The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

the power OF the finger OF public opinion
unwaveringly pointed. and It IS pointed
now, and pointed straight
Allegiance 10 Boss.
"Pittsburg for many years had been
dominated by an individual boss or IN
dividual bosses who had arbitrarily die
tated the css5idates for all municipal
and county Offices. and had then put them
into Office through the machinery Of an
election without regard TO their ability
or fitness or other consideration than
their servility 20 the boss or machine.
There were occasional outbreaks OF pro
tests in the shape OF Independent move
! ments OF sporadic effect. These Offices
being filed In this way the oficeholder
felt he owed allegiance 70 no one but the
boss. AS a result, some men were from
time TO time nominated for important po-
sitions. especially for positions IN coun-
/ els. whose character and record disQuali-
fed them for any place IN any decent
company or gathering. but Sc complete
was the control that. Notwithstanding,
7 these men were generally elected
TO meet these conditions and correct
them and 20 provide a nOnpsrtisel or
ganizatiOn 10 criticise alike the nominees
I Of all parties and give an honest estimate
/ Of their characters and fitness for the
I respective positions the Voters League
vas organized Starting ". Childs, then
4 prominent attorney in the city OF Pitts
burg. now q member Of the banking
+ firm Of " P. Bonbright & Co, OF New
York was the principal organizer OF the
/ league He induced Harry A. Garfield.
( who was then president Of the Municipal
4 Association Of Cleveland. Ohio, sfterward
y . H. yNF1 AZ nd
who is now president Of Williams Col
( Iege. to come 10 Pittsburg and address
meeting~6f men interested in the subject.
+ which had been convened for that pur-
pose. and fhereUpon the Voters League
/ was organized with its statement OF pur-
/ poses. first, 70 induce the citizens Of Ale
gheny County. irrespective OF party. 70
+ take a more earnest and active interest
I in municipal affairs
Second. to disseminate instructive in
: formation relative 20 public matters
within Allegheny County
Third. 10 promote business life. hon
est and efficient conduct Of the public
+ officers within the city Of PittSburg and
! Allegheny County. ard the investigation
and discussion OF the conditions and de
! tails Of city administration therein
Fourth, 10 promote the choice of com
/ petent officials and to encourage the
/ faithful performance OF public duties.
Fifth. to obtain the enactment and en-
/ forcement Of laws for the economical, In
/ telligent, and progressive management Of
municipal and county government.
Activities Of League.
All of the activities Of the leaSue and
! the conduct Of its business was vested in
/ an executive committee of ten and on
( GERS elected from this committee. with
I the exception OF its secretary. Since its
/ organization the league has become an
/ important factor in all elections Every
| candidate for any Office is sent q blank
/ form requiring answers 10 general cues
4 tons giving his family history, edUca-
ton, record, and references, with ques-
I tions on important local questions pend
! ing from time 70 time.
! The candidates for the more important
Offices are invited 10 appear. and invari-
/ ably do appear. before the fun commit
/ tee and are there inteTrogated as 70 any
matters which the members OF the league
may consider relevant TO the pending
election The bulletins are issued prior
! 10 the election and published in all the
4 papers and thousands OF them distributed
/ in pamphlet form throughout the city, in
I which bulletins. after giving what is
( usually termed vital statistics, which Is a
statement OF fact Of a mans age. rativ-
ity, whether married or single, where
educated. residence and occupation. a
/ carefully prepared statement of his repu-
/ tation and estimate OF his character, abll-
1 ity and fitness for the particular Office.
and anything IN his record. compliment
aTy or otherwise. which would furnish
information to the voters IS given.
'Since the league has been established
the politicians have conceded that Il has
compelled them 10 be more careful IN the
selection OF their candidates and 10 put
/ up a better class OF candidates. men
whose records and whose personal lives
do not give the league opportunity for
publishing facts that would reflect upoa
the candidate. In order 20 keep itself in
position to prepare these bulletins in the
way above indicated. free from partisan
bias. no member of the executive com
/ mittee can become a candidate. nor Is ne
allowed to take any active part in noni-
mating conventions. and as a rule the
members OF the league refrain from ae-
tive campaigning.