The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-02-11
Barometer of Public Opinion


Editor world: As a believer In a nonparu-
san city government I want to suggest to the
citiz,ns Of Tulsa the following plan for securing
TINT aim:
Lot all tho civic organizations name TWO oi
their number 10 serve on committee on or
rnnization and cauddatcs-one democrat ana
ono republican from each club. This would In
cIude tho chamber of commerce, Rotary, En-,
giueors Klwauis Lions. CITY Automoblie anu
any other civic clubs Ley lne t'v'r,"f 'o"au, ,'a
the Ministerial alliance, The W. G. + T., name
two each Lot jhe Labor Trades council name
slx or even eight half republican ana hat u%enno. %
cratic 80 as 10 have representation strong
enough To make Itself heard. Let the repubi-
cans tavorinr u citizens ticket caucue and name
two likewise the democrats We would invite
tho socialists to do he SAINT
Lot IL be- undcrstoud that this committee has
the power 10 invite representation from any ele-
mcnts In tho community not apparently tsltig
represented on the committee already. Lot thls
committee canvass tho situation ana drait lnio
the public service those whom hey ueciue
shonld make this great shcrifire to the puollc
good. Tho persuasive power OF such commit
tee would bc tremendous. u would be the voice
of the people and Ne pressure would be well nigh
irrcslstibic. There would be now honor and new
dignity iu being forced into public service by
such % committee. Proper candidates could thus
be had No man would owe his elevation to Of
flee 20 any man or clique or men
such a committee would feel a keen sense
OF civic responsibility and would no doubt act
high -mindedly in the public interest.
"A scrutiny Of This plan seems to offer no
grounds for reasonable objection. No man could
control such a committee against public inter
est. II would seem to be fairly representative
1f all interests.
"Asldc from few petty offices there is moth.
tnE To be gained by any political party In a
municipal election which any one could leg!t-
imately wieh to gain.
The argument that It is necessary in order
to hold together an organization Is without
force. Party organization Contcm plates pre-
cinct county, district and state organizations.
No mention is made ot city organizations They
are "A thing foreign to the rest OF the system OF
party government nonpartisan city can have
harmful effect the organization
pf ths a tUhi oh
political parties fan is brought upon them by
their bad management Of municipalities. In
political policies at stake, In the municipal
" ls problems business and moral prob
lens. These the political parties, as such, can
not solve. Their efforts TO do so usually result
In failure.
This is almost inevitable whore the better
classes of citizcnry divide upon party lines
and ncutralizo each other, leaving the balance
OF power In the hands of. those with selfish ends
to serve.
The proposed plan provides a way for all
right minded voters to get together upon can
didates who have been thoughtfully chosen by
the representatives Of the great civic organiza-
tions. In the absence Of the election machinery
for holding noupartisan primary this plan is ns
representative Of the people and responsive
to the viii Of all the people Ms can well be de-
vised.
THE civic organizations should take imme-
diato steps to put the plan into operation by tho
selection OF their members OF the committee
Let them proceed very seriously--as seriously
as they would to select steward for their own
property. This s VASTLY important business and
should be undertaken with u due sense of re.
sponsibility.
"Cranks faddIsta and impractical dreamers
should he excluded This committee should be
made up OF sane, practical law-abiding, law
uphOldng men and women"
CITIZEN"