annu. +
ally turned over into the machine treas.
ury through these alleged clubs, whose t
were also required to take an
active part in the manipulations of ward
politics. Sustained solely by the office i
holders, these organizations must fall t
TO the ground under the reform order. {
and the Durham ring will find itself de. P
prived of its chief sources of revenue
and power.
Such severance Of the offceholding {
class from partisan activities is OF
course, essential to honest and efficient t
administration. Philadelphia y
lad too long tolerated the idea that
government should be conducted for the
,eneft not of the people but of the pol y
ticians and ofTicebolders The ring had p
ONE to believe that it owned the city il
nd the city employees had come to think h
hat their first duty was to the poll
icians and not to the community. The
Dgical outcome of such prevented view Il
vas the projected gas steal. Philadel' a.
hia now realizes that to keep, muni. m
ipal service clean and honest it must Il
e kept out of partisan politics. The te
flee holder must be protected from the
redatory politician; and on his side he
lust also be made to realize that parti I'll
IN activity Injuries his status and i'm "
airs his usefulness. He is first of all til
public servant, and in that capacity
: has no place in the routine work Of
artisan politics. No city can attain ia