Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-30
WE URGE THE REDEMPTION
OF THE CITY

TT is unfortunate that during this world |
crisis in human affairs, when every
ounce of every mans energy should be
dedicated to the defense of essential
ideals and the defanging Of the German
snake, it should be necessary in the in
dustrial capital of America to fight
local battle TO recover the municipal gov
ernment and rescue it from the coalition
now in control There are vital and con-
structive things to which newspaper col.
umns ought now to be devoted, things of
national and international Importance;
but the exigencies Of local politics require
that in the closing days Of the campaign
every journalistic exponent Of decency
must exert itself to the uttermost to bring
the great public to a realization Of the
supreme Importance of expelling local
Huns from the positions of authority
which they occupy. We do not apologize
for the emphasis which we place on the
necessity of a peoples victory next Tues
day, but we do regret deeply the need of
such emphasis at such time.
The most conspicuous failure of democ.
racy has been in American municipal
government. The gravest menace to the
success Of the Russian experiment in
>self.government came from the thou
sands Of returned emigrants who had
experienced government as it was prac-
ticed in New York under Tammany, in
Chicago under its bosses and in Philadel.
phia under the Organization. No crgu-
ment in the world will convince a Ger
man who has known Tammany govern
ment that democracy is better for Ber-
lin than the expert municipal govern
ment long practiced there under scien.
tifc system. Indeed, it was in her cities
that Germany prepared for this war,
governing them with admirable eff.
cheney, conserving the health OF the in.
habitants and keeping them fit for the
hard service to be demanded Of them
later. We can point with pride to the
prodigious growth Of the United States
and of its cities, but the record of
municipal government in this country is
a standing reproach.
The United States is depending to an
exceptional degree on the Philadelphia
district in this war. Similarly the world
is depending on the United States. We
take it. that no patriot, no lover of this
country and of justice and truth, no man
who has contributed his son or his money
to the cause, will stab it in the back
and enfeeble the might of the nation
by taking part here in the maintenance
of tyrannous and lawless government.
We take it that five inhabitants favor
good government for every one who con-
dones bad government. But of the latter
all are registered and of the former only
q part have the ballot. The fight for that
reason is a desperate fight, requiring
extraordinary efforts on the part Of good
men and true. Let none be deluded into
believing that the overwhelming indigna.
ton of the public is certain TO be trans
lated into reputation Of the powers that
be. The police will be used next Tuesday
and used to the limit. No trick known
to politicians will be neglected. The gang
Is at bay and lighting with every re-
source. A victory for it would be a real
calamity We do not want the rattler
e have his fangs again in the neck Of
Father Penn. We want this city to be
free; we want it to be unencumbered in
these crucial days Of war; we want it to
be at the crest Of its efficiency,
Argument in favor Of the Town Meet
ing party seems futile because the facts
are all known and no real defense OF
the gang has even been attempted. 1t
expects to force it's way through by
brute force. in these circumstances we
are burdened with no responsibility to
expose the situation. We can merely urge
citizens 70 be honest and fair to them.
selves and devote their energies to the
defsnss Of ths city next Tuesday. It is as
much ia need Of defense as II the legions
ol al armed enemy were at the gates.
BRAZIL DECIDES