Show EYPOCHISY OF jSrONfJ > ABTISAlir MOVEMENT i When the Citizens Union of New York started out to make Seth Low mayor of Greater New York it declared that its purpose was to deal exclusively with municipal affairs saying at the same time that state or national politics poli-tics had I nothing whatever to do with municipal affairs This was the specious spec-ious plea it put forth In favor of non nartisanshto ard it is this same Citizens Citi-zens Union that our local nonpartisans nonparti-sans point to as the great exemplar of civic virtues But this Citizens Union is not adhering adher-ing to its declared objects but is endeavoring en-deavoring to extend the sphere of its usefulness into state politics It has become ambitious to control New York state politics and all of course solely in the interest of good government good nonpartisan government It has began VO ominate candidates for the New York assembly or legislature And with what keen sophistry its supporters support-ers defend Its action in this respect Having fed on the strong meat of nonpartisanship i I I non-partisanship in municipal affairs they have become exceeding bold and in a j defiant manner ask And why should I I not the Citizens Union nominate cant can-t oidatps for the assembly When to this question it is answered i that it shows that the union is not engaged I en-gaged Jn city affairs only as it pro I fosses the supporters of the union reply i i re-ply that the legislature controls the city ard can change Its charter by piecemeal or In any other way whenever I when-ever it chooses They also urge that I as the charter is put in operation it will be found to need amending and that on this question the real opinion I I I of the city should be heard Finally I the supporters of the unions participation participa-tion in state politics declare that the I assembly ought to belong to the people i and that every assemblyman elected on the Citizens Union ticket will advance that result This attitude of the Citizens Union of Now York shows how hollow and hypocritical has been its pretense of nonpartisanship right along Starting out with the cry that only the interests of the people of Greater New York were its concern it is insidiously trying to extend its influence into state politics still wearing its nonpartisan mask of hypocrisy The New York assembly must be carried for the union because I forsooth the assembly has the power I to alter amend or abolish the charter of Greater New York The union I would have the people forget that the I assembly also enacts general laws and elects United States senators J Ve have repeatedly pointed out how widespread is the nonpartisan movement move-ment in Utah and how easy the transition transi-tion from nonpartisanship in municipal munici-pal to nonpartisanship in state politics poli-tics is The sophistry of the Citizens Union of Mew York can be used with equal propriety in Utah and the nonpartisans non-partisans of Sat Lake City and of every other city and town in the state can sar that the interests of good I municipal government require that the nonpartisans name and elect if possible pos-sible candidates for the legislature I There is no politics In municipal nonpartisan non-partisan movements is there i |