The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1912-04-13


mrnl would lac bad thug With
,llcump,trut men IN office
! hoac IDEAS have been advaN'
ed 10y few WI" seem I" have
Ina, lh,l, hra,i,g. We aaN lhis
ahvlardl, aud viii aI'rmr, I" -
swrr the above unrs iop and De
clar1tIon nv few olhc, questions
aud declarations.
What assurance has tho tax
ipaNr, that the gentlemen ~ the
next tlty 'nuurlI viii u" elected
bccampo of then peculiar aptitude
fo, the duties which will hevo'Nf
upon th"m'
What assurance have hr voters
that the next atl at conLcI'mrn
viii not he selected more with Il
view to the serving "i 4 party OF
faction. than To lac suN'n. "f III,
whole c,iy with Il sIngL" WOW I"
the common goodg
What assurance have the tax
payers that Che policy 81 tho next
cit, council w,ll not core,tIy 10
directed al maintaining The ~
pirmary ui faction y, party
more than il will be directed 10
the material advancement 81 ia"
city ~ whole?
The present systelu Of selecting
city officers pIovld"a Tor Il pIima
~. Before the primary, and its
preceding campaign, comes the
"sIatatnak,ng" The slate maxi"
~ usually the practical p"lrician,
working for the bcst interest III
party ~ faction As a,uir he Is
u conscientious and good citizen,
whose wishes are the best for the
city tie il frequently a tax pay
I" and has a common interest
with his fellow tax payers.
When the slate is started some
one advises with some one else
and a fun ticket Of splendid men
IL suggested ungnestionably good
meg. Then comes the ar,laous
work OF getting these "unuues
lionabIc good 6,cn' to make the
race. "A Il. says he "canno,
think Of it" lie will not allow
The uae of his name. Another of
the suggested tlatly refuses
Aud another "knowS he cannot be
therefore declines. New
suggest ions second cllOlces-evcn
third or fourth choices are being
made to ill the vacancies ON the
slate, which, when finally com
pleted, at the end Of a months
hard work. has very few names ot
first choice to the slate makers.
This IN not fiction Ut il expert
ence. So true in this condition
that it il often heard: "You can
get but few good. conservative,
aud successful business men to
run for local Offices
Why is this?
TO the deep student of cOndi
lions tho effect uniolds IT'S cause
4. u says, TO his ultimate friend,
hat he could nat afford to run.
i would make too many enemies
or aim and that would hurt his
business. lie declares he IL ~
business and not in politics His
'vrnings ~" fully occupied and
- cannot afford 10 spare the time
hat the public service would DE-
nand. The public is ungratefnl
and suspicious Of your purcst
motives. The campaigns aro dis
'grceahlc 10 ones senslt,iliiies
here Is not sufficient reason why
'e should submit 10 the ordeal.
The opposing faction has the
anne troubles in making a slate.
THE COMMISSION PLAN
There would be ~ slate to hp
made; therefore, there would b.
MT little opportunity Tor a slate
maker.
There gould be 20 fa...!nns
even party lines would be tern
own. g
There would be no primaries.
he one general election would
xpress the majority will of the
eOple,
1he campaign would be short
nd directly I" the point who of
he announced candidates is hes,
tied to discharge the duties OF
he office to which he aspircs. ,,
ould be the voters one question. !.
Each elected Commissioner. il
true, would have ~ certain
mount of patronage to dispense:
at his friends and opponents !,
ould appreciate the further tact :
at he must dispense that patron " !
70 with view to business re
Its, and not as 4 reward for 10 :
ical wOrk-Otherwisp the Com y
ssioner will surely have his -
,ubles. y
Good and competent men will
1Ounce themselves for the posi- -,
rs for the following reasons: =:
They will not have to serve the RI