The Pensacola journal., 1905-02-19
SAYS WE MUST HAVE A PRO.
GRESsIVE CITY GOVERN
MENT-cLEAN-cUT IS
SUES AND MEN TO
REPRESENT
THEM.

Editor Pensacola Journal:
The time for the election Of a mayor
and several councilmen is drawing
close TO hand and the 'wire-workers"
are already busy. Pledges are already
being sought and plans laid to protect
certain interests by the election of
certain people
The time has also arrived for Pen
sacols to make a step forward in the
line of progress. and nothing is more
important TO step in line with prog
ress than the election of a mayor and
councilmen who are heart and soul IN
sympathy with progress and willing
/ 10 look up their faith in the dim, dis
tant future.
Two Glasses of People.
In all cities and all localities there
are two distinct classes Of people; one
class does things; they go anead, are
progressive, are not afraid to try, and
accomplish something. The other
class sometimes believes in doing
things, but usually at some future
time or in some impractical way. With
them the present is usually good
/ EAOMEur anu hnGu d Is SUOkGH
of they have ninety-seven objections,
more or less, why it cannot or should
not be done now and those objections
stand good, good from year to year.
The prosperity of Pensacola depends
very much on from which class the
city officers are chosen.
Before Pensacola can be counted a
progressive city it must make Ger.
tain public improvements We cannot
lay claim to progressiveness so long
as many of our streets have not been
improved since the morning the Crea
tor turned the earth over to Adam;
nor while some of our streets present
the marine effect of a choppy sea after
each rain. Then again we have Sec
tionS of public streets that would take
the prize in any up-to-date city as
bait for a pestilence trap. land this
in spite of our eagle-eyed board of
health who declare the sanitary con-
ditions were never better.) Before we
can have good streets we must have
drainage We must have sewers.
We must nave a water works that can
squirt a stream of water to a second
story window We must have nv
drants that will not burst and let a
house burn down, as in the recent case
of the Burns fire.
Must Sell Bonds.
The way for Pensacola to get public
Improvements is to sell bonds and
have officers who are capable and will
ling to use the money to the best ad-
vantage for the city. If an up-to-date
water works is needed before either
sewerage or paved streets, Mr.. PItt
would not be a good man to elect as
mayor for he would not favor a new
water works, though he might be viii
ling 10 sell his worn-out concern to the
city for several prices, but the city
would have nothing bat a junk pile
when il got it. Nor would it be good
policy to elect Mr.. Pitts right hand
man as mayor, nor his man Friday,
nor any of that ring. Pensacolians
who desire to see the city prosperous
would do well TO stick a pin in that
spot
This question of public improve
ments must be carried into politics.
Ii is of no use to talk improvements
for two years and then on election day
elect men who are at heart opposed
10 them. We must know exactly
where our candidates stand on these
questions. And we must be reason
Onably sure Of what they will do as
well as of what they say they believe
Another thing that should be de-
manded by the people is that men
selected TO fill important positions
should at least have some claim beside
fsVoritisn for the position. There are
men holding important positions who
have demonstrated beyond a doubt
their incompetency. If Pensacola
would be progressive she must get
practical men TO manage her various
departments.
Don't Make Pledges.
II the citizens of Pensacola desire |
10 see the city progress then let then
be in no hurry about pledgins them /
selves to this or that candidate. In !
this case make haste very slowly"
Your votes will not spoil. Wisdom /
would dictate that you know all the /
candidates so far as possible before
making a choice.
Heretofore the city elections have
been largely a scramble for office al
most Irrespective of politics. Let us
hope this will not be the case this |