Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-12-05
GOVERNMENT BY COMMISSION
tBy }. !. Jacobsen)

sinners are presumed to become non
partisan saints.
The public service corporations take
an average of ten dollars per capita an.
nually as profits on public service, To
continue this plundering of the people
they need franchises, They aim to
EeVade all of the provisions in the fran
chises they now have that are in any
way favorable to the people. It is to
their interest to have officials that will
wink the other eye. They are non
partisan.
The gamblers and the vice5merch-
ants, likewise, are non partisan. Their
business is to plumber the people of
both money and morals by illegal
traffic. They want officials who will
| fail to enforce the laws for decency
and morality. 1t is to their interest,
as it is to the interest of the public
service corporations, to get candidates
in the field whom they can use. Con
sequently these two elements in so!
ciety pool their issues. The alliance
thus formed is a natural one.
BY the partisan method of nominal
| ing candidates for public positions,
either by primary or convention, the
corporations and the crooks are not
always assured of getting candidates
of their choice in the race. By the
non-partisan scheme there is absolute
| ly no doubt about it. They select their
own candidates..
Both of these factors have been in
politics long time. They know the
game. They know how to boost for
/
nocent bystanderss> They substitute
the press. Their chances of success
are immeasureably enhanced when
they are pitting but one set of candi-
dates against field of mere or less
obscure but honest individuals who
must depend on their own individuality
and their own resources for the suf-
frage of the people.
The common people those that are
plucked and plundered by the above
elements, do need political party to
represent their interests. To success
fully combat big vice and little vice,
not only candidates, but party princi-
pies and party organization are abso-
lutely essential.
Miscellaneous Provisions.
Other provisions usually contained
in the commission form laws are the
following: Initiative, referendum and
recall, civic service, publicity, etc.
None of these features, however, are
essential to the scheme. In all of
| the instances that have come under
the observation of the writer, the sec
lions dealing with these reforms have
been drafted by their enemies, and at
best, are merely the sugar-eoating for
a distasteful pill. Furthermore, they
are subject to repeal by the legislature.
Provisions for the reforms enumer-
ated above are contained in many city
charters as well as in several of the
state laws, having a general applica-
ton, without requiring a sacrifice Of
democracy, ward representation and
the right to nominate candidates in
whichever way the people may deem
best, as well as the right to elect
publ cofficials.
y =
The Standard Dictionary defines
"aristocracyH as "a form of govern
ment in which the, sovereign power is.
lodged in council composed of Sc
lect persons or mobiles as the ruling
class, without monarch, and exclu-
sive of the common people.
Government by commission Is only
another name for ariStocracy.