Arizona republican., 1922-02-27
Keep Your Eye on This

Ihe closing week OF the municipal campaign is
sons to be marked by the most active contest Phoe-
nix has ever witnessed. More people are concerned
" It than ever before took local city election
There is going to be by far the heaviest peeled
aext Saturday that was ever cast in this city.
The air will be filled with sand, a good deal OF
which has already been thrown SO that great many
voters will be unable get clear view of the issue
though it is . simple and single one. But the
obScuring Of issues is always the purpose Of sand
throwers
Those who are opposing the election OF Messrs.
Moore, Button and Hotchkiss cannot successfully
attack the character Of these they are wisely
not trying to so. Nor can they attack their rec
ords for they all widely known and unassanabe.
But they attacking and will attack more virulent
" toward the end the records which they will pre-
tend to fear that these candidates win maks in the
future
Voters must generally understand what all hu-
experience has taught, that we can form an
estimate of what is likely TO do only py
knowledge Of what he has done. Who can point to
single act Of Of these candidates that would
lead us to suspect that he would do unworthy
improper act as member of the city commission?
The air will be filled with accusations sgsinst
the city manager. Whether true or false, these
accusations have no bearing on the real issue
Of the campaign and they should not be considered
by the voter in relation to his duty next Saturday
No time should be wasted in attempting to prove or
to disprove them. u the city manager has been
good one, the candidates take credit for that
and if he has been bad one, blame can attach
to Messrs Moore. Button and Hotchkiss that
They have had no part in the city government and
have had no influence over the city manager. They
are the inheritors OF nothing either good bad in
the administration Of the city government
1t is, perhaps to be admitted that TIE law has
not been enforced as rlgidy and impartially ii
should have been. 1t is possible that in other
spects the city government has not been without
defects We have enjoyed the pleasure Of wit
Messing perfect government anywhere.
The only pledge the members of the Moore But
ton -Hotchkiss ticket have made is that they will
remedy such defects Of the administration rigid
investigation may disclose; that they will insist snat
the laws shall be thoroughly enforced and that incom-
petence inefficiency and extravaganza dishonesty
shall have part in the government that unfit
wants shall leave whatever positions they may be
found to be occupying.
These candidates are committed to nothing that
has been done in the past. They would not want
their election to be considered vindicauon OF the
present administration. They would not accept it
as mandate from the voters to leave things they
are. They would regard it only expression of
the confidence the people in them they would
undertake to prove themselves worthy OF that con-
Adence.
There is the issue 1t is entirely in the future
The past is gone and the candidates are in no wise
linked with it. we trust that the voters will not
lose sight of the outline in the fog which win
to obscure it during the next six days