Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-04-30

dIu Z. ). culver, th6 Three CdTl-
diddteS Seeking Office to Re-
place the Present City Com
miSSiOnerS.
If Old Commissioners Are EIec-
ted-PrOspects for Lively Scraps
at City Hall
The election on May 18th will deter
mine largely whether or not the City
Hall Administration will function
peacefully or whether it will be the
scene of chaos, strife and turmoil.
Up until a few days ago Mr.. Hendee
resented the alliance between himself,
Mr., Smith and Mr.. Ryan. He fatty
refused 10 have his name connected in
any with past events or per-
sons at the city hall.
Today Mr.. Hendee has turned tail
and fled to the protecting arms of
Smith and Ryan. To tell the truth,
Mr.. Hendee was between the devil and
the deep blue sea. He didn't have q
whole lot of choice in going to the old
gang, but we will let the public decide
blue sea he turned to. The big cues
ton is, would Hendee serve us as well
as a man whose word could be relied
upon-a man who would go through
fire and birthstone before taking back
a stand once made?
On the other hand, it is said that
Mayor Smith has publicly remarked
many times that if either of the old
Commissioners were elected he would
refuse to sit with them.
We are at a loss to understand just
why the Mayor should change his
mind so quickly over such an import
ant matter.
1t is not so difficult to deduce from
this chaotic state of affairs that the
three old Commissioners are forgetting
civic duties and civic pride, that they
are casting discretion to the four winds
in their eagerness to be reelected.
Personal greed, glory and favoritism
are their guiding stars. They forget
t heir duties as municipal officers and
counselors. They resent the thought
of being forced into giving Wildwood a
clean, vigorous administration. Surely
e very clear thinking and sound minded
M an realizes that a crisis in the affairs
of Wildwood has been reached.
We are looking into the future and
we wonder if the Ratchet will really
stay buried if the old Commissioners
20 back. We can't see any chance for
a peaceful administration in the event
tn at the people of Wildwood should
make such an unfortunate choice.
Are you going to be on the right side
of the fence on election day?
Long terms of office are un-Ameri-
can and contrary to our ideas of a re-
publican form of government We
base our belief on the precedent estab-
lished by the illustrious American
George Washington-the father of u
country. He considered eight years
ample tenure of office and so do we, for
longer terms encourage dictatorial
20 Wer, carelessness and %effrontery, all
of which breed inefficiency. The re-
ports of many of the Commissioners
meetin gs, as published in these col
umns, will enable you to draw your
own conclusions as to whether or not
the present incumbents have been up
to your standard OF a salaried public
official. An inspection Of the beach
and boardwalk will convince you Of
neglect; a recollection of last years
garbage collection tizzle will indicate
carelessness and positive incompetence,
aud the greeting one got when COM
planning of the situation was a demon
stration of effrontery.
The three candidates that are seek
ing your support at the May 18th cleo
ton are genuine American citizens,
no established their right to this title
by supporting the war activities and
bv s ending their sons into active ser
vice.
Support at the coming election
"AnDTC