The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-17
POLITICS NEEDS
BUSINESS MEN
Nv. W. HANNAH.
Their Participation In Municipal
Government Only Cure For Evils,
Citizen Tells Wholesalers.

I'VE do not need statesmen OYes
there in The city hall-what we need
is more business men" SAID w. "
luncheon. Wednesday noon. in the
/ Hotel Cadillac of the Wholesaler
Pnd Manufacturers association OF De
troit. in the course of a talk on Pol
tiles and the business man"
Politics should find prominent
place in every business mans bust
ness life" continued the speaker. lie
should seek 10 elevate politics 10 the
level OF his business. and should re-
gard city politics as business worthy
o. his best consideration. HE aver
age business wan makes the serious
mistake OF viewing politics generally
in the light impaired by the
professional politician and II Is
because Of his attitude that the
interruptions politician has been
able &c obtain such a strong toothoi1
IN our municipal machinery. What is
politics? You have politics in your
church, your clubs. your business or
aLizations, just as there are politics
In municipal. state and national life.
Whether the churchman campaigns
among his fellow practitioners for the
selection OF certain minister:
whether you campaign among your
fellow members in social club for
the election OF your friends TO Office.
II is politics just as surely as II rs
politics 10 the professional politica1
&c campaign for the appointment OF a
dog wagon driver or the candidate for
mayor
1T is not politics that degrades the
man. IL is the man that dePrades pol
tics. Politics predominates practical
~ every phrase of our social. civic and
business life yet We sometimes find I
convenient to refuse TO recognize II as
politics. The dishonor is not in the
playing of the political game. but the
manner in which the game is played
The muncipality's business is your
business for your poclletbook Is con
cerned. as are also your business, your
home and your city's reputation.
Politics is an honorable calling for
an honorable man. Denounce your
selves for that general apathy. that
neglect Of duty on your part that
makes possible the election of the dis
able man TO office. The city OF Detroit
is a great corporation very much like
tie individual businesses with which
YOU are identified Every taxpayer
should be regarded as one OF the
stockholders and the greater the
amount OF taxes he pays the greater
should be his active interest In the
City's affairs a mans civic duty does
not end with the acceptance of mis-
tax receipts or the casting OF his vote.
though too many of our prominent mel;
so construe it, Therefore, II the cIti.
zen evinces little or no interest In
the election of men who administer
the affairs Of the city, he should
shoulder the responsibility himself
when they fail in their Administrations
The business mall can perform nc
greater obligation To- his city than &c
see that business men are elected &c
office. and that business methods are
pursued in the conduct OF the citys
business
1T has become d favorite slogan
with candidates for office all the way
from constable 70 mayor business al
ministration. Some OF the methods
pursued tire Suti 80 ollouiu MANI 81
business man blush Our board of
aldermen and OF estimates are in need
OF such men as make up this associa
ton. and if such men constituted them
we would not be presented with such
idisgraceful. humiliaJng spectacles as
Ne witnessed only a few days ago
ever the letting OF all important COL
tract for the city If you did your
duty by your city. there would be less
cry about our counCll being dominated
bv this or that undesirable element.
You have no right to criticize when
conditions are tine result OF your own
Indifference See that good men are
nominated for office then get out and
work for their election.
"It IS the near consideration of the
citv's budget that pIorftts me TO speak
10 YOU in this way. The city is con
fronted with an alarming situation
situation that demands the close at
tention OF every business man and
serious thinking citizen. The board OF
estimates is confronted with a budget
Of about $l3,00O.000. more than double
the amount raised by taxation for the
fiscal wear lust closing DO you real
| izc what this means? Is /, OF sufi
Client Importance To interest our bust
ress men? The business man should
get closer 10 mis- city's government
He should regard It as a responsibility
that he cannot shik any more thar
he would If IL were private or bust
ress affair. The citizenship that
makes for better cities and better citt
zens is that loyalty 10 ones city
| that prompts a man to take an active
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