Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-05

See why tney do THIS. When we elect
q congressman we do not elect a per.
sonality so much as we vote for a
principle. The national convention
builds a political platform. Then the
different congressional conventions Of
the party nominate men who will
pledge themselves TO support that plat.
form-in other words. in national poll.
tics "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 n city has nothing to do with
the tariff laws or with the advocacy of
a free silver bill. 1t has nothing to do
with the question whether the Philip
pines shall have self government, as in
Cuba. 1T has nothing, absolutely moth.
Ing. to do with national or state poll
tics. A city government has simply
to do with men. 1t Is a big business
1t has to 10 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 Alright
be he a Republican or a Democrat or
an adhercnt TO any of the other sane
political faiths. And yet the local po.
ltical bosses" of city inevitably hold
the municipal governments in their
grasp by mixing up state and national
issues with civic affairs. They nomi-
nate their candidates. Then they come
to The voters and say: Now, be con.
sistent. If you are going 10 vote for a
Republican president, vote for 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 a blinded community than
thGt of insisting on the mayor and
council being of the dominant political
party
No Longer Heresy.
DO you believe this is political
hercsy? 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 and
civic issues in the same yoke. Let me
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 national 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 Will
liam Taft in late letter which he
wrote TO Il prominent Republican club
of Cincinnati which had elected him
en- honorary member: The conduct Of
municipal affairs has no rational rela-
ton 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
a much wider spirit of independence
at municipal elections in the scratch
ing of improper candidates selected by
either party than is likely to he ever
exercised with reference to state and
NATIONAL elections"
Independence In Local Politics.
What these Republican stal;varts
teach | believe the great Democratic
statesmen are ready to enunciatc and
10 advocate But though these facts
which | am edducng 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.
=
al and civic tickets of the same color,
no matter what ubiquitous political
rings may dominate their cities. Such
voting is wrong it is wrong in toto.
Every man should indorse principles
rather than men in national politics,
but every voter should be an independ-
Ont in civic politics. lie should always
vote for the most honest and capable
candidates in municipal affairs. no
matter to what state or national polit-
ical faith those candidates belong.
But in order to solve the civic prob
lem Alright We must do more than sep
arate national politics from municipal
affairs We must In our city politics
have the right kind Of leaders. We
must prevail upon the most respected
citizens of the different cities to offer
themselves as candidates for the differ
ent municipal offices. The kind of men
who are willing to accept the guberna-
torial and the congressional and presi-
dental offices are the same kind who
should he willing TO be elected to the
mayoralty or TO the aldermanic chairs
IN our city governments.
Make 1t an Honor.
ooh" but You say, "our prominent
men in professional and business life
cannot afford to take the humble posi-
tons of city government. The fnan-
cisl returns are so inadequate that they
do not feel on He'd IDOn TO neglect their