The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-03-16
Taking PolitIcs from Politics.


The clarksDurg Telegram is OF
the opinion. apparently, that the Of
ticers of municipal corporation
should be chosen, not with reference
to any demonstrated fitness on the
part of individuals for GRAPHING
with municipal problems, but solely
with reference to their loyalty and
usefulness to some party policy OF
organization. Morgantown Post
Chronicle.
The Clarksburg Telegram is not
OF any such opinion. either appar-
entity or Otherwise. The Post
Chronicle has been laboring under
the delusion that multiplication Of
offices will eliminate partisan politics
from municipal government. The
Telegram is honestly OF the opinion
that it will do nothing OF the kind,
as witnesseth the fierce party fights
that are carried on in most OF the
cities that have adopted schemes OF
government by commission.
Says the Chronicle:
The lines which divide parties on
state and national isues furnish no
very definite guidance as to the is
sues that srise in municipal cam
paign."
Reasoning in the same strain, one
might declare that person ought
not to do two errands on the Same
trip, nor should the office boy be al
lowed to do something out of the
prescribed routine OF his duties, nor
should a man give something to the
Salvation Army because he is a Bap-
tis;, nor, indeed, should person try
to save time, trouble, labor o;
worry in any manner whatsoever
when division of effort would be
necessary: Notwithstanding that DR.,
Green, of the Pcst-Clronicle, was
deemed incapable by the legislature
OF playing the dual game OF editing
a newspaper and teaching Greek.
The night before last the Repub-
lfcans OF Clarksourg held their an
nual city nominating convention ir
the court house. A great throng O
people attended and manifested 1
notable degree of interest in the
proceedings and in the discussions
concerning a business-like admins
tration of city affairs. Street paw
ing, water works and sewerage i'm
proyemenrs, local public service fran
chises, police protection and other
things Of interest to the people as
citizens of community were the
subjects discussed. And, judging
from the enthusiasm and expires
slons OF approval on all sides the pc
liticaI organization known as the
Republican party OF Clarkslburg has
successfully COPIED with the problems
OF local self government.
Not one word was heard about Ca
madam reciprocity, nor OF nationa
conservation, nor OF the permanent
tariff commission. nor of the fedora,
corporation tax decision, nor of the
Virginia debt suit. No, in spite OF
DR.. Green's imprecations Of holy
horror, not single, solitary word
of these things was uttered during
the meeting. What is wrong here?
Surely this does not jabe with DR.
Green's shouts OF warning about
mixing up national politics with To-
cal politics simply because a body
of people choose TO utilize one or
ganization for the purpose of accom-
iplishiug more than one thing.
The Telegram, is glad to note, how
ever, that the Post-Chronicle is com
PEELED, to recognize the validity OF ar
argument recently advanced in thi:
newspaper concerning the visionary
scheme Of eliminating politics from
1.-THE administration of city az
fairs:
The Post-Chronicle has no quar-
rel with the Tele rams assertion
that the legitimate business of Z
municipal corporation is politics, i
sufficiently broad meaning is give'
to the words politics
Says the Post-ChroAicle:
THE commission plan OF city gov
ernmeat contemplates the selection
of municipal officials on much thu
same basis as the stockholders of
corporation select their board OF di
rectors.''
No less should be contemplated il
the selection of city officers in pur
suance of a plan by which the ad
ministration of affairs Isl uniaei
D'DsDOOOOOO0OOO,