The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-09-24

the representative government
which We have IN theory, but with
the actual stats o. affairs"
President w1ison has some adj
vanced views ON the initiative and
referendum, hut he has never been
accused o, being a socialist. Nh man
who does hts own thinking instead
of 'ctti.e the bosses think for him
who has ever studied ,ht manner IN
which laws are forced through our
legislatures. particularly during tho
closing hours-wm contend that the
presidents position II not sound. u
the initiative and referendum are good
measures for the people Of a state. on
even the nation. 10 say what laws thcv
want or do '.ot want. why are tho
same provisions not applicable I elites
where the ssme conditions are pres
cnt. except on a smaller scale9
Ex-Governor George II HODGES o.
Kansas. n democrat. and M only gov
ernor Of that political faith TO be
elected In the sunnower states since
George W. Click held the office hack
IN the late eighties. is an ardent adj
%vocaie ~ the commission form OF gov
ornment for states The governors
position, IN brief. il that n commits.
sion ~ twelve or fifteen men on the
job all the time would be able TO
haHdie the states business much more
satisfactorily than is being done under
the present plan " government
Not heins compelled to furnish
their iabors within a specified
time. after having spent two-thirds ~
that time in considering matters from
which the people OF the state derived
no benefit. and then crowding I'M
portant bills through without knowiWs
the contents thereof. e. j. the csse
with the average legislature. a COM
mission. having ample opportunity 10
deliberate. would pa-s only such iaNs
as were needed and our statute books
would not be filled with useless and
contradictory measures. Furthermore,
a commission composed Of small
number Of men. In continuous session.
or within easy call. would he able to
look after the states business So n
more prompt and efficient manner
than is possible under the plan now
In vogue
II a commission form % government
Is good for a state, certainly Il II good
for a city. 81 course. we are fuiiy
conscious u the fact that the poli,i-
clans will endeavor 10 ohstruct he
adoption OF such a progressive plan.
for states hut our prediction is thai
the breSent generation WI live n
see il adopted IN many places.
Party lines have no right 10 exist ~
cisic affairs. Colonel Roosevelt. ccA-
menting on this, said:
THE lines upon which national
parties divide have no necessary
connection with the business Of
the city. srch connections open
up The way to countless schemes
Of public plumber and civic corr
ruption."
II you do not concur IN this opiniol
read the history OF our large cities
New York. Philadelphia, Chicago. 81
Louis twhere Joseph W FOLK sem
ar army 81 graftors to- the penn KAN
sas CltS, a Francisco Cmade motor.
ious for graft by the revelation
brought TO light in connection VIII
the trials % Eugene schmitz. AT
Reuf and the entire board OF super.
y%isors). as well as other dtiss OF NOR,
or less note. and you have an object
lesson Of how politicians VIII profit
personally at the expense ~ the peo.
pie.
We do not wish a. leave the impres-
sion that any councilman or mayor OF
Albuquerque has eve prontcd rs TAX.
Ing n.oney 10 which ne was not legal,
entitled. The man elected 20 tho0'
offices have been honest and upriph.
ana We believe ihey have endcaVorc,
70 discharge their obligations a. the,
raw them iu "a c-onsciencious name
The fault lies with the system under
which they have been working I'd.
-cumncrsnme aud uuWieidN plan al the
best Party lines have been sharply
drawn Doc many eases. while 40 other.
]cliques have bcen formed, all of winch
have had a tendency 20 delay the city
business something THAI would hard
y have heen attempted under th'
commission form OF roVerumcut-,u
10 "a had been the people whould har,
had au effective weapon in the sh1r'
~ the recall
Tomorrow Is election ba, aud evcri
legal voter In the city should oNercis'
his p%rerngatigr go express his sen'i
mrnu at the polls on this question. &
.s now up to the people. Both side.
have attempted 60 present the r,l
dence in the ease and The matter O.