Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-01
Give the Commission a Chance.

nicipal government in Rock Island,
The Argus took the position that in
view of the fact that the commission
would be beset with many problems.
and that it's early acts and efforts
would be attended by many dffhcul-
ties and many dsappointments, it
would be but just to give II a fair
chance before finding serious fault,
unless. OF course, It had been proven
that the law had been violated or a
crime committed.
PROFESSIONALLY ii was the idea of
the commission law that those serv-
ing under it should not be subjected
to hasty judgment or premature
prosecution, much less persecution,
and Furthermore, if the commission
| succeeded in giving to the city a sue
cessful administration the term OF
Office should be sufficient to afford
! the people ample opportunity to
reach reasonable conclusions and in
| telligent judgment as to how far
their servants in Office were doing
| their duty To this end the law
does not admit of the exercise of the
recall provision until a year has
elapsed after the election, and further,
it fixes the term of Office of all COM
missioners, including the mayor, at
four years instead of two years.
With the announcement of the
SLATE" disappointment and even re-
sentiment was to be expected Like |
wise protest against any radical !
changes in the enforcement of law
was anticipated. This is always the |
case. This is the invariable expert
ence when a new administration en-
tiers upon it's duties. 1t is the expert
ence when a new mayor assumes his
duties, years gone by have demon
strated that in Rock Island. Where
there are so many who seek ia
vor and SO few to be chosen,
the majority becomes disappointed,
with the result that for a time,
at least, i'll feeling exists, and those
who are inclined to be disgruntled ,
are apt to say, and want to do, a
great many things which they would
regret a few weeks or months later.
When the present commission, not
yet in Office a month, made up its
list of appointments, it was obliged
to choose from perhaps a larger list
of applicants than has ever been
70 onU adpoipiStra-
ton In years past those who sought
recognition were for the most part I
politicians in sympathy with the i
brand of politics that had been ap- {
proved at the polls. Wheel horses
and ward precinct workers, men who i
through their loyalty to their party
had felt that they were entitled to
feast at the public crib by the grace
of the party triumphant-these were
the men who stormed the city hall
and the Office of the mayor-elect with
demand for consideration. 1t has
of course always been impossible to
satisfy all. and enemies thus made
required time to calm down But
those so aggrieved in times past were
political enemies, and it is a reasona-
BILE presumption that a week follow
ing the inauguration of any admins
tration in Rock Island history, If the
same officers had again gone before
the people they would have been de-
feated.
Such is life, and II is undoubtedly !
in realization OF this fact that the 1
trainers of the commission law gave :
to the newly elected officers the grace
OF IL months exemption from the re-
call provision in order that they
might be spared from the wrath of
the disappointed. Likewise it was
deemed prudent to fix the term at
four years to save the people the
expense and disturbance OF biennial
elections and to give the commission
3 sufficient length OF time to exercise
It's obligations to the people fairly
and honestly and without yielding to
prejudice.
II was to be expected that disap-
pointment would be occasioned when [
he selections were made known, and y,
( the commissioners have been warped y
~ politics or friendship in the selec-
ions. that Will all be shown in time. II
While The Argus for fits own part r
lsked no consideration and had no =
,art IN the slate making, and has not
cit called upon to express either ap- u
,roval or disapproval of the appoint D
nents taken in their entirety, it con-
'istently maintains that even Il
-ere it from purely person
sense dissatisfied by reason
4 any of the selections, the commits
ion should not be moved on that ac-
cunt. but should be given every op-
Iortunity to make good
The Argus believes it is the duty
4 the public TO stand by the new
ommiss ion and sustain ii in such
'olicies as it may inaugurate for the
Telfare OF the city, remem bering
hat IL the people are 10 yield now
o the spirit of dissatisfaction as il -
nay be provoked either by personal 8