The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-02-04
Lucius Wilson Says, Was the Best
Move City Ever Did for Welfare
Of All People.
BANK PRESIDENT LIKES PLAN
Lecturer, Author and Economist,
Who at First Opposed Form,
Now Earnestly Advocates it. :

-S~~~ASSS~J
At Des Moines where the commits
sion form of municipal government
has been in operation for some time,
the business men all feel that the
plan is a good one and that it has
been a great thing for the city. The
following quotations are from prom
inent Des Moines men: -.
Lucius Wilson, secretary greater
Des Moines Des
Moines does things, but the best
thing ever for welfare of all people
was the adoption Of the Commission
Form of Government. No sensible
man in the city of Des Moines wants
to go back to the old system with it's
wasteful and unbusinesslike methods,
The very future of the city depends
upon keeping the Commission Form
of Government.
-Lucius Wilson.
A. B. Elliot, furniture dealer and
president of Capital City Bank.-As
president of the East Des Moines
Commercial League am voicing the
sentiment of every member of this
body when 1 say that the Commits
sion Form Of Government in the City
+ of Des Moines has proven an unqual-
flied success: The people of this city
are fully satisfied that the new sys-
tenn will eventually solve the munich
pal problem.
"A. B. Elliot.
c. H. Botsford, secretary Des
Moines Commermia1 Club.-People
may tell you that if the right men
are elected to Office any system will
be success. This in my Judgment
is not true. 1t is not so much a ques-
ton of men as of system, as clearly
demonstrated here in this city. At
the adoption of the plan over two
years ago, four men were elected who
were former city officials, three of
these being in Office at the time of
adoption of the plan. It was matter
Of common comment that the services
of the men under the new plan were
of higher standard of efficiency
than that which characterized their
work under the old system, when
they were handicapped by cumber-
some and antique methods.
We have not attained perfection by
any means, but are satisfied with the
progress made. Conditions as you
will find them in Des Moines speak
more eloquently than words.
&C. H. Botsford.
Paul Van Dyke, grocer and meat
dealer.-I am pleased with the re-
suits obtained through the Commits
sion Form of Government in Des
Moines. We're certainly getting
more for our money than ever before,
and the wants of our people better
supplied. We don't want to go back
to the ''spoils SYSTEM
Paul Van Dyke.
A. J. Mathis, ex-mayor and a prom
inent real estate dealer.T am glad
to join testimony with the testimony
of almost every citizen of Des Moines
in their praise of the Commission
Form of Government. After an ex-
pertinent of active service as the first
mayor under the new plan for a term
of two years, I am more than ever
convinced that it is a sensible and
businesslike solution of the prob
lens that confront every city. I an
no longer an official, but cheerfully
testify to the efficiency of the system
and the excellence of the work of thu
present commission.
/. ...-. A. J. Mathis.
Rev. Father J. F. Nugent, lecturer
author and economist opposed tn,
Commission Form of Government ant
during the campaign preceding thu
special election spoke at a number
! of public meetings in opposition t.
| its adoption, on the broad democratic
ground that it would centralize pow.