The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-10-31
To the Voters Of the City Of BOzeman:

The supposedlv non-partisan nature of the city commissioner
election next Tuesday. NOV o. ana tne 1ct Una nonest, Ipl ae
candidates for the positions, much less to spend either time, energy
or money to put their views and pledges before the voters make
the public presentation of the issue, from the viewpoint OF the COM
mon peOpIe. a most difficult, if not a decidedly delicate, matter.
To "the man on the fence" it looks rather unusual that an
effort should be made to throw a smokescreen over the real issue,
and to make it appear as if the actual operation OF the city manager
form of government itself is at stake, whereas the only issue that
can possibly exist in the election next Tuesday is: Which three OF
the six candidates are best fitted, IN temperament, aDHlty, courtesy,
experience, honesty, impartiaity and independence OF action, to
handle the three jobs of city commissioner, and to appoint ad-
ministrative officers of like capacity.
That's all there is to it, so far as we can see.
Of course if good men are not elected-men who have been
successful in their business or professional attars-there Is the
possibility that, though mismanagement, the people may become
disguised enough to later change the form OF government by
petition and election, and that is something which should be
guarded against.
Probably not one of tn six candidates want the job, and prob
ably wouldn't have it again if it was handed to him on a silver
platter.
The Courier is now, and always has been, in favor of the
city manager form of government, provided it is efficiently, fairly
and sensibly administered; and we believe that the majority of
the people of Bozeman hold the same view.
Whether or not The Republican Courier was entitled to more
than sixteen ($1600) dollars worth of city printing, out of the
$1,000, more or less, that has been spent for such work during the
time the present city manager and city commissioners have been
handling the administrative affairs OF the city, is a question that
we are not putting up to Mr.. MendenhalL, to the commissioners, or
to any of the six candidates. We leave that entirely to the voters
i'll whose good judgment we place the utmost confidence in next
Tuesdays election, and by whose decision it is our intention to
abide, as it should be the intention OF any and every good citizen,
who really has the best interests of the city and its people at
heart.
If it is s~eishness for The Courier to expect a square deal
and a fifty-fifty break with its competitor, and the opportunity to
bid on each and every piece of printing that is needed by the city
and that must be paid for out of the public funds, then we stand
sef-cOnvmced of s~elfshness, or whatever else anyone wishes to
call it.
The people of the city of Bozeman are entitled to the best city
administrative government that money can buy-and they're will
ing to pay for just that kind, and no other; and that's the kind
they're going to get-and no other.
The Courier believes it is acting in fairness to all, by publish
ing, on another page, short biographical sketches of all the candi-
dates and the principles for which they stand in the present cam
paign. May the best three men win.