Evening journal., 1911-06-22
TRENTONs MESSAGE.

! A FTER lively and remarkable campaign the
city of Trenton, N. j. has voted by large
majority in favor of adopting the commission
! form OF city government The vote for the new
form was 6792 and in opposition 1890 Their
I large majority surprised even the most sanguine
advocates of the new system. Sixty-sx per cent
OF the total vote was poed
The result of the Trenton election makes clear,
/ among other things the remarkable change that
has been taking place in New Jersey Only few
years ago New Jersey was considered as one OF
the most conservative of states, but the campaign
inaugurated'by Progressive Republicans and fol-
lowed by the dashing career of Governor Wilson
has changed all that, and to the surprise of the
old time political leaders the people of New Ier-
sey are showing themselves to be advanced in their
political ideas
In many respects Trenton is like Wilmington
The two political parties are evenly balanced. First
one and then the other has been in control of the
municipal government But the dissatisfaction
due TO extravaganza and mismanagement was not
allayed by either party with the result that a
campaign was started for a change in the muni-
cipa government and the elimination. so far as
possible, of partisan politics in control of city
affairs.
The experiment that Trenton is to make with the
new form will he watched with much interest
and will doubtless have effect on our charter com
mission. The commission form of government
has been adopted in some western and southern
cities but its operation cannot be observed so
closely and intelligently it will be at Trenton by
our own people.
During the Trenton campaign the political lead
ers of both sides opposed the change Ii was
thought that it would be easy to defeat the anna
teur politicians" as they we're called, who were
supporting the commission form. The advocates
of the change could do the talking, but we shall
have the votes was the attitude of the experienced
nolificaI In foct he Iotta
open campaign. They worked under cover, Chiefly
in silence, and depended upon manipulation TO give
them victory. The voters would be Indifferent
they thought On the other hand they raj
lied to the polls in large numbers and the old
time leaders we're overwhelmed
The election in Trenton shows really how little
control the leaders have on a citizenship when
the latter is fully aroused. 1t shows that wide dis
gust prevailed among men whose only idea is to
secure good government, and that they we're
ready TO try anything that promised better city
government
In the Trenton election there is lesson for
Wilmington, for the new administration that
should be needed So far in this city there is not
much sentiment for a commission form of govern
ment Those who have advocated a new charter
most OF them, apparently have not made up their
minds what should be done, whether the present
charter should be amended. whether a commits
sion form of government should be adopted or
whether a new charter carrying with it improve
ments should be framed
The Trenton election replies to Mr. Marvels
statement that partisanship cannot be eliminated
Partisanship for the moment was eliminated in
Trenton where there has been in the past as much
partisanship as there is in Wilmington.
The Trenton election also makes il plain that
the people of cities are paying attention to their
city government; that the theory of municipal
government which simply takes into account the
providing of places for henchmen is in disreputc
with masses of voters.
Therefore, unless the new administration in
! Wilmington is a marked Improvement over the
! present Democratic administration, unless il is
determined that the government shall be such as
is satisfactory to the people and free OF petty
chickering's and disputes the people of this city,
weary of hrawng about unimportsnt matters. will
smte the present method and demand that new
i form shall be tried in the hope that a perma-
nent Improvement will follow
That is the plain truth Of the situation as The
] Journal sees IL, and il will not do for political
leaders to think that the citizens of Wilmington
are an immobile mass, unnterested in good gov
ernment, blinded by partisanship careless and in
different concerning their rights and content TO
permit unsatisfactory state Of affairs to con-
tnue indefinitely when other cities have taken
what may be termed something of plunge in TO
the dark in the hope of obtaining relief