The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-02-02
THE COMING ELECTION.

THE COMINo ELG~ lON'
Next Tuesday we shall again exer'
else the sovereign prerogative OF
American citizens, and cast our bal
lots for those candidates whose polit-
ical principles and practices accord
more nearly with our own conception
of a due administration Of public az
fairs. So far as the city officers are
concerned we shall take great pleas
ure, even if they have no opposition,
in voting for two competent and faith"
full officers, w. S. Mccormick, a Re-
publican, for comptroller, and Fred
Voss, a Democrat, for treasurer. The
fact that these men have no opposl-
ton cuts no figure. Let us give each
of them a good substantial vote, and
thus evidence our appreciation OF
thoroughly honest and competent pub
lie officials. We are all Americans,
you know, whether our political pref
erences constrain us to train In Re-
publican or Democratic ranks. II a
foreign army were to invade our
shores, Democrats and Republicans
would be found shoulder to shoulder
fighting side by side for our common
country. Intelligent and we'll regu-
lated partisanship is all right, but
don't let it go to seed, as it were, and
blind you to the fact that we are first
of all Americans, and all other class
ifications must be subservient to that.
1t Is to be regretted that the regis
tration for this election has been so
meagre. No doubt the absence OF any
really live issue has been the occa-
sion of it. Our city finances are in
good shape, the affairs of all depart
ments of our city government are
we'll administered, peace and har'
mony prevail within our borders, pros
perity is our abiding companion, and
Duluth takes second place to no city
of it's size in the Union. With Will
Mccormick, as comptroller and Fred
Voss as treasurer, we feel no uneasi-
ness about our finances, for there Is
no danger of any one misleading
either of them into assuming unwise
attitudes upon questions pertaining to
the we'll being of our city.
With respect to the aldermanship,
we had hoped that in our home ward
the Fifth-our loyal associate, AL
derman Ribenack, would be honored
by his constituents, and given the
unanimous support of Democrats and
Republicans to succeed himself We
have felt that this recognition was
his due, because, though politically a
Democrat, he never once permitted
party affiliation to influence his &C.
ton. In all the deliberations of the
council, whether in public or in CON-
mtttee, Alderman Ribenack was al.
ways for the right, and the best in
terests of the city and the people,
without regard to whether the advo.
Gates Of measure were Democrats
or Republicans. There are few men
TN the common council who in judg,
ment and business sagacity can equal
Alderman Ribenack. He is a bust,
ness man of broad, comprehensive
views, and his judgment in SOLVING
the various complex questions that
come before the council for solution
Is invariably sound, and in accord
with the dictates Of good sense as
well as good practical business.
1t seems that at the eleventh hou,
the lid agitators have prevailed upor
one Ringsred to run against Mr.
Ribenack, not with any hope of sue
cess, but just to let the so-called liz
agitation die easy, or possibly to civ,
the agitators further opportunity tt
enjoy a little more cheap notoriety
Their effort has engendered no en-
thusiasm. They have no followin,
because there is nothing to follow
them for. Their grievances are imae
mary. We are not living under
proh1bitory law The people know
that Mr.. Ribenack has been a careful
competent and conscientious publi
servant, and they prefer to supper
him, rather than follow the Leadership
h OF one or two disgruntled fanatics
RI RI who have never in any manner, or a
any time, demonstrated their abilit,
" to be trusted as leaders in any capac
~ itV. Whatsoever