The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-04-04
THE MAYOR AND HIS PARTY


among the Socialists Of Mt. Vernon is
not edifying. It is interesting only
as II enlightens the public as to the
methods that prevail in the Socialist
organization.
In the lengthy statement by the SO.
cialists' organization, to which The
Daily. Banner gave publicity Monday,
II is plainly revealed that the real
cause OF the rupture between the may.
or and his party organization was oy.
er the distribution of the loaves and
fishes, and the evident determination
of the organization to dictate to the
mayor his appointees to public Office.
Here are the exact words establishing
this point, taken from the statement
referred to: f, ~
Then the local SEleCTEO
two men to fiil the OFFICES ~ cor.
vice and safety directors and pre-
sentsd the names to the mayor
and he ignored the communication
until written to again about the
matter. Then no sent q letter
couched In terms that told the 10.
cal Socialist party that they had
nothing to do with his adminIs-
tratlon and ne would run II to
suit himself. Then there was
nothing else to do but carry out
the law a. laid down by the state
constitution.
The section OF the state constitu-
tion Of the Socialist party referred
to above deals with the presentation
eof the resignation Of the mayor, which
the organization held.
BY their own words, In their pub.
1ished statement, the members of the
Socialist organization were moved to
present the mayors resignation be-
cause he failed to appoint a. director
Of public safety and director OF pub.
lie service the men who had been
selected" by the Socialist organ.
ization
Under what law OF the state Of
ohio IL the Socialist organization EN-.
powered to select the service director
and the safety director for mayor
20 appoint? Was there ever such an
arrogant assumption Of power and
authority? Is II any wonder that
Mayor Perrine Ignored the communi-
cation until written to again about
Z the matter?" And. again, II IL any
wonder that he thereupon sent let.
ter couched In terms that told the
local Socialist party that they had
nothing to do with his administra.
tion?" He would be prOtoplasmic
specimen OF humanity and be lacking
In every element OF manhood II he
didn't promptly and vigorously resent
such an attempt to run" his admin.
istrution. lie perhaps clings to the
old-iashioned idea that public Office
Is a public trust"
The Socialist organization talks like
the Socialist party IL made up Of the
majority of the people OF Mt, Vernon
In fact 1t constitutes very small mi.
nority. Mr. Perrine was elected mayor
not because he was Socialist. but
and sufficient reasons for u majority
OF the voters clecting him mayor, but
In doing so they did not embrace 50.
cialism; neither did they vote author
ity TO the Socialist organization to
select men to MI city Offices.
OF the last paragraph OF the Social.
list organizations statement that "at
the next regular meeting Of the
party" Mr.. Perrine will be tried "for
wilfally violating" certain articles and
sections Of the state constitution OF
the Socialist party, there Is the only
interest that comes from the fact that
he IL now filling public Office and
that the "0fenses" he may have
committed against the Socialist or
ganlxation were committed. not as a
private citizen, but In his official ca.
pacity In net turning over the func.
es0tAo osio 0ttiSo VI Pbuut O"Nt ~
iattng to appointments TO an orsaniza.
tiOn that sustains no legal relation
TO .he people, and In spite OF the fact
that he had taken AN oath TO the peo-
pie to perform those duties himself.
For his derellction In not permitting
the Socialist organization to run the
mayors office and make selection OF
men for office, II is now proposed to
psnalize him, even to the extent OF de-
priving him Of the rights. benefits
and privileges" OF socialism by ex.
pelltng him from the organization.
Even less drastic and arrogant action
than this has. on some occasions,
made martyrs OF men. Public sentl.
msut always demands fair play. As
between the two positions occupied
BY the Socialist organization on the
tsou