Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1906-07-07


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 III one
mighty chorus sounding together as
one voice.
Now, on the other hand, the govern
ment of a city has nothing to do with
the tariff laws or with the advocacy OF
free silver bill 1t has nothing to do
with the question whether the Philip
pines shall have self government, as III
Cuba. 1t has nothing absolutely MOTH
inu to do with national or state poll
tics. \ city government has simply
TO do with men, 1t Is a big business.
1t 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 strong, hon
est. upright. intelligent business man
can run any city government arlght
no ne n Republican or n Democrat or
an adherent TO any Of the other sane
political faiths And yet the local po-
liticaI bosses" of n city inevitably hold
the municipal governments in their
| grasp by mixing up state and national
! ISSUES with civic affairs They n0ml-
nate their candidates. Then they come
TO the voters and say: "Now, be con-
sistent If you are going to vote for
Republican president, vote for n Re
publican mayor and Republican city
/ attorney and Republican council
man. These men all represent the same
great Republican truths" And never
WAS greater nonsense ever perpe-
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
J 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
ly due to harnessing up national ana
civic issues in the same yoke. Let me
read to you his own strong, powerful,
intense words: The worst evils thar
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. Ihe
lines upon which national parties d.
! vide have no necessary connection
with the business Of the city. Such
| connexions open tne way TO cOupllesS
schemes of public plunder and civic
corruption." What says Secretary VIII
liam Taft in late letter which ne
wrote to a prominent Republican club
of Cincinnati which had elected MIN
an honorary member: THE conduct OF
municipal affairs has no rational fela-
tion TO the conduct of national affairs,
and while it does not seem possible to
eliminate from municipal elections the
system Of nominating party tickets
there ought certainly to be cultivated
much wider spirit Of independence
at municipal elections in the scratch
ing of improper candidates selected by
either party than is likely to be ever
exercised with reference to state ana
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 tactS
which am adduclng should be almost
self evident or automatic, yet there are
hundreds Of men living, let US say, II
the city of Atlanta, who always vote
} the Democratic ticket merely because
the state of Georgia is Democratic II
sentiment. as there are thousands o.
men living in Philadelphia who alway'
vote the Republican ticket because
{ PENNSYLVANIA is generally Republican
r They will make their state ana nation
: nj and civic tickets of the same color
{ no matter what iniquitous polltlca
= rings may dominate their cities. Sucl
voting is WrOng-it is wrong in toto
Every man should Endorse principles
} rather than men in national politics
, bu+ every voter should be an independ
D ont in civic politics. He should Away
: | vote for the most honest and capaDl
candidates in municipal affairs, n
e matter to what state or national pOlll
/, | ical faith those candidates belong.
c Rut in order to solve the civic prou
f lem Alright we must do more than ser
] erate national politics from munlcipa
p, affairs. We must in our city poiitlc
e have the right kind Of leaders. w
g mnst prevail upon tho most respecte
!. citizens of the different cities to ole
n themselves as candidates for the dlfel
j emf municipal offices. The kind OF me
c who are willing to accept the guDerh'
y torial and the congressional and pres
5 Dental offices are the same kind WI
+ should be willing to be elected TO III
/ mayoralty or TO the aldermanic chali
r In our city governments.
Z Make II an Honor.
Il "Oh." but you say our prorninei
7 men in professional and business III
y cannot afford to take the humble pos
tIons of a city government. The final
Il cial returns are so inadequate that the
e do not feel called upon to neglect the
Il stores or offices for such petty emol
Z ments." Nonsense, my friend, no
II sense. The question Of financial
e turns should have nothing to do wi
q our Offering the city positions to o.
e, most prominent citizens. We shou
,s look upon our city governments I
is same as they do in England or Sec
.e land or Australia or New Zealan
There the people, no matter nc
wealthy or prominent they may |