The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-12
DON'T PLEDGE YOURSELVES
UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL THE
LIGHT.

Vote for no man who is interested di-
rectly or indirectly i'm any company
needing city franchise. Two years
ago the saloon forces, with the own
ers of public franchises, controlled the
/ board of aldermen in the city of RAJ
leigh. Later on, when the people
voted dispensary, the same element
in the board sought to thwart the will
of the people by putting the manage
ment of the dispensary in the hands
of members of the board of aldermen
Ia piece of conduct that showed these
men did not have the right conception
of their public duty.
The franchise of the Wake Water
Company expires in November of next
year Already persons owning stock
in that company or who owned it so
recently as to still be deeply interested
| in having say for the benefit of the
Water Company are going about try
| ing to pledge men to vote for them
on the Board Of Aldermen. What
for? Every citizen in Raleigh who
wishes good government ought to re-
fuse to pledge himself to any candi-
date until that candidate announces
| his platform, and then it will be well
to withhold pledges until every voter
can know who will be in the field and
take his choice of the men who are
standing for municipal ownership of
water and for good government. No
unfit or vacillating man ought to be
elected, even if he claims that he is
for city ownership of water. No man
ought to be elected whose character
is not so high that the people can
trust him and whose steadfastness
cannot be relied upon. Of course
candidates unfit for the place, with
Interior motives, will advocate city
| ownership or anything else that they
think will help their candidacy. But
men who do not possess the confidence
of the city in the highest degree ought
not to be chosen, no matter what they
say they stand for.
City ownership of water is the i'm
mediate matter of interest for Raleigh
voters. The present franchise expires
in November. 1906. The water rates
| in Raleigh are too high. The city,
under the contract. has a right to buy
the whole system at a price to be
agreed upon by appraisers. Therefore
no man can be said to really favor
city ownership who is willing to pay
more than. a fair price for the system.
1.-THE water works folks would be glad
| to sell to the city at price out of rea-
/ has been put In the stock as well as
lin the reservoirs. The kind of mayor
land board of aldermen needed are
! men of high character, devoted solely
to the best interests of the city, whose
.Isense of duty and justice can be trust
led to protect the rights of the people
and do no wrong to the water COM
lpany. Men owning stock or influenced
Iby men owning it can not be free
lfrom bias. no matter how upright and
Honorable they are. Under the State
laws no county commissioner or school
committeeman can sell goods to the
county This deprives the public of the
services of some very good men. But
the principle underlying that case is
sound. No man should even be in a
position where, while representing the
public, he trades with himself. There
| are plenty of men who would bend
backward in their resolve to be hon
est, but the strain ought not to be
token no man ought to be elected
mayor or alderman who is interested
| in any franchise granted by the city.
If this denies the city of the services
of some good men, it should be re-
membered that there are other men
just as good who have no interest,
near or remote. in franchises.
Raleigh will hereafter have only
eight aldermen. They should be men
of the highest character civic cour-
age. ripe judgment and deep inter-
est in the welfare of the city. You
cannot gather figs from thistles. Men
who lack sterling character and men
who are the puppets of others or men
with some special interest to sub
serve ought not to be chosen to any
important place under the city gov
/ eminent.
Voters of Raleigh: Do not pledge
yourselves to any candidate until the
| time comes to go to the primary.
Then, with all the lights before you,
vote for men who can be relied upon
to stand for the citys best interests.
1t may be necessary for the friends
of city ownership and good govern
ment to organize a campaign and
bring out candidates. AS a matter of
| fact, is it not better for the citizens
| interested to urge men to become
candidates than to nominate men who
are SO anxious to get the place they
are begging men to vote for them
Isn't Raleigh big enough to vote for
men because of their public avowal OF
their policy for the city rather than