Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-03-07
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
1T is UP TO THE PEOPLE

1T is UP TO THE PEOPLE
Is Bismarck to progress or is it to
recede from the forward movement
now under way?
This is the pertinent question lie
fore the taxpayers today.
1t is apparent that with the city
council as now constituted any efforts
of progressive citizens for a greater
Bismarck will come to naught when
directed in lines effecting municipal
affairs
In the past it has not seemingly oc-
CURED to business men and other tax
payers that they have direct inter
est, not only in the election Of alder
men from their own ward, but from
every ward in the city.
It has not seemingly occurred to
them that when they cofine their at
tentions solely to their own ward they
are reducing their interest to just
one-sixth of the voting power which
will govern city affairs and set the
price, through the equalization board
they will be called upon to pay L
being well or lily governed.
Through this ward system more
evils have crept into municipal affairs
here and elsewhere, than through any
{. other source. BY it small cliques
have been enabled to seize control
and work their will, because of the.
mistaken idea that only the residents
of a ward have any interest or aught
to say in general aldermanic cleo
lions.
Every taxpayer in the city has a
vital interest in who all the alder,
men are to be and the time has come
when he should demonstrate it.
tits not now an issue whether we
shall or shall not bond for city hall.
That matter will, in due time, take
care of itself
The paramount issue in the coming
city election is simply whether men
are to be elected who are interested
solely in the city's welfare; men above
petty revenge; above personal inter
est or the suasion of side partners,
with axes to grind at public expense;
men CT sound business Judgment.
broad-guaged and competent to form
their own opinions and maintain
them; men who will sit on the board
CT equalization determined to be ia
to friend and foe; in fact it is time tc
elect only the best men to fill the
vacancies soon to occur.
The people want a square deal
nothing more.
They want city council that will
work in harmony with the progress
sive people, who beyond question
form the rank and file of Bismarck's
citizenship.
The lowly taxpayer has right to
demand this as well as his richer
brother. Beth are equally interested.
The people demand aldermen whose
eyes" or mo" means their personal
conviction and not the coaching of
the secret caucus.
Happily a number of the present
aldermen have made a good fight for
better municipal conditions and stood
solidly for their convictions. They
need support and should have it.
The reactionaries should be rele
gated to private life. They cannot
grasp the meaning of modern progress
nor the possibilities for the develop
ment Of the city's resources. They
view the situation through reversed
glasses and no community can reach
the full ffuitfon of its development
hanspered by such dead weight
The gage has been thrown down
Shall we progress or go backward?
The fight is bound to come sooner
or later, so why not fight it now ant
have done with it?
rs it to be Bismarck the Commercial
Center" a Capitar CITY to be proud
of, or a typical Sleepy Hollow, stunt
ed and stagnated by its governing
bodyy
II is up to the people.
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