The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
~one-man RuIe and Other Things.

It pleases as to note the midsummer
interest in our District government-its
form. its strength, its weakness. and the
wisdom Of change. The time is ripe
and there is plenty Of it-and we should
Ike to see the whole question thrashed
out to a frazzle.
Whether a one-headed or three-headed
administration is the better; whether con
csntrated authority and responsibility
weuld not produce better results than
divided authority and responsibility;
whether II would be we'll further to
localize, or. on the other hand, further TO
Eationalize. this national city. and. finally.
whether we should or should not be given
the voting franchise-an these are mooted
topics. burning questions. and. since the
slack season is on, we should like 10 see
and hear a free-for-aT debate covering
the whole gamut OF issues. Frankly, we
should expect a unanimous agreement TO
disagree in the end. But what's the odds?
II Will do nobody any harm. and. by way
os relieving the pressure, may do much
good At any rate, we are for free and
untranmeled. an-around discussion, and.
on our part, promise the fullest possible
hearing consistent with space. So let the
welkin ring
Just IN passing we do not mind saying
that when Congress meets again a change
will be found to be impending change
Of some sort in the administration Of our
affairs. We expect It and are prepared
for it. We may go further and say can
didly that we are reconcIled 10 it-quite
reconciled- A few months ago. when an
Unholy propaganda was set going In ia
vor Of one-nan rule; when an iniqui-
tous outcry for a change was raised
with the sole and ugly purpose Of discred-
iting The Commissioners for having done
their simple and honest duty in q par
ticular case. it aroused our antagonism,
just as IL provoked the righteous wrath
Of every good citizen. And that brazen
propaganda, odorOus Of the gas-house.
died a miserable but timely death. with
only an octopus organ to mourn its pass
ing. and # too shamefaced TO display its
grief. But that is Of the past: a tale
that is told.
President Taft believes a change ad-
visable. There Is the best Of reason for
saying that his belief has taken the form
Of conviction which is Interchangeable. In
fluential people in and out Of Congress
have come 10 share his view. and so the
recommendation he will make is sure TO
command support. Hence Il Is we ex-
pect a change Of some sort-not a radical
or revolutionary change that will throttle
our ambitions or threaten our liberties.
but a change. nevertheless. In all lrzeli-
hood-though It is impossible to speak by
the card at this juncture-the change will
mean a reduction BY two Of the number
of Commissioners. and the survivor or
his successor "a local man, we hope) VIII
bear a new and different title That, at
least. is what we now expect.
In the meantime, on with the debate!
Let everybody be heard. There is no u
terror purpose in evidence. Honest dis
cussion is wholesome. James Bronson
Reynolds started IT by invitation, and the
mUzzle has been thrown away. The time
is ripe ripe as can be-and, as We have
said, there's plenty Of it,
A word Of advice in conclusion: Do not
in the exuberance Of the discussion Of
trese burning questions be led 20 avow
a determination 20 allow your hair or
whiskers TO grow until we get suffrage
in the District OF Columbia. You would
be sure TO meet the fate Of the Bryan
man who took similarly rash VOW
dead sure. Then don't do it.