Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-10
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1921
THE PoPuLACE SUFFERS.

THE POPuLACE SUFFERS.
When the Best Minds in the Re-
lace suffers. Take the garbage mess
as an example. Under the present par
tisan form of municipal government
which has broken down like the one
horse shay--every Best Mind is damn
ing every other Best Mind, and the
Republicans, who have control of the
City, admit that they know neither
where they are. or their destination.
garbage plant and the moon.
Here is the complete history of this
disgraceful and odoriferous mess to
date: The old City Council, ruled by a
Republican majority, authorized the
erection of crematory to replace the
one destroyed by fire. Then came a
municipal election. A great many
citizens. knowing the evils of
partisan administration. sought to
place in power group of men who
would work harmoniously for Greater
Wilmington. and for a new charter
which would centralize power and
make a few men directly responsible
10 the people.
The Republican party did not take
kindly to that idea. IT advanced
Leroy Harvey as the standard bearer,
and Mr.. Harvey promised US that ii
his ticket was elected that the City
would be efficiently governed. He
cited the fact that he and his brother
Republicans were members of that
great organization which at times
rules the nation. He inferred that
they also could rule the city accept
ably. A majority of the citizens were
Influenced TO believe in the Best Minds
Mr.. Harvey and majority of his
cohorts slid into office.
Then something went wrong at the
erematory-authoriz by the former
City Council. The present Council
also predominantly Republican-seem-
ID TO be helpless in the matter. The
suggestion was received that citizens
DO a portion of the garbage disposal
themselves. and thereby relieve the
crematory OF the work which that in
strument should perform. A more
ssinine idea was never broached-to
pay for something which does not
render service.
Then Mayor Harvey held a meeting.
and as a result a telegram was dis
patched to the makers of the crena--
tory. refusing to accept it. Thus. in
stead of having a poor crematory, we
are to have none at all. But certain
members of Council-Best Minds. re-
member-say that their body holds
concurrent authority with the Mayor,
and that he should not have permitted
the telegram to be sent. So-the mayor
and his Council fall out and wrangle
or the subject of authority, while the
CITY does without an efficient cren1a-
tory.
Now IL is obviously Mr.. Harvey's
dufy--in the light of the promises
which ne made to the people in the
name of his party during his cam
paign for office-to step in and lead
his coterie OF politicians to victory on
this matter. And victory would mean
the ESTABLISHING of some sort of salts
factory crematory for Wilmington's
use. But if Mr.. Harvey and the Coun-
ell cannot agree, then the popuIace
should not be made to suffer.
This complete breakdown of the Re-
publican government of municipal
affairs demonstrates that those citi-
zens who favor a non-partisan form
Of city government were right. The
present method is mess--a disgrace
full and odoriferous mess. which cer-
tainly does not reflect credit on Mr..
Harvey. or his party. 1t proves that Mr..
Haryey's contentious We're wrong--en-
tirely wrong. The Republican party
certainly is not fit to govern this city,
Why, the members cannot even agree
among themselves as TO what shall
be done-and of course the populace
suffers.
Tonight there is a meeting of Coun-
eli members. II Mr.. Harvey. in our
opinion, is half the man and politician
that he should be. he viii attend that
meeting, thrash this entire matter out
with his brother Republicans, and
make definite plans to assure the