The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-10-09
M4Y0R- ELECT MARTIN.

The opportunity which has come to Mayor-elect Martin is an opportunity of lifetime. We wish him we'll in 1t and cordially assure him that he will receive the support of The Journal and Courier in every attempt he makes for the betterment of civic conditions
 Once installed in the office of Mayor its incumbent becomes tue servant of the whole people. People have learn ed to expect partisan appointments to office, when not forbidden by the city charter or protected by civil service appointment. But in the long run the people have learned, and recent events confirm their judgment, that that is the best government and that the most useful political tool which, working in harmony, give the great est number good permanent results at the lowest possible cost. To-day the dominating figure in the city gov ernment of New Haven is the Mayor. He appoints the heads of depart ments, organizes the boards of ad- ministration. selects the police and | fire chiefs and organizes the board of l finance. The duties and responsibili- ties of the board of aldermen have been reduced to mere clerical basis. 1 The town government is lost by con- sohdation with the city government. When things are to be done or coun- sel given, 1t Is the Mayor to whom in- terested persons must turn. In other words we have here in the city of New Haven very nearly complete realization of the one man power in municipal life.
 l This unquestionably has impressed Itself upon Mir. Martins mind and inspired him with a determination tc Justify, in the sight of men, his am- bition to be Mayor, and to prove to l those who have elected him that ltheir confidence was not misplaced
 After a very stormy preliminary cam. lpaign, in which many harsh things
 were said of him in factional Repub-
 lican newspapers, and before the convention had actually nominated Ihim for governor, George P. Mclean lof Simsbury turned to an intimate Ipcrsonal friend who was with hin
 and said in an impassioned voice l"Oh, if they will only give me thu Iohance." The record since writer tells how much he desired the chance Ito reveal himself as responsible
 servant of the people. If by calling
 attention to the experience of Mir
 Mclean, and to the service as gover
 nor he gave the State of Connecticut I've appear to suggest to Mayor-elec
 Martin a course of action, 1t may b'
 attributed, not to a silly desire to med Idle in his administration, which WI
 wish we'll, but rather to a profound land affecuonate solicitude for the wei
 being of the historic city of New Ha
 ven.
 We can wish for Mayor Martin inothing better than for him to pro
 serve all that is g rod in prevailing political conditions and adj In thu
 way of public improvements all tha
 is needed. His will aot be a path O
 roses. That is not the direction i'm
 portant public duties take. But h' can make it a path of resolttte duty
 If he will follow that, all will be well land we shall steadily and surely ap
 proach to that political condition il
 the State of Connecticut, much to b. ldesired, which, by making the part,
 in power conscientious through fea of defeat at the hands of well let
 minority, guarantees good govern Iment