Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-03-30

Inc HoIleCtuK NAb nhu kuAniAe
argument with the Emporia Gazette
recently over Emporia's success with
commission form Of government and
municipal ownership. The Gazette
has insisted that everything Is lovely
but today we received this letter
from Walt Mason, the poet, who Is
an editorial writer on that paper
which seems to put another face on
the matter. 1t says:
Emporla, March 2S.-Editor Re-
Hector: You seem to have trouble
in securing an unbiased opinion as
to the working of the commission
plan in Emporia. My opinion may
not be valuable, but 1t is unbiased,
I take no interest whatever In poll
tics. further than a desire to see In
telligent and decent men in office,
and to see things administered for
the general good. II a town has
good government don't care wheth-
er It is ruled by commission, q
council a car or a mikado. EN-
poria is afflicted with seven-year-
itch for reform. Any old pipe dream
that can be labeled progress VIII
do, She was getting along swim
mingly under an old-fashioned city
council. The best business and pro-
fessional men in town took turns
serving on that council. They could
afford to, for the duties called for
but little Of their time. They
served, not for money, but, as rule,
with patriotic desire to help the
town. That system was not good
enough for the reformers. 1t was
slow, and cumbersome, and anti
quated. So the commission system
was inaugurated, and in the year Of
its existence the commission has
done Emporia more harm than the
town will recover from in ten years.
It would take to much space to 60
into details. 1t is sufficient to say
that the commissioners, who are
ignorant and narrow minded men,
seem to take an unholy delight In
oueering every project that promises
| to benefit the town. Emporia has
but one manufacturing industry that
amounts to anything. This factory
growing and prosperous c3ncerh,
wanted q switch across business
street. There was no earthly reason
why it shouldn't have dozen
switches; but the commissioners
wouldn't grant IL until the business
men Of the town went out and got
up a petition that couldn't be turned
down. Meanwhile Wichita, sizing
up the situation, made bid for the
factory in question, and probably
will get It. The town is sore over
this incident and several minor ones
showing tho bullheadedness Of the
commissioners, who sit brooding at
the city hall, like three owls in an
livy-mantled tower, thinking up new
ways to show their hostility to the
business interests of the town. These
three commissioners would kill any
town; they are prejudiced, hide
bound individuals without business
experience, and the owner Of a pros
porous peanut stand would not in
trust 1t to them. There is no prob
ability that better men will succeed
them, for first class men won't give
all their time and energies to the
city for such salaries as are pre-
scribed for towns of Emporla's size.
The best the defenders Of the COM
mission can say is that 1t would be
good thing If good ren were elect
ed. Any system would be admirable
under such conditions. Where city
government Is given over to three
men, the election OF one chump is a
calamity; the election Of two chumps
is disaster; the election Of three
IL chaos. Yours truly,
WALT MASON.