The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-09
DO WE rrnl, rr,


 what we really need in this Re- public cf ours. as The Pittsburx Post looks at the situation. fs a Citizen Factory. What" 1t asks. .-fs the reason that we hear so much of cor ruption in politics? Under the Amer lean system of government. we should have the best. most effective. most economical conduct of affairs in any country of the world.s Yet we are constantly being told that this. that and the other city is rotten to the core, that seats in the United States Senate are bought and sold in the open market. that vast corruption funds are employed to sustain a cer- tain political party in power And why all this in q, country that offers a nominaliy free ballot? Is it not largely because our citizenship is not strongly deyeloped7 Is 1t not because hundreds and thousands of those who are commonly accounted the best cit izens, since they themselves do not participate in criminal acts--is 1t not that these are too indifferent or too much ensrossed in other affairs to take a prominent part in political af- fairs?''
 The questions and deductions of - n u 2 "a a The Pittsburg paper are pertinent and suggestive. This country certainly needs better and higher citizenship In many respects. Tn large sections of the Union. and especially in many of the principal cities. politics is a business matter entirely. offices are bought and sold just as the com modities of life are in the business circles. The offices go--not to the pest men--but to those who can and will pay the highest prices for them. Fitness and qualifications are over looked or Ignored and office-getting is mere matter of dollars and cents.
 We are firmly convinced that one of the main reasons for this unsatis- factory condition of affairs lies in the fact that so many of the best cit- izens fail or refuse to take an active part in politics. They will tell you that practical politics has become too low and dirty for reputable men to mix in. Then again will excuse themselves by saying that their par ticipation and influence could do no good. because the political affairs are controlled by the least reputable eie- ment of our citizenship.
 Such arguments and excuses are neither creditable nor weii-founded If the political affairs of any com munity have fallen into disreputable hands 1t is all the more reason why good men should interpose. The in- fluence of good and Intelligent men will always make itself felt if proper iy exerted. We are persuaded that there is enough of good and reputa- ble citizenship in almost any com munity to elevate and purify It's poli- ties If employed in the right way.
 We may need Citizen Factory, but we certainly need more activity and participattongson theA part of the good citisens we already have. We need an awakening that will induce the very best men of all parties to take hold and make themselves ac- tive in elections as well as nomina- tions. If this higher class Of citizens will determine that only the best and fittest men shall be selected for of flee. and then unite in a determined effort to elect such men by fair and honorable methods we believe it is in their power to elevate our politics to Ia plane of responsibility and hones- ty. It cannot be done in a day, or in a year. but 1t can be done. we firmly believe. Politics. in its highest and best sense. is the science of govern ment. and no good man should refuse to do his part in making our govern ment one of the highest and most re- spectable on earth.