The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-04-03
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1918.
BE SURE TO VOTE.

There is just one way in which COM
mission government a be defeated.
That is through the failure Of its
friends to turn out and vote next
Monday. Be assured that no oppo-
nent of the measu wi. fail to go to
the polls through lack Of interest.
Over-confdence has defeated many
a worthy cause. The Forum has
called attention before to the fact that
opponents Of the measure were hoping
that the matter would go by default.
Some Of the opponents Of the commits
sion system have been frank and open
In their opposition to it. MuCh Of the
opposition, however. has been lin the
dark, and because of this fact there
is an apparent sentiment in favor of
commission government, seemingly so
strong that this very fact may cause
SOME of the best friends Of commits
sion government to stay away from
the polls thinking that their vote is
not needed,
Don't be lulled into over-ConddenCe.
Every vote in the city in favor Of
commission government is needed. Be
sure and cast your vote.
Much Of the criticism against the
commission proposition has been aim
ed at the North Dakota law. 1t has
been claimed that the North Dakota
law is a poor law, and some opponents
of the measure, either through wilful
Misrepresentation or Ignorance, are
attempting to prove hat the law is
very different from the law in other
states where a success has been made
of this form Of government.
There 10 nothing mysterious about
the North Dakota law, and it does
not differ materially from the laws
which have made commission govern
ment such a remarkable success at
Galveston, Des Moines, Memphis or
al reputation because of the efficiency
of this business-like way Of transact
ing civic affairs.
One criticism made against the
commission system is that it takes the
appointive power out Of the hands Of
OIl6 LHdu Alu ploCCb IL Will tue CilllLG
commission. That is, the mayor or
president of the council, will no long
err have the a~ppointive power. 1t will
take a majority vote of the entire
commission to name the appointive
. officers. Opponents of the measur
claim this will weaken the executive
authority.
This feature is really one of the
strongest arguments that could be
used in favor of commission govern
ment. It Is true that the mayor loses
the appointive power. That is exact
ly why this clause was put into the
commission law.
1t cuts out politics.
with the appointive power gone the
man who is running for president Of
the commission, and who will CORE
spond with the mayor under the rres-
emit system, cannot say to some man
who happens to have a political pull,
but who may be absolutely untitled
for the job, vote for me and 1 will
make you chief of police" No one
man can promise a single job.
As y result Of this 1t has been proved
in cities that have adopted commits
sion government that a far more eff
cient set of appolntlVe officers has
been named.
The commission is like a board OF
trustees for a business concern. They
have been named to conduct the bust
ness of the city. They are far less
subject to politics thar the officials
named under the Ole ward system and
therefore they pay little attention tc
politics. but ave time to run the bust
ness Of the city in a b~usiness-like way
But this steps on the toes Of the
politicians. The politician, seeing the
palmy days slipping away, is getting
busy in the politicians usual, devious
and unseen way. And when the poll
tician gets busy it is time for the mar
who pays the taxes to wake up ant
realize that fact.
The Forum believes the people o
Fargo want to cut loose from politics
and get down to business principles il
running the affairs of this city. From
now until election every man who be
lieves that commission government i
for the best interests OF Fargo SHOULD
turn himself into a missionary an,
use every honest and legitimate effor
to afouse interest in this modern wa;
OF city government.