Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-09
by wards, is failure Ward lines are
a .hindrance

by wards, is failure. Ward lines are
a hindrance.
I'm our charter we have five coun-
cilmen elected all at one time. This
plan enables the voters to make an
entire revolution in the town govern
ment at one election. The trouble has
been heretofore that when the people
were awakened, they would institute
reform; they would elect a number of
good men, but also enough inefficient or
unworthy men would be chosen and
thus the entire purpose of reform
would be neutralized 1t is a strong
advantage under the Des Moines plan
to elect the councilmen all at one time
The voter can center his thought and
his ballot upon five men and can either
endorse or reject them. One of the
greatest objections to the former style
OF city or town government was the
inability to fix the responsibility. When
things went wrong there were too
many chances to shift the responsible
ty. In fact it was impossible to locate
the responsibility. Every man denied
that the thing found fault with was a.
part of his job Under the Des Moines
plan the voter need not look beyond
the five men. These FIVE men can not
shift the responsibility from their own
shoulders. In Des Moines we have had
a better city government under the
new plan than we have had in any
time during the past forty years. The
press has been vigilant and the public
eye has never been removed from the
five commissioners or councilmen. Our
councilmen have a due respect for the
recall, which would enable voters to
put councilman out Of Office, if for
any reason ne had dispseased the peo-
pic.
zone Of the strongest features Of the
Des Mofnes plan is its non-partisan
character. Why should man be chosen
to the council of Des Moines because
he was republican or rejected be-
cause he was a democrat, provided he
has common sense and knows how to
give US clean streets and honestly car
ried out contracts. No community pre-
sents big problems for big minds. Ev-
cry community presents small prob
lens to be solved by hard common
sense without any touch of genius
whatever At our, nonpartisan primary
every voter votes for two candidates
for mayor and eight candidates for
councilmen. Those receiving the high
est votes are nominated. This primary
is followed a few days later by a gen.
eral election, where every voter votes
for one candidate for mayor and four
candidates for councilmen. Thus every
voters has two opportunities to declare
his purpose. If he concludes that he
made mistake at the primary he can
correct it at the polls.
CAN the city officers excepting the
mayor and four councilmen are ap-
pointed by the mayor and four coun-
cilmen. There is no such thing as an
appointment being made by the mayor
and confirmed by the council. That
policy only leads to trouble.
'Des Moines is completing her first
twoyear period under the new form Of
government. We did not succeed in
electing angels to the five offices to
be filed, but the men chosen have
done better service than the same men
would have given under old conditions.
We have had cleaner streets. Some
money has been saved and a great deal
better returns have been received for
the tax payers money.
II am not surprised that what is
called the commission form Of gov
eminent is being quite generally
adopted It is based on common sense.
IL Is Ill tloit 10 eliminate poiit1cS anu
introduce business in town and city
governments. Every city has a fight
to adopt new method. The cry will
be raised that you are in conspiracy
to deprive the people Of some of their
rights. You will hear that on every
hand. But the change is really giving
the voter more direct authority than
he ever possessed before. The old
form of city and town government is as
far behind present day intelligence as
the OK cart is behind the automo-
bile"
The Ladies Auxiliary Of the 7. M. C.