Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-24
THE PROBLEMS OF THIS CITY
ARE BIGGER THAN POLITICS
Huge Municipal Tasks Ahead Can Only
Be Executed by Vigorous Constructive
Method and Co.operatlve Hard Work

Be Executed by Vigorous Constructive
Method and Cooperative Hard Work
THIS is not a political editorial.
No vcto.y at the polls, whichever party
or faction may be the winner. is an nfallible
guarantee Of either retrogression or progress.
The decision registered in Philadelphia last
Tuesday failed to dispose of a single one
of the very real problems affecting the des-
tiny Of the city.
The regaincd asccndancy Of the Ware or.
ganization leaves unsettled the gas lease
tauglc. tho transit muddlc. the tax-rate
cmbarrassments, the 1926 exposition pro-
gram and formidable variety of other in
tenscly practical questions.
Neither a close corporation OF arch poll
ticians nor the loosest and most ideaistic
aggregation of reformers is capable Of exer-
cising exclusive control over such subjects.
Boss rule is inevitably paralyzed without
public sanction. while the most unselfsh con-
structivc leadership is rendered impotcnt
without popular support.
1t is perhaps too much to assert that the
difficulties confronting this city are agitutng
tho community as n whole. Philadelphia is
a patient town.
NcycrthecSs-and the backward swing of
the political pendulum does not alter the
fact an undercurrent Of irritation over the
failure to settle these matters undoubtedly
exists.
Rcrrimnation regarding the origin Of such
an extended array of d"adlorks is futile at
this late day. Emphasis should now be laid
upon the pressing Importance OF graphing
with them anew.
Mayor Moor" in the almost completed first
half Of his Administration. has Sto"rod
course Of integrity that has potently safe.
guarded paramount public interests. II 10
a mistake. however. to infer from political
circumstances that any attempt to assert
executive influence sincerely and construC-
tivcy for the remainder Of his term must be
barren Of fruitful consequences.
The Mayors action in frustrating the
transparently rrprehcnsib'e Hall gas lease
bill showed what could be done in this dircc-
ton. Tho 50 called bosses backed down in
represented by a determined spokesman.
Business like corporation upon such
problems. practically studied and analyzed,
is OF course the prerequisite for success in
tho involved and often agonizing task Of
honest city government. This does not mean
shabby political trading and nbjcct compro-
misses. but reasonable fusion Of animated
cndeavor as detached as possible from petty
factIonalsm.
Official tact is indispensable and. most
of all. tho presentation Of issues 50 directly
and forribIy that tho invaluable asset Of
popular enthusiasm is obtained.
The vne' Majority Of Philadelphians. irrr-
srectivc Of party IeannGs. are anxious for
speedy settlement of the transit >narl which
has obstrurtNd progress here for ten years.
They aro unit in desiring the operation
Of tho Frankford elevated and the adjust
mont Of III" transportation system to the
needs Of the population.
They hope for the completion Of the Public
Library and tho whole boulevard improve.
lnent including tho Art Museum.
They need only the proper direction 10 bc
actively engaged in the work Of preparing
for tho worlds fair signalling one hundred
and fifty years Of American independence.
They arc arIontIy in favor Of tho comp.e-
,ior Of tho Delaware River Bridge by 1925.
o' an equitable and beneficial settlement o.
tho relations between the city and tho