The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-05-03
CLEANING UP SPOKANE.

Cleaning up Spokane and keeping the city clean there
after does not depend upon the coming city election News
paper declarations to the contrary political buncomb
No individual IN office elevate a city moral tone
unless the citizenship is constantly and soldy behind him
No individual in Office can lower ctys character
less the citizenship is Indifferent to the conduct of public
affairs.
And usually unfortunately the latter condition pre-
walls The public reforms by spaslns and forges all about
public affairs between spasns
Partisan newspapers fad end of vice to become red
in the face when their candidates of office
and anxious to get n Between times they discover little
of the sort to complain Of nothing all in fact when the
party that commands their favor is in power.
And the voter, after being duly excited to wrathv APP
probation Of the wrongs he finds existing contributes his
vote to the man who promises to do better. Then he
neglects to make it his business to that the promise
is kept.
If the administration he has helped put in power needs
moral support and encouragement he fails to furnish it.
If the promised reform gradually dwindes into conditions
denounced before election he is oblivous Not until next
election time is he reminded of his duty citizen and
then his information red hot with partisan prpiu
dice and only in part authentic.
This is the secret of the trouble in Spokane as else
where. The public forgcts that the ward heeer and xer
works just hard between elections and the day after
election the heat Of the canpaen He is awake and
alert always in victory defeat He frequently accom-
pishes his end in spite of the best intentions against him
by of this industry.
Without attempting to draw a comparison or favor
OF either candidate it may be safely assumed that the city
can be cleaned inside and out under Mayor Daggett as
well as under Mayor Mooreif the public demands it and
will stand for nothing else.
And it be cleaned no more successfully under
Mayor Moore than under Mayor Daggett even if the lat
ter favored every latitude unless steady and unwverno
support is given the former
The principle that the party responsible for objection
able civic conditions should be ousted cannot be contro
Verted II there were desire to do Every official who
counenances wrong participates in it should be pun
1shed not only politically but legally.
But here again the public is Iamentablv lame It
swallows campaign statements charging graft, inconl-
potency and any other crime failing charged and forms
conclusions from this without demanding the proof
Charges are being made in this campaign as they are
made IN other that would form the basis of
cuon substantated by evidence If there is evidence
why not used in way that will lasting les
son to future generations of Office seekers? And why is
1T not used the instant of discovery instead of being
boarded for a gn
Prosecution not persecution, is the only sort of FIGHT
for civic purity that is worth while that wins anything
Meanwhile the campaign thunder admirably the
purpose OF the party seeking office. But it is the most
uncertain basis in the world which to found a reform
unless the people will get behind the movement and STAY
there.
The Press believes Mr. Moore sincere in declaring that
he intends to give the city better government if elected
1t also believes Mayor Daggett sincere in declaring
that he has given Spokane the of government he
thinks the city wanted and still wants.
Meanwhile it remains for the public to decide what if
does want and to that it gets what it wants after fine
heat and smoke of the election is all over no matter who
is elected.