Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-09-21
Some Timely Suggestions

SoAAS AAANSAJ Su6SSS1AoAo'
> Eds. Freeman-Tribune: At the
risk of being charged with being
talkative, I am telling you some OF
my thoughts concerning develop
ments, recent and pending. Without
special reference to our recent de-
parture from time honored methods
of city government, one is impressed
with the Importance at this juncture
in the city's history, Of using cumu-
lative wisdom of the community in
establishing our new policy, which
trust will continue to be progress
sive-constructiv so.
1t occurs to me that there is OPP
portunity in Webster City, the same
as in Washington, D. c., for first
class constructive craftsmanship and
also that we have the material from
which to select the statesmen.
The most distinguished of our
American statesmen emanated from
communities similar to ours. Very
well; let every citizen who "cares,"
who is proud of our city and who
believes in doing things carefully,
at once cast about in his mind and
community for the persons best fit
ted and adapted to be on the alder
manic board-carefully estimating
the relative availability of his sew
eral neighbors.
The distinction of being chosen
and elected may be supposed to ex-
coed that of aldermen Of the past, in
the ratio of one third to one seventh,
and the opportunity for distinguish
ed service in the same proportion.
There is the possibility, of course,
of becoming identified with Iowa's
most successful city government,
Webster City being the Iowa pioneer
in adopting the city manager plan,
and it is devoutly to be hoped that
the success of Webster City's new
government will serve as happy
example, rather than as a warning
to our sister cities. This will of
course depend largely upon the sue
cess of the new councilmen in Sc
Letting a manager. Mr.. Carnegie is |
said to know but little about armour
plate, ETC., and Mr.. Krupp, of Essen,
Germany, concerning gun manufac-
ture; but they, "the spirits of the
enterprises" knew men-the man
for the place. Our voters have shown
initiative in courageously proceed
ing to upset the old order of local
government, familiar to us since
childhood, to make way for what
they deemed progressive and more
efficient methods of transacting the
city's business, conserving her re-
sources and developing her interests.
The change was, it may be assumed,
to come anyway out of the womb of
Time.
In seeking for adermanic timber,
desired results should be carefully
considered. If it is just to fill up cav
tiles that material is wanted, then
most any old chunk will serve. Most
any kind of a stick will do with
which to execute" law and order;
but when it comes to first class exc
cutive ability, in the interests of
law and order, our implements
should not be of gnarled lumber.
Sound, straight grained oak, maple
and ash-second growth hickory
would not be bad for the elastic
and would be less brash
than ash and we may, as I under
stand it, select from anybody's yard
all three from the same ward,
should any one ward prove so rich
in good men. Men is what the COM
now seeks-clean,
straight, sane, we'll balanced, cap
able, faithful fellows-largely faint
ed with town-pride and strongly sus
pected of being part 'pep."
They are undoubtedly in town;
but their discovery will depend up
on the earnestness of the search and
their election upon the fidelity of
their constituents-to-be. In other
words the success of the adOpted |,
plan of government depends from
right now upon universal interest on
the part of the entire population, in
the success of the "plan" and, Incl
in the October 18th cleo
ton and, as the proper preliminary,
in the petitions.
w. II. Cook.