Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-20
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1921.
WHERE THE TROUBLE LIES.

,,,n 10 the letter of our inoutring' ana
evidently deeply interested correspon-
a.nt. over the signature Non Resident
x,h,~h will be found elsewhere in this
,ssu.. Of Every Evening. We take
,hat his exposition Of the situation ne
ords himself in with respect TO a proper
,.rfo,mane. OF his civic duties is one
shared by others Of his kind. new
-or,ers who are very much surprised
a, some of the governmental conditions
,he, snd in our community. and espe-
,,auv those who are affiliated with the
Republican party. who naturally want
Ga know the facts and thereby under
sand why the political organization
,h.t enjoys their favor and support
comes in FOR such severe and general
condemnation at this time
TO the suggestion Of our correspond
ont that we present a series Of articles
.howing the gradual progress Of the
m,ladministration Of years which has
,,-ulted in the unsatisfactory and irH-
t..ting conditions now prevailing IN
,,,, county and state. we do not feel
,p,ltned 10 extend favor. II would re-
oiiire a great deal of labor and great
deal ~ space. and in view Of the fact
tb,t these conditions have been plainly
presented as they came 10 pass and pro-
rfesscd steadily from bad 70 worse,
without awakening the conscience Of
IN, people b. a state Of rebellion and
a desire for reform-exCept recently IN
I'll, city Of wilminEton-wo do not
/, neve il would accomplish any good
,a4un. People get tired of being con
truallv confronted with evil tidings.
and also. as many well know. they oc-
easionally become weary Of being
cod 2 nunicipally as well as personal
j, and sigh for the fiesh-pots Of pleas
,lre and indulgence The experience OF
the people Of New York City in turning
from the admirable and efficient ad-
r,inistration Of Mayor John Purroy
Mitchell. a few years ago. and opening
tbeir arms TO the profigate admins
tr.tion ~ Tammany and Mayor Hylan,
which they are now groaning under.
doubtless has seen its counterpart in
various other communities. We can
,,.t sa, however. that at any time dur
ing IN past half century the people Of
Wilmington nave been guilty Of turning
OIL ~ entirely effective and practical
admin .Stration for the Joy Of revelling
IL. on. of prohigacy and extravagance.
Tn,s have disgustedly turned. az times.
from IN administration Of one political
,ampIexion 10 one OF opposite party.
l.t seldom secured any real lasting
reform from this exercise OF their
power. The system was at fault and
sth Is.
our correspondent is right in assum-
ing that there is a reason for existing
conditions. and that they cannot be laid
,ltireIy 10 the fact that the dominant
Ie,rty is of a certain political faith"
opr understanding OF the underlying
cs,use of prevailing conditions in our
municipal administration is
F'irst--In the partisan system Of cleo
tions and administration that has been
In operation since our city was in
corporated. Just ninety years ago,
Second-In very surprising indiffer-
ence on the part of our people, espe-
claIy those VINO have the greatest con-
Germ IN efficient administration, TO the
,.us OF this partisan system, and in
coudoning the resultant evils. election
after election, by indorsing and con-
tinuing the partisan administrations re-
Eponsible for them. We will admit,
however. that this indifference has here
tofore been largely due to the fact that
q change at an election would SIMPLY
mean the substitution OF one dominant
,>arty in control for another partisan
administration. without any assurance
that good would follow.
Third-In the system itself, based on
partisanship and of such character as
70 make independent action by the peo-
pie in a municipal campaign a matter
OF great difficulty.
Recently. a large body Of leading and
influential citizens, recognizing the evils
~ this system and the hopelessness of
any reform during its continuance
came together. and after intelligent
consideration and conscientious labor