South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-03

CARsONS BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
AND HIS RECENT CRITICS.

As the forced primary approaches for the NOM
ination OF candidates for city ofices-a primary
compelled as the outcome Of one OF the most Vicious
maneuvers that disgraced local politics just
few words more. and then let them go. As an indie
pendent newspaper. or less observient OF what
II going on locally. Mayor carson, much as we
have criticised his administration at times, has
reached the point deserving defense, even at our
hands Fairness and truthfulness. respect for hon
esty in opposition and contempt for hypocrisy in
hnding fault demands It. We have said 1t before,
repeat 1t here, and have contended otherwise
but that Mayor Carsons business administration,
whatever else may said OF his regime, has. con-
sidering the times and the form Of government
with which he has had labor been successful
that OF any OF his predecessors. and undeserving
the condemnation that is being heaped upon it.
In response 10 a popular demand. the voice Of the
leading business OF the city anticipating phe-
nominal growth and pursuing an enormous building
program Mayor Carson promised the backing
OF those business men. undertook TO provide the
municipalities share OF needed improvements. They
cost money OF high prices, to be sure, and
there was no putting them Off until prices might
come down. and any attempt TO compare this pro-
gram. the cost Of It, the consequent taxes Of
now with those OF former years. is demagogic and
unfair. Gre the devil his due Mayor Carson has
done well by the city in business way, has a
program before him. and in the interests of con-
unuity. II he isn't to succeed himself he at least
ought to be succeeded by someone not pledged to
throw that program the winds. and pursue
dictionary program Of no Improvements instead
Indeed the campaign against him the
moral ISSUE as II is called seeking to it to be
fog business regime. Is open to question when
comes to consider the principal source. People who
champion moral issues ought least do it consist
entity Moralists and reformers in municipal affairs,
who quietly by for three years. winking. blink
ing, closing their eyes, countenancing apOogizing
for i defending vice and misgovernment Of
their. perhaps. mistaken making and denouncing
criticism politics and unworthy of considera-
ton, are as Sunday Christians and Monday devils
to suddenly grow vrtuous at campaign time when
reaching office political power themselves
they undertake to make capital OF that for which
they had been apologize and defended while it
was going on The only answer is: Thou hypocrte"
which in the parlance OF politics reads; thou
demagogue!"
The same pietists are backing Eli F. seebirt in
this campaign vOuched for Mayor Carson. that
ne would be law enforcement mayor. four years
ago: the same pietsts who Joined forces with the
saloons. gamblers and prostitutes and carrying
their cause into the pulpits. again parading
their "holier than thou" air publicly pretending
great virtue shifting responsibilities, concocting
under cover; well this described them best
"scribes pharisees. hypocrites! We are as
whited sepulchers. Outwardy beautiful but in
wardly full OF dead mems bones"
The tn4e to maintain a clean city government.
work for it. exert every influence for it, demand It,
get It. isn't alone at campaign time. but along be-
tween campaigns The campaign but a
months, but the Leriod between them fingers
through three-and -a-half years. Morality and re-
De-
concerns this aggregation meant anything other
than a political football be kicked about in
paign season the false motions OF an ambition to
get control Of the municipal reins II was so with
Fred Kellers campaign with Carson's. and is
equally with Seebirt's just a game politics
system Of humbuggng the pious. Eli F. seebirt
- a politician his leutecarts-male and female
alke-are politicians and they are playing the
rank hle a frazze their political game.
What do you think Of one of these lieutenants go
ing 10 Bob Jones when ne here. holding his
revival meetings and suggesting that he lay of his
criticism OF the Carson administration; that it
wasn't bad morally: that all the condemnation OF
It was lies concocted by the democratic opposition.
Well if-it was lies then it must be lies now-or
does the fact that it is republican condemnation
now. tend to change the lie into the TRUTH The
same gentleman who went 10 Bob Jones IS todav
railing ike mad bull at the Carson regime root
ing seebirt promising the same things CT him that
he promised OF Carson four years ago-and the
same things with regard which. up the be-
ginning OF this campaign. DESPITE Overwhelming
evidence 20 the contrary he sought 10 make believe
Carson making good
What Seebirt and his aggregation want IS the
reins OF city government and they viii do anything
20 get it-even 20 INDUCING. countenancing and ap-
proprlatng the results Of conspiracy overthrow
or preyent real reform Tho ,-arrar after vrbfot
the way paved for he mandamus suit brought
BY seebirt Meutenants thwart :he Will OF the
people In the matter OF a referendum election on
the city manager question is illustration enough.
The question is viii South Bend ever let him. or his
ueutenants make first base in a race for control
of the city government a reward FOR such per
ndiess
Sincere are they? II they were. with an ounce CT