Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-31
MAKES APPEAL FOR
NON-PARTISANSR|P
Repeated as to Health Board IN
Letter From William P. Ban
croft to Mayor.

An appeal for non-partisanshp IN ap-
pointmonts TO the Board OF Heaitn, Wh'cn
was sent by William p Bancroft to mayor
William G.. Taylor and William ". Lawson
when they were candidates for the mayorai-
" last Nav and June. has been repeated
in a letter from Mr.. Bancroft to Mayor
Tavlor now that the time is approaching
for making appointments TO the board
Nr Bancroft asks that the custom of
making all appointments from the party
rf which the mayor is a member be dis
continued as it has been the cause OF
such sweeping changes among the male
employees Of the board that the eihciencyoi
the citys health department was serious
IN impaired whenever new mayor was
not of the same party as his predecessor.
The letter embodying those sehe ias'
May and June, is as follows: VIZ,
William G. Taylor, Mayor OF WI
m;naton. Dear Friend Before our last
municipal election, | addressed letter
as follows to John ". Lawson and thee.
Won were respectively the candidates
for Mayor of our two great pohticai
pa ''' "5th Mo, Goth; 1919.
"John W. Lawson, William u, Taylor,
Dear Friends: | am writing in this way,
and will send copy of this letter to each,
because | wish to say the same thing 10
each of you. 60,
"It seems to me that different course
bv our Mayors from what has usually
been purs ued would do much to promote
efficiency in our city affairs
"Our Mayors have usually seemed 10
consider themselves under obligation 10
g;yc nreference in appointments to such
Ms are considered members OF their parties.
do NOT saw this has been without excep-
ton or limitation.
Where there are three commissioners
the law REQUIRES that they shall not all be
of one political party, but 1t does not re-
nlire that whenever the Mayor can make
II so the majority shall be OF MS party
Making 1t so often encourages and pro-
NOTES craftsmanship in the appointments
made by the commissions.
I'm appointments TO membersfnp
the Board of Health, the Mayor has power
to make all the appointments from MS
party They have done so. Ihis, mas
caused a general change in the employees
of that board whenever there has been a
change in the party affiliations OF the
Navor making the appointment. | an
under the impression that 1t has gone sc
far that every male employe OF the board
has usually been changed. Ii the Mayors
in making appointments to the Board O
Health could do it with a very evident
intention that it should be nonpartlSan
Il. might be an almost permanent body
and such change would add much to It's
efficiency. -,
II would like, in voting, TO be able q
consider that IL was for a candidate who
would so act as to promote better con
ditions in these respects. Can you not
each of YOU promise me that if he shoulc
be elected, this will be the case while h'
is in office?
II do not know that | viii desire tf
publish this letter or your responses, but
/ would like to feel at liberty to do SO
Respectfully,
Wm. P. Bancroft
received courteous replies from you
INT there was nothing in them that woulc
allow me 10 consider that If either o
YOU were elected the course pursued woulc
he likely to be different from what ha!
been the case / responded as follows
and YOUR letters and mine were published
18th Mo, End. 1919.
"John W. Lawson, William q. Taylo
Dear Friends: | have received your res
nonses to nv letter of the 26th ultimo. an
sorry YOU could not, each of YOU, promrs
more as to non-partlsan appointments
and as to appointments which would D.
likely to be followed by less partisanshil
and more efficiency IN subordinate ap
polntments.
In conversation with each of you, yo
both emphasized the need of changes IL
the citv charter. y hich would lessen par
tiSanship and prom te efficiency | agre
with YOU as TO the great need OF such
changes. but even without such improve
ments in the charter, ii the appointment
bv Mayors were as clear OF partlsanshl
as the present laws allow, there would b
g very great improvement IN conditions
The laws do not require that wherever II
Mavor can make it so, two-tmrds OF tn
members of commissions shall be OF n
partv. nor that all the members OF tn
Board OF Health, or even any OF then
shall be so.
Whichever of YOU shall be elected,
shall look and hope for care that appoInte'
shall be efficient / wish / could hope thi
they will be made without the care her
tofore given that they shall be OF u
party that elected the Mayor. This woul
add to their efficiency, and give more hoI
that the City may keep good men
Il will probably offer our letters, II
cluding this one, TO the newspaper
They NAV serve as a suggestion to vote
not TO put candidates under partisa
obligations such as | understand ye
feel yourselves to be under.
Respectfully, Vim. p. Bancroft
The time has come when thou must
considering the appointment Of menbe
Of the Board of Health.
4 am sending this correspondence
the newspapers again, with hope tn
by doing so it viii promote the consider
ton Of non-partisanship in our city wor
Il believe that if thou could appoint
Board of Health so evidently non-partlss
that thy successor, if a Democrat, cou
more easily avoid making changes ther
IN, it would promote what | think almo
! everybody would believe to be a gre
gain, and that it would help, not hun
thy party.
Respectfully, VIM. P. Bancroft.