The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-09-21
ROOSEVELT WANTS TO
j. BOSS CITY POLITICS
Butts Into Municipal Election in
Cleveland for Personal Poht- i.
ical Greed.
Is Bending Every Effort to De.
feat Best Mayor in Any City
in the Country.


IN the Country.
SO the cat has been let out of the
bag, and it appears that President
Roosevelt did induce Congressman
Burton to become a candidate for
Mayor Of Cleveland. and the Interior
motive Is to aid in getting control Of the
Republican political machinery Of the
city OF Cleveland to insure no opposi-
ton to the endorsement Of Mr.. Taft
when 1t comes time for the Ohio state
convention to endorse a candidate for
President of the United States.
Has Roosevelt stopped to- cheap
politics to accomplish a selfish pur.
pose? In his letter to Mr. Burton he
expresses regret that the nation will SUI
Ter an 1rreparable 60 loss when the
Chairman Of the Rivers and Harbors
committee leaves Congress-, but the
President for the moment forgets the
loss CD the nation may suffer to satic-
fy his Unsuitable desire to perpetuate
his political machine.
Healthy Sign Of the Times.
One Of the healthiest signs of the
times in our political life is the elm
ination OF party politics in municipal
affairs. No less parsonage than the
President OF the United States gave
utterance to an expression in accord
ance with this in q recent speech. But
the Presidents position is ever flexible
to serve his immediate purpose.
Tom johnson, the Mayor of Cleve-
land is recognized the best mayor in
one Of the best governed cities In the
United States. He has waged a con-
sistent worfare against the avarice Of
the tpecial interests In his home city,
and II President Roosevelt has sincere
sympathy for public officials who are
trying to do the right thing, he would
lose no time in paying proper tribute
to the courage and patriotism Of
Mayor Tom Johnson.
The progressive newspapers of the
country have their eyes on Cleveland
and 1t Is Indeed refreshing to read
such as the following from the pen
of Louis Post in the Public:-
"A clearer case of deliberate at
tempt to debauch a municipal election
/ with Federal influences, it would be
that Mr.. Burton's candidacy raises, is
whether Secretary Taft or Senator
Foraker shall control Ohio in the Re-
publican national convention nuext
year. :
Roosevelt to Adviss Burton,
In order to overwhelm Foraker
with the prestige Of defeating the
hitherto uncomfortable Tom L. John
son, and evidently for no other pur-
pose, Mr.. Burton has yielded to the
wishes Of Secretary Taft and the con-
Roosevelt. His assertions that Cleve.
land is badly governed under Mayor
Johnson count for nothing. In spite
Of adverse conditions, Johnson has
deservedly won for Cleveland the
reputation of the best governed city
in the country. In the justice Of this
reputation Mr.. Burton himself virtual
ly acquiesced when he refused to lend
the strength of his name as a candi-
date against Johnson's administration,
until the exigencies, not of local gov
eminent but Of national party politics
called him into action. If Mr.. Burton
to become candidate for Mayor,
could anything better be expected of
him if he were Mayor? AMI is Cleve-
land ambitious to be governed from
Washington?
Faction Light Involved.
although Mr.. Burton's sole object
in running for Mayor of Cleveland Is
plainly to promote the interests of his
faction of his party in national poll
tics, and this is therefore the only is
sue which his candidacy especially
raises, he cannot evade the local is
sues that would have been raised by
any other candidate named by the Re-
publican machine of Cleveland. OF
these issues the principal one is the
street car question. For years the
Republican machine Of Cleveland has
constituted part Of the business assets
OF the street car ring, and there is no
evidence of any change IN that re-
spect. Whether he will or not. Mr..
Burton is the candidate of the trac-
ton ring. Though he deny this never
ports him; for the traction ring knows,
whether MT. burton uOcS VI HOl, lldl
Johnson's defeat, no matter by whom,
would be a traction ring victory.
Big Issue Involved.
whether Mayor Johnson will be
defeated is the least important con-
sideration Of the campaign. If de-
feated, 1t will be by the people of
Cleveland land 1t is they who In that
event will have to bear the gurden
OF local government by and for the
traction ring. To them will come the
bitter experience which the people of
Chicago are now undergoing for hav-
ing defeated Dunno and adopted. Nor.
gan's fraudulent traction franchises.
The important consideration now Is
not any empty speculation upon elec-
ton results in Cleveland, but the
means of assuring Johnson's triumph
ant election. When right things are
done. results may be left t, care for.
themselves. It would be folly to dis
guise the fact that the fight for John
son and what he represents in good
-. =