Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-18
Politics OF the Right SOFT

D OLlTlCS. according to Webster lis the
1 science and art OF Cover nment; the
science dealing with the organization, regu-
lation and administration OF Il state in both
its internal and external affairs
We reprint this definition for the benefit of
our greatly esteemed contemporary, the Nor
folk Firginian-Pilot. which dissents from an
editorial statement that 80 long as munich
pal government in this country is demo-
cratic institution, founded on the consent and
suffrage of the governed, ii will be impossible
TO divorce it from politics. Being in this
sense, political in its very essence, politics
always will. and always should. control it,
Our editorial. which started out with this
premise was devoted, among other things.
to the attempted demonstration OF the
theorem that there are politics and politics.
There was nothing either in premise or demon
stration TO justify our cont temporary in con-
Guiding that what was meant was political
control by political party" AS matter
Of fact we dissent 80 strongly from that view
OF the matter-nowhere hold. so far as we
are informed by any modern expert mu-
nicpal government-that it did not occur TO
us it remained as subject OF argument.
However. it is equally n mistake to con-
clude, as does contemporary, that the
only principles involved in their management
Chat of municipal corporations are of a
purely business character" 1t Is on that
very rock that so many so-called business
administrations" of American cities have
struck and split. The resemblance between
the government of municipality and the
direction OF great corporal ton is close and
intimate. but it is by no means exact
The primary difference is in the object
sought TO he attained. Primarily the object
of privately owned corporation is to make
money; primarily, the object OF municipal
corporation is. or should he. TO assure the
happiness health and well-being. in many
aspects, OF its citizenship. One seeks to
translate efficiency into cash; the other uses
cash--and rather generously. toto promote
municipal and individual efficiency
1t is quite true that these objects iDterlap
and overlap. The big corpora ton, nowadays
at any rate. has to consider the good of its
employees and the profit OF its customers, be-
cause otherwise 1t will not Ike money while
the city government must guard its finances
and conserve its reconnaissance money if il
does not make it-because otherwise it will
not realize its ideal or achieve its own
proper destiny. 1t remains obvious, how
ever, that the objects and objectives of mu-
nlclpal and private corporations are radiCa lly
distinct--and this distinction always will
lily their operation.
There is nothing essentially evil in the
word politics" One of Webster's further
definitions is lin bad sense, artful or dis
honest management to secure the success of
political candidates or parties" and this sort
OF politics clearly has neither necessity nor
utility in city government. The other sort
OF politics has both The city is intrusted nv
the state with share OF its sovereign gov
ernmental powers, and these powers in the
democratic theory, must he exercised for the
greatest good of the greatest number That
implies potics-good poitics-and while
good politics is not always good business"
in the restricted meaning it is ALWAYS GOOD
morals and good sense