The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-12
'CLURE IS FOR
GALVESTON PLAN
Famous Publisher Gives Strong
Reasons for Adoption of
Civil Improvement Idea.
IS IDEAL AMERICAN SYSTEM
SAN FRANCISCO TYPIFIES THREE
FORMS OF LAWLESSNESs.

The Galveston idea in governing the
modern American city has staunch sup
porter in S. S. Mcclure of New York. the
veteran magazine publisher who is
guest at the Knutsford. Mr.. Mcclure is
passing a day or two in Salt Lake, en-
route to San Francisco. where he will
study the conditions prevailing in that
city
Mr. Mcclure regretted the fact that the
recent legislature in Utah failed TO pass
The Galveston measure. but expressed the
opinion that this system of government
vas sure to come at an early date.
is Fundamental Principle.
''The Galveston system" said Mr.. Nc
rlure. lis founded ON the fundamental
principles Of American government. In
New England the citizens at one time
chose three selectnen to govern each city
and village. This system was the plan
Df the founders of the American republic
and is essentially American.
1T is common knowledge that today al
most every city in the United States is
governed by one man, or. at most, three
DIT four men. This rule is almost univer-
sal Now the question is whether we
want these men TO be such as Abe Reuf,
San Francisco. or men who were the peo-
pies nominees. elected to serve the peo-
ple and responsible only to them.
From business standpoint. the Gal
weston system is by far the better one.
All our great Industries are managed and
controlled by either one man or a small
group of men chosen for thei- ability
experts in their line. a city is great
Is business institution and its citizens GER
family deserve an administration as ca
pable as that of a railroad or a smelter
or d mine. If your city council were
composed of the most honest. upright and
capable men in the community il would
Etill be too clumsy TO manage properly
the interests of the people. 1t is a paradox
that the American is the best business
man in the world. but the poorest to
manage the civic business of his city.
Centrslizes the Government.
1.-THE Galveston plan centralizes the gov
eminent of the city and gives the pub
lie the opportunity to seIct experts for
the positions. Moreover. it makes polit-
icaI corruption well-nigh impossible. The
very fact that the politicians-of the coun-
try have arrayed themselves against this
idea is the strongest argument I'm its ia
VOr The Galveston plan eliminates the
ward. and with it the little centers Of vice
and corruption fostered by prese Mt condi-
tions.
Politics Corrupts People.
Municipal politics corrupts the people
1t buys control of the wards and the
people pay the bride money in the most
precious possessions they have They
pay it in the debauchery of their sons and
The shame of their daughters. Let me IL
1ustrate. The ward politicians are the
saloon keepers, the gamblers, the keep
ers Of disorderly houses and others of
like stripe. They swing the votes in
their precincts and wards for police pro-
lection in order that they may go on in
their nefarious practice of corrupting the
community"
Types of Lawlessness.
Mr. Mcclure is going 20 San Francisco
TO study the lawlessness prevalent there.
in ms opinion San Francisco typifies three
forms of lawlessness which are today the
greatest menace to the civilization of to-
day-the lawlessness of capital. the law
]essness in civic government. which the
Galveston plan would remedy. and the
lawlessncss of the over-zealcus labor
unions.
.