The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-02
THE EXAMPLE OF HAvgRHiLL.


sion plan, with what pains and result
is told by Rev. De Mont Goodyear in
the current number of the New York
Independent. 1t appears that prior to
the change the city for years had
been hopelessly in the hands of pro-
fessional politicians and liquor dealers.
Pavements and walks were poor.
Sewers were inadequate. Law enforce
ment was lax The annual deficit was
increasing and the public debt rapidly
approached the statutory limit. The
city government confessed inability to
make ends meet even with these
meager results. They suggested more
saloons and higher tax rate as the
only possible remedies. The people,
however, were skeptical about the ef-
ficiency of those remedies.
The credit of inaugurating the move
ment which ultimately brought about
a more desirable condition of affairs
belongs to the Catholic clergymen,
who took the initiative and opened
fire upon the saloon. They were
promptly reinforced by the Protestant
ministers. This was in September,
1907. A no-license league of citizens
soon took form. These forces united.
raised money, held rallies, printed
pages of advertising and carried the
city by a majority of ia. which was
a surprise to everyone.
The following month President Eliot
of Harvard University accepted an in
yitation to address the mems club OF
the Portland Street Baptist church
and spoke on Municipal Government
by Commission He clearly set forth
the proposition that city is really
great corporation. and its affairs are
almost entirely administrative. There
fore, party machinery, party afilliatlons
and party principles are of no value IN
it. The people, like stockholders,
should choose small board of capa-
BILE men to administer city affairs. the
result is told in these words:
Mems clubs from other churches
being present, the house was crowded.
The time to act was ripe. These clubs
were quickly formed into The Haver-
hill Civic Association Its sole pur-
pose was to draft an amendment to
the city chatter embodying the princi-
plas of the Galveston-or. as it was
more generally called. the Des Moines
plan, and secure its adoption.
prominent lawyers became inter
ested. A committee drafted the
amendment with great care. 1t was
discussed and modified to meet seri-
Gus objections. and sent to the legisla-
ture seeking permission to be con-
sidered and voted upon. There it met
three enemies. First. city solicitors
sent by their respective city govern
ments. opposed that part which, Ike
the Iowa law. gave other cities permits
sion to consider the same plan. Thai
was stricken out. Second. the corpor
alton lobbyist opposed the article re
iquiring popular vote of the people
upon all franchises. He declared ne
! would kill the act unless that be
dropped 1t had to go-for the pres
| ent. But the death knell is soon to
sound for the lobbyist. Third, the
Haverhill politician was there oppos
ing the whole plan. The mayor
shrewdly presented a substitute. Al
length the legislature passed the ac'
authorizing the special election, and il
1 was held October 6.
Despite the strenuous opposition O
/ nearly all of the old city officials ant
/ the political forces back of them, also
strangely enough. of many Socialists
4 SO numerous here, the vigorous cam
paign resulted in majority OF So
votes for adoption"
! Fooled in their efforts to defeat the
adoption of the plan, the professional
politicians made a grand scramble Il
land the good Offices and the salaries
but it was fruitless. Men of higt
standing in the city appeared as can
didates under the plan which in thei
opinion made good results possible
and the preliminary election weedet
out all the professional Office seeker
except two. On January the old or
der of things passed away into QUITE
darkness, with weeping and gn2shin,
of teeth, and the new city government
quietly entered the city ha,! and wen
to work. The salient features of tn
new plan are thus enumerated:
1. The Municipal Council. which
shall consist of a mayor and four alder
men, all elected at large. Tenure o
office, two years. Salary. mayor
$4,000: aldermen. 81 500 each. But tn
school committee consists of tn
mayor and four elected members VIII
serve without pay.
L. Non-Partisan Ballots. No part
designation appears upon any ballot
The preliminary election Ga sort G
informal BALLOT is free for all. hut onl
the names of those candidates recei,
ing the largest and second larges
humble of votes for each Office at tn
preliminary election are printed upo
the ballots used at the final election
Others may be written in or put o
!, with ''stickers" by the voter.
3. Publicity. All meetings of tn
council must be public, votes taken b
yea and nay. and recorded. Ever
member must vote when present Al
: preparations and contracts for $500
or more must lie over one week b.
! fore final action A complete MONTH
/ statement of transactions must b
published
Tho PeoaD Al opv +irpo IN