The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-02-20
VOTERS ASK
WHAT men
SEEK|NCJObS
PLAN TO DO
Citizens Before Going to
Primary Demand to Know
Qualifications of Party
Candidates.
WILL USE DISCRETION
eY w. &. PouNpsroNE

81 W. NJ VOONOS SNe
Two weeks from today pri-
mary election will be held in the
City of Richmond for the pur-
pose of selecting Republican and
Democratic nominees for var
ious city offices.
AS the municipal government
is a business concern, larger and
more important to the city's in
habitants than any one private
ly owned business concern in
Richmond, every citizen being a
stockholder, it is to be presumed
that each citizen will want to act
intelligently in his personal Sc
lection of the municipalities next
board of directors, as represent
eel by the mayor, city clerk and
members of council.
What Are Records Of Men.
What are the records of these men
who aspire to the city governments
directorate on both Republican and
Democratic tickets?
What do they stand for in city gov
ernment?
Are they competent to conduct city
affairs?
What are their city planning pro-
grams?
What policy do they advocate in the
administration of the Municipal Elec-
trio plant half million dollar enter
prise? ss,~--.--
Such information the intelligent
voter should have at his command be-
fore he enters his polling place on
Tuesday. March 6, else how can he
competently aid in the selection of a
city offices.
Candidates Should Give Data.
When the voter who has his city's
best interests at heart decides that he
is not to be expected to personally
cross-examine every candidate to de-
ternine whether he is qualified to
hold city office it would seem that he
was well within his rights.
It would appear that the wellintent-
ioned candidate would recognize the
public's right of being fully informed
as to his record and the governmental
policies he stands for and take care
to supply such information through
the medium of public statement.
For an entirely too long time
Richmond voters, 1guratively speak
ing, have worn blindfolds in selecting
their candidates for city Offices. The
result has been unfortunate.
Government is Cumbersome
The form of government provided
for Indiana cities is so cumbersome
and ineffective that to obtain the best
operation of our antiquated govern
mental machinery the best obtainable
operators are needed, and frequently
It has been the case that the opera
ton Of our own government has been
intrusted to incompetent men.
The only solution for obtaining the
maximum efficiency out Of our gov
ernmental machinery is for the vot-
ers to exercise extreme care in the Sc
lection Of its operators.
What is Definite Program?
It has been the custom Of candi-
dates for generations to shout In ring
ing tones that they stand for lower
taxes, an economical administration
and good government" and get away
With II, the mass Of the voters being
too Indifferent to inquire of such can
didates for a detailed explanation as
to how they intend going about re-
ducing taxes, improving the admins
tration Of city affairs and conserving
the public funds. Some candidates
would have been greatly embarrassed
bad they ever been compelled to out
line definite policy program,
Some candidates in the past who
we're loudest in their declarations for
good government have. following in
Guction INTO office, surrounded them
selves with incompetent political lieu
tenants and recklessly wasted public
funds, all because the voters had exer-
c.sed no judgment In the selection Of
a municipal directorate.
Just as soon as the majority OF vot-
ers become competent in the exercise
Of their sovereign power will there be
competent government
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