Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-27


The Germans. particularly the Prusslans,
have more nearly approached a satisfactory
solution Of the problem OF municipal gov
eminent under modern conditions than have
any other people Their solution Is a re-
markedly simple one. II is that municipal
government is not political but a bust
ness enterprise; and that as business en-
terprise In which every citizen is a partner
1t should be run not as a private CONNER
cial enterprise, but as a huge Industrial
undertaking TO which must pe applied the
most modern methods of high organization
and complete cooperation. To this end 1t
is administered for the purpose of obtaining
for each citKen-p partner the maximum of
profit in matters OF safety, health and
convenience; mere money profits being a
negligible consideration.
J Simple as Is this theory II is much easier
to put 1t into practice in Germany than II
would be in the United States. for the rea-
son that there are fundamentally different
habits of thought upon governmental pre-.
lens In the two Countries, The advantage
Is not altogether on either side. Those Ger.
mans who are working for reform in their
federal and state government deplore the
fact that the German gives greater weight
to economic and social questions. almost
to the utter neglect OF political problems
In the United States the municipal govern.
ment reformers have found their chief OBJ
stacle in the fact that the American peopl,
think first OF politics, and are very otter
entirely unwilling to give any consideration
to social and economic matters. Grea
Britain, fortunately for Its peace and secur
lily In its present crisis. occupies a position
midway between Germany and America
| 81,
portance in national matters but subordin
ates political considerations to those o
sociology and economics in local govern
ment affairs
Therefore Germany has solved its mum
cipal problem and has failed to settle "a
national issues because 1t has apple,
economic thought to BOTH success attend
Ing the application in town where econo
mics must necessarily be not important ahS
failure resulting from the attempt to sub
stitute economics for politics in the ma
tonal government where politics Away
must be first In Great Britain the com
promise between the two extremes enable
such man as Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain L
be practical socialist in his municipallt,
OF Birmingham, where economies alone 1
concerned, and at the same time be a tor
on national issues affecting the vital prin
ciples Of politics. .......,.
In the United States the concentratio
OF public thought upon political affairs ha
resulted practically In solving all purel
political problems In America there is n
longer any dispute as to- the politics
equality of men, the church and state ar
separated, the land laws prevent the forms
ton of self-perpetuating property olas
there Is no dispute as to the form of gov
eminent free education Is an accepted fac
and the old quarrel between the nationa
: lists and the states rights party Is now moth
Ing more than an academic controvers!
There is not now before the people OF ii
United States single live issue purel
political In character, with the possible e.
cepuon Of the agitation for a reform
the rules Of the national house Of repr,
sentatives and the demand for popular ele
4 ton OF senators.
But even these two political question
grew out OF much more important econom
problems, which underlie and envelop ther
In the present era Of agitation in Il
. United States every question before Il
. public is an economic or a social questio
3 This Is true in nation, state and city Thu
) 1t is true is due to the fact that the Anne
lean people have persisted always in thinl
ing politically rather than economical
q OF course, great economic questions ha,
- arisen from time to time in the career
o the American republic, and have been Sc
d tied. but in every important instance Il
: issues were given a political cast and
9 their determination politics and not &c
: Monies was considered. The tariff questiC
Q always has been In politics In America,
:, 1t has in England, and in neither has POI
8 tics been able to solve the problem.
}, Germany the tariff is not in politics, b
h has been adjusted on an elastic basis |
Il economic thought.
Americans are beginning to devote &c
homie and social thought to the solution
their governmental problems-nations
state and municipal On abstract polite
questions the two great parties stlll are
opposition, but the thought devoted to S
cial and economic problems is now dividlr
both republican and democratic parties in
radical and conservative factions.
In municipal government in the Unit
states the flood of September s, 1900, whit
destroyed the city OF Galveston marked 4
beginning Of the end, OF the long series