The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-04-08
CITY POLITICS.

minds as to the wisdom of placing
in that office one who is the direct
representative of the Northwestern
railway and known to be loyal to it,
upon the principle that no man can
serve two masters well and therefore
should not seek to hold two positions
representing interests so likely to con-
fiict, and between which he would
be obliged to decide, yet the citizens
were SO we'll pleased with the con-
duct of the city's affairs under the
present administration that they did
not feel like opposing his candidacy.
1t was known that Mayor Mathews
did not wish to continue to hold the
office, and would much prefer to re-
tire. His administration, and in fact
the administration of every depart
ment of the citys varied interests
had just received a splendid endorse
ment from the voters by the recent
overwhelming rejection of the Calves
ton commission form of government, at
the special election just held, and the
people rested in fancied security,
thinking that as Mr.. Leighty was a
city alderman his election as mayor
would mean continuance OF the good
work and the perfecting Of the sys-
TEN which has already made our mum
icipal plants profitable and brought
us to a point where, for the first
time in the history of Brookings,
those in charge of its affairs could
see their way to a reduction in tax
es and still be able TO meet necessary
expenses.
But it appears t1at this attitude
on the part OF The people was taken
Cor mistaken by certain interested
ones, whose work had up TO this time,
/ had been carefully kept from the pub
= lie, to mean that they had the stu-
alton so we'll in hand that it couldn't
5 get away from them; that they were
: "out of the woods" and they could
= MT keep from talking.
/ From one direction came the in
4 teresting information that with
t Leighty as mayor and the right men
: elected as aldermen the same results
|. could be attained as though the com
!. mission scheme of city government
). had not been defeated.
:, From another source, that so far
4 as city employees were concerned,
d they would make a clean sweep, wipe
v the slate off clean" When the peo'
|, ple began to question the wisdom OF
n this, it was modified, but the original
+ purpose still remained. Later when
!. II became known that this condition
}. was the result of many conferences
!. between certain ones. who for rea
o sons best known to themselves had
ouietly brought it about. there was
waking up
The one to whom the people natur
ally turned was Mayor Mathews. He
S frankly said that he felt that he nae
t done his duty to the city. Had given
d it wears of service, and would prefer
= RI stem down and out. But the people
e saw their danger and refused to take
q this as final and at once took steps
@ TO convince him that his duty re
; ouired him to change his mind.
r. Petitions were started asking hin
= n become the peoples candidate, re
I. gardless of party or faction, and by
o tbe time this will reach the reader
: majority of the voters OF the city
If will have signed this request.
e We are informed that very fe"
= only have declined to sign 1t, thus
a conclusively showing that the people
:. meant il when they turned down tht
:. commission scheme and the men wh'
T. were pushing it, a few weeks ago, ane
L are not in favor of electing mayor
a who in the light Of these develop
I. ments appears as candidate' no
o Of the people, but rather Oh lev
:. men. Each with a personal reason
for urging his election. 1t is expected
that these same men will endeayo
TO either get themselves or others t.
whom they can dictate elected a.
n aldermen and other official positions
s It appears now from every indica
!. ton that the people will again turl
u down those who for personal and pr
!. vate purposes would like to quietl
a get control of the city government
0 and that Mayor Mathews and boar
a. of aldermen in harmony with him will
,. he nominated by an overwhelmin
!. majority, as they should be. thus In
q suring a continuation of faithful SCI
g vice in the interest Of the city. TO
O the next two years at least.
9 Every voter should make 1t poin
d 10 attend the ward caucuses Frida