Evening journal., 1912-04-25

political divisions in State election.
But what sound. logical reason can be
given why in elections Of a purely mu-
nicipal character we should continue
TO divide just as we do in national
political affairs? TO state the ques-
tion thus boldly is TO make each think
ing citizen feel ashamed Of his lack
Of intelligent progress in conducting
public affairs. We know that the chief
interest OF the national political par
tics In purely municipal affairs is
simply TO capture the offices and give
them as spoils of war to members OF
the successful party as rewards for
partisan service. and not with the
single purpose Of promoting the public
| good. We know that much Of our mu-
/ nicipal corruption and municipal inet-
| fciency comes from the injection Of
our partisan national parties into our
municipal affairs I venture the opin-
ion that such state OF affairs does
not exist in any other country which
calls itself civilized and progressive
| We have gone 20 the polls IN our mu-
nicipal elections. and lazily or cow
ardly voted for the candidates Sc
/ lectod by our national political par
ties. as a mere question OF habit,
rather than in the exercise Of an in
| telligent opinion or conviction. Is II
not a serious reflection on our intel
ligence. not to say an arraignment OF
our ability sc self-government, TO have
10 acknowledge that we have until
now devised no better Instruments TO
secure good municipal government
than the antiquatod ones in use? Be
cause a citizen believes In the pro-
tcctiye tariff or free trade. a central
lied national government or a decen-
tralized one, what logical reason is
there for him TO vote for tho candi-
dates Of his party az a purely muni-
cipal election in which we desire to
elect representatives who shall mere
~ enact and enforce local police reg
ulations, and assess and collect taxes
in the most efficient manner and
spend them in the most economical
way, Tor the common good. The natu-
raj division OF political sentiment
among the citizens OF a municipality,
one would think, would be between
those who might be termed progress
sives," that is, those who favored
wise but liberal expenditure of pub
lie money Tor the purpose OF providing
ample public improvements tending to
promote the comfort and happiness of
the community and advance its ma
terial prosperity, and the "conserva-
tives." that Is. those who favored the
most economical management Of mu-
nicipal affairs, and the smallest ex-
penditure OF public money commensu-
rate with absolute necessities
The proposed charter revolntionizes
this anuQuated method of selecting
municipal officials, by removing all
party emhlems. and substituting tho
nomination by mere petition. This
change is fundamental and radical
and IN my opinion, Is one of the most
far reaching changes promotive ol
good government proposed by the new
/ charter. II those who are so loudly
demanding tho initiative. referendum
aud recall as the sine qua non Of 2
new form of government, will give
/ but moments thought to this change
! they will realize that IL is one of the
most potent and far-reaching reforms
yet proposed i'm municipal affairs.
am not so much of an optimist as 10
imagine IL win eliminate at once the
national political parties from muni-
cipal elections and politics. That il
will ultimately do so, firmly believe
provided the citizens will not return
to their present methods Of laziness
and cowardice or both. and allow the
political machines to name their can
didates for them Under this pro-
posed change. If the citizens but half
do their duty. the national political
machines will be eliminated gradually
from purely municipal affairs and for
these reasons.
The citizen can no longer from
mere habit or laziness. mark his bal.
lot in the party square. and thinl
that he has done his full duty Ht
must read over the names of the
candidates, arranged alphabetically OF
his ticket, and must vote for eacl
candidate individually. To do thai
he must discriminate aud think. IA,
no longer is hedged In by the fetisl
OF a party name. The moment n,
is made to think and the momen
that his party letters are nominal,
removed. his impulse is to vote fo
the candidate whom he thinks bes
fitted for the position TO which HI
aspires. In voting thus he has adde,
one TO the list OF Independent voters
The nomination by petition will large
~ increase the independent vote, ant
as the numerical strength of the ma
tional political parties in Wilmington
is comparatively even i'm numbers, tn
independent voters will exercise th
balance of power, and the resul
should be the selection of the best O
iicials offered. When elected. thes
officials, not having been elected ol
a party ballot, viii not feel them
selves in conscience bound TO worl
for the party advantage. to the neglec
of their official positions and tn
detriment of the public good. The.
will feel the incentive TO give tn
most efficient service for the commoi
welfare. in the hope that they vii
be deserving Of and receive a re-elec
ton.
Again. this device of the nomina
ton and election by petition, supple
mented by the civil service rules, vii
5 actually prevent the political ma
chimes from delivering the municipa
Offices as party rewards. If the peopl
bur half perform their duties. / ap
preciate fully that the national poll
teal parties will continue to have thei
candidates under the proposed nomi
nation by petition. but how can the
! deliver the goods? Only when tn
! people have become careless. or laz
{ or negligent in the performance G
their simple duties. II the people rt
, main alert TO their best interests. m
). party machines will fail so regularl
in electing municipal officials. that /
a the course Of time public op'nion wi