River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-01-07
Municipal House Cleaning.

cal features of the year which has
just closed is the marked change
which has swept over the county in
the matter of cleaner municipal pol
itics, and the establishment I of
leagues in our larger cities with a
view to civic betterment. Last year.
saw a condition of affairs brought t
light which had existed for decade
from Boston to San Francisco, sys
TENS of organized graft and system
attic grabs" by municipal officers
Before the year was ended radical
changes took place in several cities
and reforms were accomplished
through changed public sentiment
which were never before deemed
possible.
Most prominent of the years SD r
prises was the reelection of governor
Hughes of New York, an event of
Importance not only to the Empire
State. but on account of it's prece-
dent and moral force, to the country
at large. Governor Hughes was
nominated by hostile convention,
and nominated because the conven-
ton realized that it was futile to
attempt to defeat the expressed de-
sire of the people, and because it
realized the faulty of carrying the
Republican ticket if Hughes was
opposed. His election has sound
ed the doom of corrupt politics in
New York and announced the ulti-
mate success of decent methods,
and a clean and efficient govern
ment.
In the city of New York, Mayor
Mcclellan was elected on a close
ballot and the opposing side brought
in claims of fraud. The claim was
investigated and the courts declared
McClellan's election clear and valid,
and here again the effort for clean
municipal affairs won the victory.
Boston, year ago, threw out Mayor
Fitzgerald, Democrat in a Demo
cratic stronghold one which
was held by we'll organized system
of spoils, and the distribution of
local Offices. To-day Boston's Mer
chants Association is leading an
active crusade in the city for better
and cleaner methods in con-
Quoting the affairs of the people.
From Philadelphia comes the word
that over $4,000 voters took the
trouble to stand aside from their usu
al party lines and vote for a man
who was neither a candidate on the
Republican nor Democratic tickets,
but who represented in his candi-
dacy the desires of the indepen
IDENTIFY inclined citizens of that com
munity." And last of all and fresh
est in mind because of the recent
exposures, is the case of the city
of Pittsburg, which has lately gain
ed notoriety through its six right
eous." The work in the "sooty"
city which has been carried on for
civic cleanliness under Mayor Guth-
RE is one which has amply justified
the people in electing him, and is of
such a character that it is to be re-
GREETED that legal difficulties make
him ineligible for reelection.
From all parts of the country
come reports of the triumphs won
by those who have been engaged in
the controversy for what has we'll
been designated as civic righteous
ness" And the reports are graft
flying to those who wish as good
citizens, a government not Of the
few, not of party, nor yet of a
ring" but government of the
people, by the people and for the peo-
pie, such government as under our
constitution is vouchsated to all.
And the source of the victories is
not hard to trace. They have been
won through campaign of educa-
ton, directed by good, sound bust
ness common-sense, through the
use of methods far from the sensa-
tional, through appeals based on
fact, and not by the wild statements
of Incorporate orators and political
spell-binders.