Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-28
NoNPARTISAN BUNCoMBE

q 4 Il near III lHcoe idllSi udN :
w of the nonpartisan patriot who
| places loyalty to the people
the dear people-far above any other
consideration. But political condi-
tions now are not greatly different
from those which have existed from
the beginning of political controversy.
We may talk of nonpartisanship until
the COWS come home, but it is going
to be more and more difficult to per-
susde any voter of average intelligence
that the nonpartisan scheme is any
thing more or less than a clever little
arrangement through and by which
the minority endeavors to get strangle
hold upon the majority. There is
nothing else to it and the empty
character of the pretense has been
so conclusively proven in the cam
paign now coming to an end in this
city and county that there is no longer
serious discussion of the real meaning
of the term.
1t may be possible to continue the
nonpartisan theory in the selection of
judges, but it is absolutely out of the
question to utilize the scheme success
fully for the promotion of good gov
ernment in any other contest. The
government of this country and its
constituent elements is based upon
parties, and properly so. Efforts to
break down political divisions among
the voters have utterly failed in times
past and it is not likely that the pro-
posed nonpartisan election provisions
will ever become popular with the
people. They invite hypocrisy, double
dealing, insincerity and a general finn
flaming of the voters.
A fine example is presented right
here in Harrisburg. Under an alleged
nonpartisan law, we are expected to
elect next Tuesday four members of
the City Council. Eight candidates
will appear upon the ballot, four to be
elected. OF this number three are
Democrats and fourth, an eX-mayor,
has apparently determined to cast his
lot with the Democratic group. The
four remaining candidates are Re-
publicans and make no effort to con-
ceal their party Affiliations.
1t is common rumor that Messrs
Royal, Copelin, Gorgas and Gross
have the endorsement of the Demo-
cratic bosses; it is also currently re-
ported that City Commissioners Tay-
lor, Bowman and Lynch, with ex-presi-
dent of Common Council Steiner, are
being largely supported by Republi-
cans. OF course, all are "nonpartisan" d"
Even Mayor-elect Meals, who had
more than 81 per cent. of the total
vote in the primary and was thereby
assured of election as the only candi-
date for the mayoralty,. places the
nonpartisan halo upon his brow and
rolls his eyes heavenward as he de-
clares in favor of the great principle
OF nonpartisanship. But when all shall
have been said and done the whole
matter resolves itself into the fitness of
the men who are seeking these four
important places in the municipal gov
eminent.
The Telegraph, with mighty little
patience for the ''nonpartisan" pre-
tense. reaffirms its position in support
ing Messrs. Bowman. Taylor and Lynch
on the ground that they have given the
city effective, practical and satisfac-
tory service. Friends of Mr.. Steiner
likewise urge his selection on the
ground of his former experience as a
councilman and his intimate knowl-
edge of the city's needs. OF course
these candidates will have their non
| partisan supporters, voters who are
indifferent to party lines and who vote
independently of party organizations
But this fact does not change the view
of this newspaper that the nonpartisan
law is practically a dead letter and
that it's only effect is to confuse the
voter and encourage political bosses ir
scheming and insincerity.
Uptown citizens are not going tc
forget the good work of Harvey Tay-
lar when they go to the polls neXt
| Tuesday. They have not forgotten
what he has done for the large sectior
of the city north of Verbeke street
and will show their appreciation il
the casting of their ballots.
District Attorney Stroup is being as
sured of the support of large elemen
of this community who have not for
gotten his effective work as prosecut
ing attorney and who refuse to b,
! stampeded by appeals which have NJ