Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-09-11
A QUESTION OF FAIR PLAY

A QUESTION OF FAIR PLAY
TNDER the existing political sys-
" tenn there is always more or less
play to the galleries, particularly
on the part of those who delude them
selves with the idea that Lincoln was
mistaken in his conclusion that you
can't fool all the people all the
time"
Right here in Harrisburg at the
present time there is a little game on
foot to further certain political inter-
ests by promoting an alleged non
partisan combination for City Coun-
Gil. To accomplish the purposes of
the cunning promoters it is planned
to misrepresent in every way the Re
publican membess of the Council, who
with their Democratic colleagues, are
seeking reelection. So far as possible
the people are to have dust thrown
in their eyes so that they may not see
what is going on. Meanwhile the non
partisan ditty is to be warbled in every
known key.
But it's all a question of fair play
and in the last analysis the voters,
when they learn the truth, are fair and
reasonable They must investigate for
themselves, however, and then deter
mine whether there is any justification
for the open, but more frequently the
sly, attacks upon the three Republicans
who have been in charge of the con-
structive departments of the city gov
ernment during the last two years. 1t
| should be said that these men were
greatly handicapped during the several
months at the outset of the commission
! form of government by the necessary
apportionment of duties and adjust
ment of changed conditions. They were
confronted with serious municipal
problems and even their partisan
critics are compelled to admit that the
working out of these problems was
beset with many difficulties. That
they have done so well under such
/ trying circumstances has been a mat
ter of comment among the officials of
other Pennsylvania cities,
1t is, therefore, most unfair. and
unjust for purely political purposes
and to further the ambitions of others
to misrepresent and abuse the three
men constituting the majority of the
| City Council who have striven, as we
believe, to give the city faithful and
satisfactory service. Theirs has been
no divided responsibility. Their time
has been devoted entirely to the dis
charge of official duties. OF course,
it will be said that it were better to
hire subordinates to do the work and
allow the commissioners to simply
direct and supervise their labors, but
Harrisburg is in the midst of its great
est development, pulsating with emery
at every turn, and there is need for
constant personal attention by those
charged with the administration of it's
affairs.
It is the unquestioned privilege of
others to seek these positions and
scheming for political advantage is
likely to continue so long as the peo-
pie rule and the world stands, but
let the game go on fairly, so far as
Harrisburg is concerned, and without
misrepresentation of the officials who
have achieved so much in so short a
time. If Lynch and Taylor and Bow
man are not the sort of men to con-
duct the city's business, they should
be defeated; but let us give these and
all our public servants full credit for
the good work they do and not dis
courage decent service for the people
! by carping criticism.
These men may have made mistakes
and in view of the circumstances under
which they assumed office 1t would
have been remarkable, indeed, if they
had not, but they have right to be
5 considered fairly with all the other
candidates and given a square deal.
The Telegraph has no brief from
these men to champion their cause
and it has no complaint to make OF
: any other candidate, but in the interes,
of efficient public service it makes here
: and now this protest against the
. hypocrisy which is cloaked with the