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Show MI'MC1PAI GOV KKN At KNT, In the light of roeent events one is tompted to ask if municipal government govern-ment is a failure. Tho constant scandals in New York, the recent political expulsion ex-pulsion in i'hilndelphia, the revelations in Denver, the charges of fraud always being made in Chicago, anil now sensational sensa-tional scenes reported from Kansas City may well came a doubt to arise as to the effectiveness of our methods of governing great cities. It is known to all who are familiar with the icside workings of municipal government that in a great many cities where scandals have not coma to tho surfaco aldermen and other officers have made fortunes by collusion with contractors, while in a .lumber of casts it is known that thieves and charlatans have tnado idliiMAls wealthy in return for their protection. Oi course there are many places against the governments of which no such charges have been lodged. Perhaps they are sufficiently numerous to offset the black record and save the reputation of the system, but bail government has been so widespread that an impression prevails that no city would be found clear of it if all tho fact could he known. What fault thorn ' ia lies primarily with tbo poople. There is no city that could bo dominated by dishonesty if tho citizens would do their whole duty. The municipal government is really of more direct importance to the individual individ-ual than that of tho state or nation. Our local taxes far exceed thosu that we pay into tho state and national treasuries; but the clement of honor does not enter into municipal polities sufficiently to induce the best men to usiiimc control. However, where this element is wanting, self interest and local pr:do should take its place. No man ought to permit himself to be plundered through his owu negligence; neither should any man stand idly by whilo evil men bring reproach upon the place in which he lives. If the business men, the professional men, the mechanics, tho artisans and the work-ingmen work-ingmen of every city would stand to- t . . . it . i I,i!t i t ft ilia geiuer ai me pruu.tiu ui " go to the coineutions, follow their tickets through the oiinpaigos, aud work fur tliem at ths polls, a change wouid soon be effected everywhere. One, two, three or mora wards might be carried by the "toughs" but their representatives would lind themselves bound and powerless. Their "infloo-etice" "infloo-etice" would not be sought after and their heelers could find no places in the public service. Then, too. the element of honor would quickly attach to participation par-ticipation in municipal goernment and the best men would bo willing to be called into council. It is possible that some reforms are needed in our system to thoroughly inaugurate in-augurate the changes that aro desirable. desira-ble. If a searching analysis be made it may be found that the machinery of city governments has been constructed with" a subtle Tiew of complicating affairs and opening tields for tlu operations oper-ations of the boodle clement. Administration Admin-istration may now be sulliciently direct. di-rect. We may elect an honest mayor and an honest council, but their hands may be tied by the complexities of a serpentine departmental system in the recesses of which the public purse can be plundered in spitu of the vigilance of the pooples direct representatives. It is possible also that elections are too frequent. Between national, Btate, ootiuty and municipal elections opportunity oppor-tunity is afforded to tho professional pro-fessional politician and ward worker while the man of affairs and the busy artisans find that they cannot af ford to devote tho time to election matters mat-ters necessary to hold the usceudaiicy. At any rate, we may be entirely satis-lied satis-lied that the fundamental principle of popular government as applied to cities is all right. The errors aro errors of method aggravated by the indifference of tho citizen. This indifference mny lie culpable neglect, or it may be a condition con-dition enforced by the methods that we have permitted to grow up in connection connec-tion with the election of officers and the administration of government; but with a correct principle at tho base of the system we ought to be aVilo to brush away the error by which it is stilled. |