South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-04
MAY 4. 1921
MAYOR CARSONS DEFEAT is REBUKE
ALSO EOR PARTISAN ISCARIOTS.

There is much OF sacred history reflected In the
result Of yesterdays primary. Mayor Carson may
credit his defeat much to any thing. to TAX
Ing too confidently the silence Of his party,
approving his administration with respect to the
social evils little realizing that the appropriate
time every advantage would be taken Of his con-
duct and that the same brand of politics that
made him could also Stay him. The success Of Mr..
Eli T. seebirt comes from that popular hysteria of
the times born OF intensity of partlsarshD that
knows no consistency and no bounds; caIitalzes
moral issues. or anything conceivable Cor the mo-
men:,-the quest Of which is for power, after a
manner in which tire end always iustnes the
mcaLs
The anti-Carson vote is the voice of the women,
very plainly: women who have not felt responsible
ity for the republican silence before the hour that
they attained the ballot They did not put Mr.. Car
son in office and more than half OF mis- term had
passed before they were tossed into. the political
whirlpool We hope at least this their state
OF mind and that now whoever should be elected
they will not do as the men have done with Carson.
acquiesce in such wrong doing Carson INDUCED,
leading him deerer and deeper into it. Iscariotke.
only to throw him when political expediency and
their own quest of power demands.
Ordinarily as an independent newspaper, advo-
cative OF good government. Mr.. seebirt might have
been the logical candidate for to recommend
for the republican nomination. However. the time
TO effect good government during administra-
tons. watehful of what they doing, and If do
ing wrong not to screen it. apologize for it. deny it
and so on. political party suffer but TO
show immediate interest and insstence that the
wrongs be corrected. regardless of where the stig
ma lands. People who really want good govern
ment are more concerned about it then they
about shielding bad government; more inter
csted in getting it and having it for three years
and a half. than they in talking about it for
six rnonths-as leverage for getting into public
Office.
The silence Of the past three-and-a-ha half years
the condoning Of the Carson administration in mat
ters Of vice. refusing to lift a voice because it
might hurt future party prospects, gave the mayor
every reason to believe he meeting party re-
quirements Insistence upon law enforcement dur
ing that period bringing the moral Influence OF
the community bear and backing up legitimate
effort to make good. would have been of whole
some benefit. would have checked the Carson
power and prevented its ascendency. We haven't
forgotten how these moralists and reformers who
have been backing Mr.. Seebirt. smiled at the expo
sures of bootlegging, had great laughs over the
turning OF whisky into water. thought the thinner
Dambacher affair was n wonderful joke. sneered at
the efforts OF Pros. Schwartz close the blind
tigers by injunction. By such attitude they lent
every aid ana comfort 10 Mayor carson ana MS
vice adherents. and they have their reward.
Maybe. now, the taking hold some at
tention will be given to good citizenship first, and
partsanshir second That is attitude that ought
always be taken by good citizens when a moral
issue arises and good government Is az stake, TAX
ing no cognzance OF party politics. We are for
-partsanship in city affairs for the reason
that we believe better government can be gotten
out OF it-and the reason that get better
government of IL Is that with the partisan labels
.emoved good citizens like most of those who
have supported Mr.. Seebirt. will have to be
blinded during administration seasons by the neces
sity OF partisan defcnses We for good gov
eminent 5G5 days the year. and four years OF the
four and in fact-rather thar words for
nleasly six months OF a municipal campaign.