Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-15
Augusta. March T., 1896.

AuEuSiI. March J., l,Ch.
Hon. Frederick ". plaiSt"d:
Dear S!r:-Thc interest which az Il citi-
zen and as chairman ri the cuminittc" ''f
IT," Augusta foard of Trade on hots, Il
SoVt rnln,nt and pure elections | have
taken iii to,iIE $ election. prompts n'e tD
max" 4 practical suggestion iii further
aucc OF honest gov. rnIntnt which Trust
you will consider not impcrtinemt or i'm
proper.
| would call your attention. first to the
fatt that u" election has been SubSthn-
tally pure. ana secondly point with
pride to I'll" unprcc. ,i"nt,.ily large vote
cast rs tle result Of Il healthy awakening;
of public interest i'll public affairs III no
wiSc st!mul"tCd or influenced by Ecr-
ccmaiy or Other Improper Inducements
II WAS c"niid"l.tlv predicted by many
that without tie use of money. intoNici T.
ing liquors. Of hired teams the vote would
be small. but tin, result has shown that
when the prorl" are assured that Il rul"
counts rs vCtc ana is not IT, be oifs1t
by Il fave dollar note or Il Pint of rum that
need no urging I" rrrform the full duty OF
citizenship ON election day.
Although nominated hy thr Democrat
ic party, the size of yolir ma ioi'tv must
convince You that you ana the SUGGEST NJ
candidates ol your party in tie wards
We're elected by both political parties in
other words. the figures prove. il election
figures hay" any meaning, that YOU aud
they Were elected not rs party c7ndiolatcs
but - the result OF an nnorSaniZrd and
voluntary citizens movement.
This only "Iap!.:tSiZcS the fact i'll such
cases too often ignored. that yen have
been chosen ci!ri magistrate IF the al
tir" city and not merely OF the Democrat
ic party.
With It fair measure uf success the citi-
Zens have realized thrir hcpc OF 4 pur'.
election, and tic result shows that the"
confidently rely unnn YOU ana those nf
your party elected with ycu 10 give them
honest government
Whether their expectations shaH 10
rraliz"d .cr gri"vousiy disappointed Go
pendS primarily and il l;.,:s'' n"Hsur" up
on the choice of city officers and heads:
of departments. Ii thCS" offices are IL
be dealt out in the line of party patron
age as rewards for political services req
drrTi or to be- rendered. with 7ut regard
to qualification or fitness Ol candidates.
your ;tdminstryton however hard y.fl
personally may labor frr honest L"vcl.!-
ment. mast necessarily fail i'll this re
Spcct.
You owe your election to 10 party boss
political combination or ward h"clcrS. and
rs Won have no political obliga ti0nS To
discharge. Your administration and that
cf v0rr party has the rare opportunity Of
ming the city oflcts with regard only 10
til" best interests of the public $, ryice.
1t is true that nearly al the city officers
are elected by the city government, IN.
aS the head of the city government ami
the standard hearcr OF yOur party yoIt
may. if y"u will. exert a great and h'r"
fetal influence over the selection Of thcS"
officers. ana tie citizens. regardless ~
rar'y affiliations, look I" you. supported d
as you Will be in such "ndeavor Dv til"
best elements of both parties. To MAKE
yoTr utmost efforts in this behalf
Us polit cal parties are necessary in tn"
administration Of national affairs, it IN
pcrhaps 700 much to ask or c:pcct At
pr, sent. however much to he desired. that
political lines be entirely ignored in mu-
nicp"l government. but still i should
seem that the tim" is Tipr for a step to br
taken i'll that direction along the line
above suggested
i.NtraNagHnCc, inCOtnp":Cn"" and cor
rHptinn in tn" government of American
municipalities have Httairrh the dmou-
SionS II 2 Worldwide S"Hndll. And N.f
this is OTly the natural result; Of u vicious
political SYST - common to both political
parti". to the extent that = change of aG-
niniStration uc municipal government
from on" party t. the other il hut Il
choice Of cvils.--a change from one sat OF
lDSS"!; to another
May "" not hope that the incoming al
mniStration will provo an "%ccDt!un to
the r1,lr ~ setting u pace and making =
record such as hereafter shall force both
political parties in our city to riaintrin
their best behavior in tho rnuruGrs ut the
polls and IN the citv government.
With est wishes for the success of
your admnistra tion
Sincerely yours.
y. NJ. GODDARD.