The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-31
A NARROW VIEW.

IL
ocracy and earnest advocate Of its principles.
AS TO the sincerity OF his views concerning the
police commissonership there is no question.
That they mistaken ones because based upon
misunderstanding of conditions and a misconcep-
tion of the duty of the mayor upon whom will de-
volve the responsibility of making an appointment
10 fill the coming vacancy on the police board,
must be obvious TO citizens familiar with the situ
alton and whose judgment is not warped by parti
san prejudice.
The News-Democrats correspondent obvious
~ clings to the old but pernicious belief that "to
the victors belong the spoils' ignoring entirely
the unmistakabe and, indeed, irresistible trend OF
public sentiment toward non-partisanshp, espe-
cially in the administration of municipal affairs.
His contention, it appears, is that Mayor
elect Mccarthy is a Democrat he should appoint
a Democrat TO the police commission, and he sup
ports that contention by pointing to the indubita-
bic fact that Republican victories invariably
followed by the filling of all offices with Repub
licans.
This clearly is partisan view and il il were
generally entertained political contests would de-
generate into demoralizing scramble for Office,
in which both principle and the public welfare
would be utterly forgotten
If the rank partisanship of the Republicans
in this city and state is to be met by equally rank
partisanship the part of the Democracy if the
offices and the emoluments of Office instead OF
lofty principles and the well-beng of the munich
pality and the commonwealth, TO constitute the
only fruits of victory in political campaigns, what
hope there be for the overthrow of govern
ment by corrupt political oligarchy and the es
tabshment of government by the people?
Why did such signal success crown the efforts
of the Democracy and the Independents on No
vcniber last? Was it not because the honest
and thoughtful citizens believed the forces OF
form sought to. rescue Rhode Island from shame
ful condition of political servitude rather than to
secure office and the power and pef Of Office?
Wbv lect McCa uiye such
an emphatic majority over his Republican oppo-
nont? Was it not because throughout the
pagn he declared that if elected he would give the
city strictly non-partisan and businesslike ad-
miniStration, and because the people believed he
would scrupulously redeem that promise?
The News Democrat is as firmly convinced as
is its correspondent that the Democracy should
have representation on the police board not how
ever because the incoming mayor is Democrat,
as he contends, but as matter of right and JUS
tice irrespective of the political faith of the ex-
ecutve.
If there were any possible hope of filling the
vacancy on the police board to occur by the
appointment of a capable and worthy Democrat
Mayor-elect Mccarthy would beyond the shadow
of doubt make such appointment. If he did
not do so he would fail lamentably In his duty to
his constituency and to the community
But no such hope exists. The malefc political
machine that seeks domination the police de-
partment has, through servile legislature, given
only nominal power to the mayor, while the actual
power to fill the vacancy is vested in the board of
aldermen. Over the aldermen the machine excr-
cises influence potent TO make the rejec-
tion of any able and well-equipped Democrat the
mayor may name absolutely certain.
What will be the inevitable result if the mayor
attempts TO make the commission bipartisan? ?
Simply that the aldermen will refuse to confirm his
nominee and proceed to elect creature of the
machine. Such man placed on the commission
will give the machine majority, and from that
moment there will cease that efficient, fearless and
impartial administration OF police affairs that has
made Providence clean city and given to its oit-
zens both security and satisfaction Then will the
machine be able to carry TO consummaton its evil
and mischievous design OF turning the police de-
partment into agency for the promotion and
protection OF its political villany and the enlarge
ment OF its malevolent powers
Then will clean city be transformed again
into wde-open town, with Haunting vice and en-
trenched and impudent lawlessness to afront and
outrage the decent and law abiding.
And upon whom will the people place the
responsibility for such shameful reaction? viii
II lie upon the aldermen No. but upon the mayor,
because, knowing the danger, he preferred to invite
il by making a partisan appointment rather than
10 avert il by non-partisan appointment the
aldermen dare not reject without bringing upon
themselves the indignation and wrath of the COM
munity.
Obviously the News-Democrat's correspondent
does not understand the conditions nor appreciate
the magnitude Of the responsibility devolvng upon
Mayor-elect Mccarthy in this police commission
matter II he did he would. no doubt as a loyal
and high -princpled Democrat urge the mayor-eleet
to fulfill his pledge Of non-partisanship by reap