The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-10-15
New Charter Needs Vote
of Every Good Citizen
EDITORIAL.

Tacoma votes on the new charter tomorrow
Indications point to its adoption.
Public sentiment seems to be for the new
ment-a movement to eliminate politics from mu-
nicipal government and naugurate an era of civic
business, the charter revision committee tells us.
But against this sentiment there is pressing an un-
der tow OF politicians. 1t is the gumshoe brigade.
They working quietly to kill the new idea lit
tie hesitation on the part of the good citizens, a
small vote in the early hours lack of enthusiasm
the part of the charter revsionsts is likely to bring
the ward heeers out like rats from sinking snip
and they will sweep the charter into the politi-
cal graveyard
There has been no open opposition to the new
charter, but that does not that there are not
those in Tacoma who will be the alert to kill it
If possible
The foundation of the thing according to the
charter commission is to wipe politics off the munich
pal board That is enough to guarantee opposition.
Politics is the occupation of a considerable centage
of the parties and their whole profession is endanger
ed. Ii municipal government can be placed on an
elevated plane of pure business and the parties elm
mated where does the claim of the ward heeler come
in for snap?
The new charter will compel every candidate to
renounce his party when he takes the Office far
Jas municipal affairs go. This is rank treason to tho
average hanger-on who is ever under the plum tree
But with full vote of Tacoma citizens out TO-
morrow, the chances are that the charter will be
adopted by big majority
The Tacoma PLAN Of government then will be-
come subject for magazine discussion.
Professor Charles Zueblin says the new charter is
the best he has seen for city. If Tacoma can
get that kind of advertising throughout the nation
the adoption of the new charter will be a e. sat
thing for the sake merely of publicity If Tacoma
i'm the new charter shall solve the intricate problem
of municipal government she will have place
among the leaders of the world for the biggest
problem today is how to city and run it we'll
The charter commission was made up Of pretty
good average citizens
They look upon their product with considerable
satisfaction and hope for the future
If Professor Zueblins estimate of the new charter
is correct and the Times believes it u.s. its adoption
will mark, perhaps the most important event in the
history of the city.
The charter, however, is not perfect It was made
by men, but it is a vast improvement over the old
political document now in force 1t is a consolida-
ton of the good points contained in the various
commission plans now in force in Des Moines Gal
weston and other progressive cities
Over two years ago, when the Times started the
agitation for the commission plan of municipal gov
ernment, it secured and published articles from all
the cities where the plan had been tried outlining
ts methods and detailing the manner in which they
were being worked out. These articles were in
themselves the strongest possible argument for the
commission plan. They showed that it is not only
practical but that it brings about reforms of MANY
chronic municipal evils From the first the Times
has been confident that the new charter would be
adopted and it will be adopted by sweeping major
ity If the citizens will turn out tomorrow and vote
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