The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-16
THE CITY ELECTION

THE CITY ELECTION
This week we shall have the primary campaign in the
city election. One week from tomorrow the primary election
will be held. There is but one officer to be chosen this year
a commissioner to succeed William H. Houston, who has
been at the head of the department of safety for a year
Mr.. Houston is a candidate again for the position which it
is admitted he has filled remarkably well. Opposed to
him are ]. W. Rely and R.. E. Cove. From these three
must be chosen the commissioner tor the place which will
become vacant with the expiration OF Mr. Houston term.
So far as we have heard, the opposition to Mr.. Houstons
candidacy is not so much a personal opposition-at least
in its expression-as it is an alleged objection to the COM
mission form of government. There is, then, no question
of politics in this campaign, except as it is politics which ac-
tuates the opposition to the commission form OF govern
ment. The opposition to the commission form OF govern
ment comes, always, from the politicians who desire to re-
tain the control OF municipal machinery for their own polit-I
ical purposes. 10 this extent, the present campaign has a
political aspect. But in the broad sense, there is no politics in
the crusade against the commission form of government. 1t
is a protest against continuing the administration of the
city affairs upon a business basis.
There can be no question as to the good record which the
commission form of government has made. 1t has effected
a great saving in the conduct Of the city's affairs and it has
given Missoula a better government than the city had ever
known before. SO the opponents to the commission gov
ernmen, basing their course upon their desire to make a
political administration, have determined to pursue another
policy.
There was a conference of politicians, one night last
week, at which this sentiment was expressed: If we want
to overthrow the commission government, we must make
it ridiculous in some way. We must defeat Houston and
get a man who will make the commission government
farcical. Then we can attack it with some show Of sue
cess" And this was decided upon as the course to be pur-
sued.
Even his opponents in this campaign must admit that the
present administration has been a success. and that Mr..
Houston S record has been a good one. Without dispar-
agement to either of the other candidates, it can be said that
Mr.. Houston is the best man and that assertion can be based
upon the record he has made. He has performed his Off
cal duties impartially and judiciously. He has made Mis-
soula known as an orderly city.
SO much for his record as head of the police department.
AS for his part in the general administration of the city as
one of the council, we have the testimony of Mayor Rhoades
and Commissioner Price, his associates, given personally to
The Muscular, that Mr.. Houston has been an efficient,
earnest worker for the city's good. In a talk with the
editor of The Muscular, Mayor Rhoades was especially
earnest in his communication of his associate.
During the week, it was urged by some of the critics of
the commission government that it was inefficient because
it had been compelled to call in the Committee of Ten to as
sit in managing the city government and that Mr.. Houston,
as an advocate of the Committee of Ten, had shown weak
ness. This is the siliest sort of talk. There is no sue
cessful man in business or in a profession, who does not
take counsel with advisers.
1t was Mayor Rhoades, we believe, who first SUGGESTED
such a committee as this. In his campaign, a year ago,
Mayor Rhoades promised to call into council a committee for
advice and recommendation upon important matters. We
are certain it was that promise which brought much SUPPORT
to his candidacy. 1t was to his credit and to the credit of
his associates that they called upon the Committee of Ten
for advice in the very critical situation which confronted
them this year.
Of the details of Mr.. Houston's administration of the
police department there are many things which might be
said at this time. These will be brought forth as the cam
paign progresses. They are all to his credit. He has been
strict, but he has been humane. He has brought order out
Of chaos and has established record for economy which has
never been equalled in this city. This he has done through
his personal efforts and through his cooperation with his
and through their cooperation with him. 1t is
a record OF which the city should be proud and it is a record
entities its holder to reelection at the hands of the
voters whom he has served so we'll.
come to regard Mr.. BURNER a $ a per form or another. For Easter is upon
soma friend sincerely y'ns' III Easter, the greatest Of all the
ih1Ida,s in is ,ia-a