Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-27
Things You Want to Know 4: s;%:s =.

unsuccessful attempts to solve municipal
problems by political methods. Galveston
was destroyed. Galveston had to be rebuilt,
Galveston had TO be protected from the
waters of the gulf and TO that end Gal
weston did what the Germans always have
done-it made the city a business corpora
ton instead OF political corporation The
Galveston plan, In its original form and
as modified by Des Molnes and other cities,
is being adopted in American cities all
over the country, and IN every instance
where Il has been at all successful political
quarrels have been subordinated TO eco
nomic problems But II is difficult To
change in a decade the thought habits Of
a century. No doubt 1t was the presence
Of a large number OF German voters, pos
sessing German habits OF thought, that re-
suited in the election OF the socialist Mayor
Seidel. In Milwaukee few months ago.
The German theory OF a municipality as
a business concern in which every citizen
Ia an equal partner is to some extent un-
successful in practice because OF the po-
lltical backwardness Of the general gov
eminent which denies the principle OF
equality In political affairs. For the same
reason the German theory II attempted IN
America would to some extent fail in prac.
tice because Of the fact that American DO.
litical thought cannot yet tolerate the prin.
ciple Of collective ownership even in a
municipality.
In the German municipality the voters
stand in the relation to the government as
stockholders in a corporation. Every vote
they are asked to give Is an expression
upon some phase OF an economic question
They are asked to decide whether this i'm
vestment is WISE or whether that enter
prise should be abandoned; whether this
improvement is needed, or whether that
expenditure should be postponed. They are
not asked at any time to decide between
political parties, nor are they asked to ex-
press their preference as among personal
aspirants for municipal offices
All Of the municipalities are correlated
In the general government just as all OF
the coal mines Of Germany are correlated
In the German coal syndicate. The coal
syndicate sends to each mine a manager
) with technical training. who has been
proved to be best fitted for the proper de-
) velopment and conservation of that par
} tieular mine. The government furnishes to
7 each municipality a general manager or
) mayor who is best fitted by experience
2 ana training to deal with the problems
pressing In that particular city.
German mayor is trained for his pro-
Iession just as Is railroad man. He takes
8 course in the government school, which
y devotes itself to the education and training
o of Juristc officers Upon leaving school
j he Is assigned to govern some small village
Q there to try his Skill IL he fails he is
: dropped from the service II he succeeds
! he is in time promoted to a small town
: Then, If he has shown aptitude and ability
: he is promoted gradually from town to
! city, from small city to large CITY, and in
: time he may come TO rule over the great
:. capital city of berln-the most perfectly
e governed municipality In the world
y Americans are so thoroughly indoctrin-
: ated with the theory of self government
= that they would rise in armed revolt
J against a government which sought to
: furnish them mayors in this businesslilke
fashion. Imagine the reception the people
IS Of Burlington, VT. would give a mayor
&c shipped to them from Tombstone, Ariz.
L. Imagine Charleston, S. c., receiving its
10 future ruler when he stepped from this
e train which had brought him from Kenne.
a, bee Me. And yet Burlington would Offer
u no objections to railway superintendent
r imported from the west, and Charleston
would not object to a cotton mill manager
y from New England. This is concretely the
difference between political and economic
u habits of thought concerning govern
T. mental affairs.
70 The Germans do not object to a carpet
~ Dagger mayor, because in Germany holding
> office is not the chief end OF municipal
"a government; what the Germans want Ia
=, , results in the form of adequate police pro
lection, clean and well-paved streets, SAINT
- tary water supply and sewerage, convenient
- rapid transit and all the other things
y which It is the business of the municipal
government to supply. They want 9
. mayor who can deliver the goods, and they
!, are willing to pay him for his work jusi
- as II he were a fIrst-class factory super
!" intendent. They do not ask what he thinks
- about politics. what church he goes to-
- what lodge he belongs to, or whether his
father fit" for against the union
" The Germans want only results and they
"A get them.
n Bx RzEDERIC ]. HAsKIN.
lie Tomorrow--The German Advance. xxIV
Of The Practice OF Municipal Government