The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-11-21
The Simpler Politics are Made the
More Citizens viii Participate
in an EIec-
tion.
ELSEWHERE
Buffalo and Topeka are the Latest
Cities to Adopt the Commission
Form Of Govern
ment.

clear that every citizen in Keol1uk
was stock holder In It's municipal
affairs. That by reason of gross mis-
management in years gone by, the
people decided to adopt the Commits.
sion form of government, consisting
of a Mayor, and two Councilmen, to
manage its municipal affairs. The
former receiving S1,20000 per annum,
and the latter 100000 That subscrip.
tions could easily be taken up to make
the compensation $1,So0.0O for each
official.
This form of government is not nee
essary in every city, but the time mas
arrived when Keokuk Is obliged to rid
herself Of old style managers and po.
litical officeholders.
The past three years have Leen the
most hopeful in the history Of Ameri-
can municipal governmet. 1t has
been recognized at least that the COM
plexity of politics is unnecessary and
that politics must be radically sfnp;I,
fled by reducing the number OF cleo
tive offices to a point where public
scrutiny is adequate to keep the ras-
Gals out"
When 1t is attempted to elect twen-
ty officials at one time, public senti-
ment is overburdened, and hopeless
confusion would result IL it were not
for the political machines which bring
a certain degree Of order out OF cases.
The simpler you make politics, the
more citizens can and will participate,
the greater will be the popular con-
troll and the nearer we shall get to
the real democracy.
This has been responsible for the
great success of Galveston, Des
Moines and a number Of other cities
now working under the commission
form of government. Then why not IN
Keokuk? There is not any magic in
the commission form of government
except that it simplifies politics to q
point where every citizen, without
conscientious effort becomes a compa
tent politician.
Buffalo and Topeka are the very
latest cities to adopt this form Of gov.
eminent and to free themselves from
the political "roustabouts' which
have held the cities fl their
clutches with vice-'ike grip
More than forty cities have adopted
the commission form of government
and 100 others are agitating 1T.
Keokuk has spoken. This form OF
government works no hardship on the
honest official of the past, present OF
future. Every city official, fireman
policeman, clerk, individual or con
tractor has nothing to fear, and the
new form of managing the affairs will
work no hardship upon him. The
citizen is benefited and where he has
heretofore gotten twenty-five cents
worth for every dollar expended, he
will received 100 cents worth of labor
or supplies. 1t insures long position
for the faithful and civil service will
prevail with the right to remove al
any time by the Commission for the
unfaithful
Care must be exercised in the selec
ton of men and the enemy Is not tc
be trusted no matter how profuse In
his confessions or professions. Those
who have been tried and found want
ing are not eligible to these positions
The smooth cunning politician who
years is not to be sought. 1t is there
fore necessary to be on our guard fo1
eternal violence is the price of homes
men. The politician never sleeps ant
is always setting up "jobs" on tn,
people and his constituence. Tru
some were misled with the state
ments that they would never be abb
to hold positions under the new form
4 of government. such is not the cas-
for the upright man no matter wha
may be his position is eligible.
4 The men chosen should be men @
energy, sane enthusiasm for publ
Improvements, good judgment. publ
spirit knowledge of the city's wants
L success in his own affairs and bus
ness. free from contractors, an opt
4 mist not pessimist, ell citizens sha'
stand equally without regard to polit
cal affiliation or religious qualific;
tions. There are men in Keokuk VIII
possess these qualifications and the
are the ones who should be urged
take these offices. While men all owe
the country are sacrificing their tim
and giving literally in money. all tina
is asked in Keokuk is that competer
men snail accept the positions so Ket
k,ik may be put on firm and substal
tial basis. A few years ago the p
fairs of Keokuk were conducted fc
q 100000 year, now it takes s12s
10000 without the increase in popul
tion to warrant any such an ontla
Let politics be eliminated and dece
cy, honesty, ability and compefenc
be the motive and incentive for votir
for the right man. Let Us throw enc
la