Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-04
NOT ADMINISTRATION MEASURES.

NOT ADMINISTRATION MEASURES.
The propositions before the people
in the special election Sept II are not
administration measures, so to speak,
as The Argus has endeavored hereto
fore to point out. Their success does
not involve a vindication either Of the
commission form or the commission
ers at present in office, nor would their
defeat mean a reputation OF the pres
ent status of municipal affairs.
The whole special election program
originated with the people. 1t is of
their initiative, brought about by the
petitions and resolutions from various
organizations for the requirement by
the city of the. 11-acre tract of land in
which is located what is known as
Island City ball park.
If the people give their consent to
the various projects, all of which none
will gainsay are for the peoples in
terests, 1t will be to the peoples credit
If any or all of them should be reject
ed and 1t should be shown later on, as
it surely will be shown in the very
near future, that a mistake was made,
the fault will be with the people and
not with the commission.
The initiative and referendum n can
| 1o 10 90 -,
ent instance it is up to the people to
demonstrate that they are capable of
ruling without prejudice and that thu
are not carried away by passion or
indebtedness. The Argus, as it said
few days ago, has never doubted the
capability of the people, once informed
to act in accordance with the rule OF
fairness and judgment. 1t has been
clearly and conclusively proven that
every one of the measures to be acted
upon in the special election is for the
best interests of the entire city, and
regardless of what people may think
of the form Of government under
which We are operating, or of any o.
those who may be identified with tbs
administration of public affairs foI
the time being, the welfare and th'
progress of the city as a whole arist
paramount to all else. It is the peopl,
who are to gain If there is merit IL
the propositions, and it is the peopl
who are to lose if they fail to avail
themselves of the chance of better
ment.
The people would not hesitate Z
, order the commission TO increase tn
efficiency of any department of tn
city government if they thought !
necessary, regardless of whether the
liked the men in office or not The
would not fail to require a larger pC
lice force or a better fire department
whether the commission liked 1t Q
not, if they saw fit. They would thin
ii strange if, in the event Of an enc
} gency arising, the banks should refus
to lend the city money because {
| some antipathy toward the men i
! office singly or as a whole. The
, would consider, and rightly, too, tina
above the servants of the people, an
bigger than the servants of the PEI
pie, stand the people themselves, an
5 regardless of all else it is their vel
5 being that is Of first consideration.
: The people cannot put halo aroun
the heads of the men in office b
electing that certain improvement
shall be made, and certain necessitis
o shall be provided for, and that Ii
/ city ihall be permitted 20 expand an
l. grow, any more than can they stary
/ out of office. before the expiration {
), their terms of Office, the present incur
h bents by refusing to lend their a
Il prevail TO those measures which al
/ not for the benefit of the commissic
t but for the distinct advantage of Il
r people themselves.
Neither the commission nor the col
mission form Of government are issu
in the pending election. The time vi
Is come year from next spring whe
II both will be rightly at issue and
Z that time the people will have the o
, portunity to express themselves wit
: out denying themselves.