Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-07-07

date upon the Republican ticket for
president Of the United States. He Is
che logical representative Of his party
upon the sole issue that he was the
author of the famous Mckinley bill.
which established high tariff Now. II
MIR. Mckinley IL elected 10 the presi-
dcncy he can do absolutely nothing to
forward his ideas of protection unless
he has II congress behind him which
will pass protection laws. Thus all
over the country the Republicans Of
the different congressional districts AS
scmblc and pick out men who believe
in protection To support the future pres
ident in his policy You can readily
see why they do this. When we elect
u congressman we do not elect "A per
sonality so much ms we vote for Il
principle The national convention
builds political platform. Then the
different congressional conventions OF
the party nominate men who VIII
pledge themselves To support that plat
form-in other words, in national poll
ties the unit man" Is an insignificant
mote of sand But when all these
notes are collected together in one
great volume we have the national pol
Icy. or the principle of the great dom
inant political party. expressed in one
mighty chorus sounding together as
one voice.
Now. on the other hand, the govern
ment Of city has nothing to do with
netf Ia, .k.ftl, tls.. ~
free silver bill. II has nothing to do
with the question whether the Philip
pines shall have self government. as in
Cuba. II has nothing. absolutely moth
Ing, TO do with national or state poll
tics 4 city government has simply
to do with men. II is big business.
II has To do with the public schools.
and with the water supply. and with
the lighting of our streets. and with our
street railway system. and with the
control OF our police and fire depart
ments Any man who is II strong. hon
est. upright. intelligent business man
can run any city government Alright.
be he u Republican Or Democrat or
an adhcrcnt to any of the other sane
political faiths. And yet the local pO-
litical bosses Of u city inevitably hold
the municipal governments In their
grasp 10y mixing up state and national
issues with civic affairs. They nomi.
nate their candidates. Then they come
to the voters and say: Nov he con
siStent If you are going to vote for n
Republican president, vote for Re
publican mayor and II Republican city
attorney and II Republican council
man. These men all represent the same
great Republican truths" And never
was greater nonsense ever pcrpe-
trated upon blinded community than
that of insisting on the mayor and
council being of the dominant political
party.
No Longer Heresy.
DO you believe this Is political
heresy: Then read the following
words of Theodore Roosevelt. presi-
dent of the United States Mr. RoOse-
Welt declares that most of the munich
pal corruption OF this country is direct
~ due 10 Harvesting NJ national and
read 10 YOU his own strong. powerful,
Intense words: The worst evils that
affect our local governments arise from
and are the inevitable results OF the
mixing up OF city affairs with party
politics of the nation and state. The
lines upon which nationai parties d.
vide nave no necessary connection
with the business OF the city Such
connections open the way TO countless
schemes OF public plumber and civic
corruption. What says Secretary VIII
liam Taft in II late letter which he
wrote to prominent Republican club
of Cincinnati which had elected him
an honorary member: The conduct of
municipal affairs has no rational rela-
ton to the conduct of national affairs.
and while IL does not seem possible 10
eliminate from municipal elections the
system of nominating party tickets.
there ought certainly to he cultivated
much wider spirit OF independence
at municipal elections in the scratch
ing OF improper candidates selected by
either party than IL likely 10 be ever
exercised with reference TO state and
national elections"
Independence In Local Politics.
What these Republican stalwarts
teach believe the great Democratic
statesmen are ready to enunciate and
TO advocate. But. though these facts
which am adducing should be almost
self evident or automatic, yet there are
hundreds of men living, let us say. In
the city OF Atlanta, who always vote
the Democratic ticket merely because
the state of Georgia Is Democratic in
sentiment. as there are thousands Of
men living in Philadelphia who always
vote the Republican ticket because
Pennsylvania is generally Republican.
They will make their state and nation
al and civic tickets of the same color.
no matter what Ubiquitous political
rings may dominate their cities. Such
voting is wrought is wrong in toto
Every man should indorse principles
rather than men In national politics
but every voter should be an independ
ent In civic politics. lie should always
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