Evening journal., 1911-07-01
SATURDAY. JULY |. 1911
THE ON AND THE NEW.

a FTER two years Of control the Democratic
1 \ administration has retired and the people
of the city will breathe a sigh of relief especially
as concerns City Council
We wish we could say more in commentator
of the administration than we would be justified
in saving but We don't feel very much like say
ing anything al all We desire to thank the re-
tiring Mayor for all the courteses he has shown
The Journal during his administration
The Journal has the kindliest personal feelings
for him and may add that il believes if he had
been reelected Mayor he would have done better
than he has done but with an that we don't think
his administration has been personally discredt-
able He can rest easy on that score. He has in
many ways shown a lively interest in the welfare
Of the city. II has been in line with the larger
movements FOR the development of the city's pro-
gress and we believe that he has tried to do right
and IN many instances he has done right But
the Mayor has been shackled with such partisan
chains as surround every other Mayor chosen
under our present system. The best of men per-
sonally in such position must find the fetters
At times almost unbearable
Cf-Citv C0Un1il we do net care to make any
adverse comment al this time We suppose the
people generally have formed their opinion and
The Journal has no wish to rub it in We don't
believe in rubbing it in
The administration gives as an excuse the fact
that legal entanglements, the de facto business
and all that The people have taken that excuse
FOR what it is worth 1t is worth little
The Journal does think howeverSthat the Demo-
Gratis have missed an opportunity. Under wise
leadership and working in something like har-
mony, they could have done much better than they
did But unless the conception of municipal gov
ernment is something higher than that of parcel
ing out Offices no improvement can be looked for
so long as we have partisan government in Will
mington
The new Republican administration has an op-
portunity such that which confronted the Demo
Gratis When they went into oower There are many
capable men chosen to Office by the Republicans.
They have our best wishes for success but we
may add that The Journal intends to subject them
10 the same sort of criticism that has been given
the Democratic administration, if in the opinion
Of The Journal the occasion warrants. The best
interests Of the people. we take it. are so served
and the best interests Of the party will surely be
served by holding its official representatives TO
strict accountability for their deeds or misdeeds
And besides, our FIRST duty is to our army of
readers.
The misdeeds Of the Republicans should be
Jew for certainly they know that what the people
of this city want is a husness-iike administration
Of It's affairs. And with such capable men as most
OF those who have been elected to Office surely are,
it is more than possible for partisan administra-
tion to give satisfaction That there has been dis
satisfaction in the past is no reason why there
should continue to be complaint in the futures
The Journal therefore oongratulates the new ad-
ministrauon and trusts that in turning over the
new leaf it will have only in mind that the page
shall be kept free from big bots and ugly
stains.