The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-09-10
Good Government for Cite
by Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright 1915. by Frank Crane)

Good government for the city means a.
follows:
GOOD government is Self-Government. .
There can be no permanently helpful
government that is not democracy The
absolute control must be i'm the hands of
the totally of the people. ANY govern
ment that is imposed upon them from
outside. or from above" or by n class.
or by leaders. has in itself the seed of
abuse. The closer the Whole body of the
people is linked to the authority over the
people, the sounder and more stable and
more just is government.
Good government is skilled. expert gov
eminent. Running a city is a problem
IKE running a factory, or a railroad. IL
takes somebody, not anybody, to attend
TO IL. The best men possible should be
secured as officials. They should be
trained. They should be efficient.
Good government is impossible so
long as there remains trace of the vic
iouS idea that a public office is for any
other purpose than 10 be Of the best pos
Slble service. So long as men are en-
ployed 10 reward them for party SER
vice, TO repay debts Of friendship, or to
provide place for deserving incom-
petents there is no hope. The only ques-
ton to be asked concerning any city en-
ploye. from stenographer, or bookkeep-
err to police chief. or mayor is, Can
he do the business?"
Good government is impossible with
out the elimination of political parties.
The issues between Democrat or Republic
can have no more TO do with choosing an
ll u. III IL.
issues between Baptist and Presbyterian.
Good government means intelligent
politics. PartisanShip is the opposite TO
politics. Politics means making the will
Of the people effective through practical
organization. Parties mean defeating
the Will of the people, cozening and
cheating the people. 10y collision between
the party bosses and corrupt business.
Partnership thrives upon the ignorance
and Indifference Of the citizens, politics
thrives upon their interest and intel
ligence.
Good governments main first care is
for the children. Unless il provides
suitable training, and make il compul-
sorry, for every boy and girl. II is a fall
ure The most important official in the
community is the school teacher.
Good government demands the short
ballot. The long ballot, confusing the
voters is the bulwark Of the bosses, loot
ers and thieves. II is democracy minus
common sense. The citizens should vote
for a few officials and hold them respon-
sble.
Good government should pay its off,
cials well, give them free hand, re-
elect them SO long as they make good,
and recall them when they prove I'M
faithful or Inefficient
Good government should be taught in
the public school To make a good citi-
zen YOU must catch him young. The
first thing in n school is to train children
in the art Of democracy.
Good government provides employ
ment for all It's citizens. There should
be no unemployment The more charity
and benevolent societies the greater the
disgrace 10 the city.
Partisan issues, religious, logal issues,
any class issues are fatal TO good gov
eminent. 1t must be pure democracy,
FOR all the people.
Good government means simply COM
mon sense and efficiency applied to city
business.