The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-02-11
MmY Nor Az INpMrINpnNT rICKnr2

Every two years the city OF Tulsa elects It's
mayor aud city commissioners, attended by n
red hot contest. For two or three weeks dur
ing the campaign the citizenship OF the city is
all wrought up and then subsidies into silence
and indifference, unless something occurs to
arouse public sentiment Very fcw people know
seem to care very much what goes on at the
city han, what becomes OF the taxpayers money
or how 1t ls expended, Tulsans are busy with
their personal affairs that tho oitys business
is a secondary matter except at election time
Election time is here ngain ana interest is cor
rcspondngly aroused.
Under the city charter the elections In the
past. with one or two exceptions. have been
a partisan basis. hut thoro IL no city In tho
country where there ls greater degree OF po-
tttioal Independence than right here in Tulsa.
The trouble has been to get the Independent
sentiment to function properly and effectively.
while The world believes that in national and
state affairs parties are the only way under our
form OF government that representative ma
iority rule can be safely and securely accom-
plished, in municipal affairs the reverse is
true
There is no more reason for partisanlsm in
the city government than In the public schools.
The idea of employing u man In tho po-
department or In fact, in any other department.
solely because he IL democrat or republican,
la he hv,sh. ui folly. It ourht not to hc done.
Therefore We can see no good reason why the
officials should be elected because OF their par
tsanship. Tho business OF the city Is not a
partisan affair. There is only object
should be but one object in city government and
that is TO get the best government possible with
n Toast cost consistent with the progressive
growth and development OF all tho interests OF
the citizenship. Partisan success at the ex-
pense OF these vital interests is handicap and
dctrimont to the best interest OF the city a
whole. The World has always been very def
nitely committed to this position, 1t would like
70 something of this kind worked out in
the approaching city election, Just how this
may be bost done is for others to work out
Upon the character OF the men selected to
run on the Independent ticket will depend It's
fcc,sn 70 NJ up To the citizens who favor n
non-polltical ticket TO get busy and see that the
right kind OF men are induced to become can
dldates, II they do not do 1t, and do It wisely,
the partisan political ticket makers viii do It
for them and with every advantage for success
in the election.
The coniuE two years will be most important
years in The affairs of This city. Vast sums Of
money are To- be expended in public improve
menls Matters OF great Importance affecting
the destiny OF the city will come up for solu-
tion Every citizen and taxpayer is deeply in
tcrcstcd and win be greatly concerned in the
settloment ot these issues. The need for broad
slinacd, puhuc-spri'od. hard headed incorrupt-
lblc, courageous, forward looking men was never
SO pressing now. The situation will not solve
itself 1t is easy to say let's yet together and
eliminate partisan politics ana selfish interests,
but II is much more difficult to secure an agree
ment TO accomplish that end and actually ac-
complish it, Rcformcrs aud agitators viii never
turn tho trick ana do the business Practical
sane, sensible consideration OF all the interests
OF the city alone combined in common cause
FOR the common good do H. Personal am.
bitions and selfseoking servers will set no
where except 10 defeat
What Tulsans need is to wake up aud TAX,
a real abiding interest In the affairs of the cit,
and not depend solely on the threadharc policy u
letting George do It, The World has no can
didats~ of its own TO suggest and no lutcrcs
x&<X12.