The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-09-18
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. Issued Thursday. One Dollar a Year.
MUNICIPAL POLITICS.

MUNICIPAL POLITICS.
 The Democrats of the city of New Haven have in the good old-fashioned way, though under the machinery of the direct primary principle instead of the nominating convention, declared their choice for Mayor to succeed Mayor StudleY the man of many terms Others could have contested the honor of a nomination with MT. Avis and MT, Martin had they so de- sired but in the absence of any such further demonstration the victor at the polls must be accepted as the measure of that party's political leadership. Later the Republicans will place their ticket in the field, when the op- portunity will be given the voters to choose between them. Just at pres ent it is not clear just what the dis tinction between them is, or whether we are to have merely struggle be- tween those who want to retain con- trol of the city government and those who want to get control.
 We have said upon former occa- sion that it would be remarkable if 8 city the size of New Haven had no other problems to solve than are in- volved in the turning out of power of one machine and the establishing of another to take it's place. We can properly expect that as the campaign progresses and the two tickets, espe- cially the candidates for Mayor, come more and more into the lime light we shall learn from them what their purposes are in seeking the suf- frages of their fellow citizens next month. There is a fine old campaign being fought in the city of Cleveland. MT! Johnson, the Democratic candi- date, stands for his term as the head man of the municipality and Mir Bur ton, the Republican candidate, stands as witness against it's usefulness. We say it is a fine old campaign be- cause 1t Is sure to arouse the interest of the voters in the welfare of their home and to keep alive political or ganizations which can only be said to be useful to the people whom they pretend to serve when constantly de- monstrating their powers of leader ship on the one hand, and their pow CTS of criticism, on the other.
 The city of New Haven has been distinctly unfortunate in this lack of what may be called the absence of all political equilibrium. For num- Der of years and for reasons which need not be repeated or recalled there has been but one political organiza- tion to which the voters could look for the best obtainable government. The hope has been constant on the part of members of both parties that this un- attractive order of things would be re- versed. It has always been possible of achievement but the leadership has been lacking in the weaker of the two organizations. When Secretary Taft was guest of the city of Seattle be- fore he departed for the Orient he congratulated the citizens of that flourishing western city upon the character of their local government which he said he had found to be good. 1T don't care if it is headed by a Democrat" he added. What we want in municipal politics is decent, honest government, in the interest of the people. and when we get that it is not so important what the color of the politics is"
 While we have had on the whole decent and honest government in the city of New Haven there is no doubt whatever but that it could be made much. more decent and scrupulous Are we not then justified in expecting that the candidates for Mayor shall tells us at the earliest possible mo. ment what they hope to do with tht great powers of the office and where in they are sure they can improve tht brand of government, expand the scope of public improvement and low. CT perhaps the rate of taxation? Tn, Journal and Courier awaits with in creasing interest these political revel ations in order that its columns ma. be used to aid in the work of enlight ening its readers.
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