Show k I ER ASIN EVILS j i IN OUR Lehi Boys Boy's Oration on Municipal pal Government Wins First Prize SYSTEMS ARE ALL WRONG 1 Proves Men of Worth Are re Not Nol Attracted to Municipal i s 's Offices I I I I AXEL MADSEN J Following Following- Is tho the oration which won non first place Place In the High school oraI oratorical ora ora- contest given at the state university university university uni uni- I Monday Monda night April 6 5 Axel Madsen tho the winner Is a sophomore In InI inthe I I tho the Lohl Lobi HI High h school and ond Principal Hopkins predicts for him a a. brilliant t I future Suture His oration follows Much attention has been given gi of ot late to tho the weak point In our political system tho system tho government of or cities ThIs I Is js a a. living question and we are aro re repeatedly ro- ro asked Why hy are aro American cities clUes so generally misgoverned and I what Is the tho remedy This question has lias long been discussed and the tho discUssion dis- dis discussIon discussion dis dis- has hns produced many mony plans of ot I reform none of ot which havo have resulted In anything but temporary Improvement The average American city today Is mismanaged and misgoverned and Is the victim of ot a n cumbersome and a 1 corrupt corrupt cor cor- rupt government It Is almost Impossible sible to elect good representative men under our present municipal plan because be bo- bo- bo cause the men represent not tho the city hut but the tho wards In which they thoy reside and the tho wards In the great majority of cases are manipulated by tho the worst typo type of or politicians Potty ward politics politics politics poli poli- tics should not be allowed In our city governments for tor It Is to them that We wo owe tho the presence of ot many mony of ot the evils Js in our municipal systems sj Broke Tammany's lung When Boss Tweed tho the notorious leader header of ot Tammany Hall flung dung back the defiant words to the citizens of Now ow ew York Well what aro are you OU goIng goIng go- go Ing to do about It ItT they showed him that they could and would do something something some some- thing His Ills ring brol broken on his tile power de do- destroyed he was sas thrown Into prison on where ho he died Now however It Isan Is Js Isan an on established fact tact that Tammany rules absolutely and tho the people are aro sleeping I on their rights In St. St Louis tho the good I citizens aroused for a 0 short time timeto t to a a. defense of ot their rights by District Attorney James l 1 Folk Polk under his bra leadership rs ip Boss Butler Butter with his gangwere gang sang were arrested and brought before tho the court Somo Some of ot them escaped to Europe Europe Europe Eu Eu- rope but a a. few tew with Boss Bose Butler Buller were placed In prison It was not long I however until they thoy wore released nn and without further punishment given their i Tho Tm i soon sank 1 back i i Into i their former rm r state of ot apathy and listlessness and Boss Bess Butler Is 13 again in In full tull power Tho The government of or Philadelphia which 13 controlled by a 0 political machine has reached such a stage stas-o that It Is universally recognized to be tho the most niost corrupt and vicious government n existence why Why did and wh why do these thesa conditions exist To put It plain and simple tho fact tact Is that vico and crime have been breaking down orderly civilization In these cities because tho the ward politicians politicians clans and not tho the people have been able to dictate the tho administration of ot law that These are only a few tow examples servo ser to Illustrate tho the conditions that exist In most largo large cities today Historians Historians Historians His His- and statesmen all unite In condemning condemning con con- tho present municipal plan I Appealed to 0 States 1 I first failed tailed to When city government go satisfaction the earliest and not I unnatural give appeal was made to tho the Most states tried to remedy the government by creating commissions commis- commis having direct authority from the state to do work which under prosperous prosperous pros pros- government should be bo performed performed performed per per- porous formed by city officials They also mandatory laws compelling passed whether to undertake public work cities wished to or not and they thoy i er rr they Interfered quite Quito generally inthe In Inthe Inthe further details of 01 city action Even at atthe the time except in a a. few tow cases tho the present So under the power to provide provide pro pro- legislature the vide their charters can interfere with I t affairs 1 their tests testa have been beon made maCIa of ot I Sufficient remedY to make it perfectly clear this clUes should have havo the tho power the that their own systems or of gov- gov to organize leaving to the tho state control such matters os as concern It alone over the tho primary end of every reform reform reh re- re CertainlY system Is good city government form of obtaining Is no prospect there thero but tho the h party govern- govern I I it in the cities until T it IL rn over ment genuine Is municipal municipal parties be between citizens on onon divisions tenting nc municipal concern only one on of ot K question no fear of party t government reed need C haVO to a 0 city But when application it Its In questions are aro drawn upon party part lines local matters have no nc bearIn beart bear bear- which on evils of 01 tho the party outU out- out all the In InS InS' nt at t whatever advantages the tho system U have have- vay Item CUic II 1 or of party porty managers Is ThO concern They feel no t r the party the tho city but great greot I to the party For this rca ren- toward being robbed or of their I fon cities are arc progressiveness to further fur fur- t prosperity the tho inter Interests and ea n of these political di- di enough wise ther are or ot them 1 visions Few Fe serves seres his pa pato party best o ono one I to BOO fice that ves his nis city city best best- u The Tho mayors 1 to I VUU therefore are aro ma maI d o oI iu I and officers obligation ion t to those who elect feel leol under oM but shameful ul fact tact I Is a a. sad I them ond and it J O Or ot inc them have havo courage that very vory few fow enough to resist this obI ob- ob character of and In Jn defense defonso stand up P I I nUon honest and ond co convictions to and what they I their to bo be right 01 of such auch men Is g duo due not notI t Tho Thie election but to tn the low lowI Par parties I only to the paid fd to officers In ourt our that are aro pa noisy I salaries IB It iv is only the tho t city governments and ana to men nien n of or very vory low demagogues attracted by the tho I charaCter that are that Is offered to compensation councilmen For men 1 the tho maOr and and HI cannot wuen hn i of to accept any ny opportunities such pos I in th the he greater ut-i ut expected have o cannot connot bo be ey It t businesS world talent and ot of men o service young younK into public publio that will o enter inducements to todo todo tonto ity blUt they are attractive as those until which are as and business do so 50 bY man seeks I What over which promises to givot life Ufe position with nn an assur- assur is 19 a a. employment least a sure eurO him or at t of wealth could find such fluch a 0 It If ho ho would ent enter en- en S servIce ger le ble In public but the tho present plan plon promise nto It eagerlY division of power t ter r Into hold out no Q such auch with itS ItA cnn can no result r offices The and pettY inducements shuns shunK or mon man I promises C 18 rule the thO lookS youn yoUng for an that and the 18 affairs aUll the tho another the bonds bands of In Is loft in i I f Ignorant unscrupulous politicians whose solo aim is to enrich themselves financially at lt the e expense pense of tho the city Brooklyn n. Reform Is IB that of reform There Thoro IB is a a. plan deal of ot attention to today today today to- to good receiving a 0 Brooklyn plan ItIs ItIs It Itis known as tho the day to tho the needs of ot our well suited is Isery very ery and promIses promises prom- prom cities at ot tho present time t evils that eliminate those these great to In It municipal systems exist In our chief officer He Is Is the the tho mayor ticket and receives elected on n a general man manof manot enough to attract a n a. a salary largo large The Tho moral worth and ability ot of good entirely In executive e power Is placed responsible hands and und he be Is hold his whole administration lb Ho ap- ap for the the of u all departments tn u directly ww and nd they tho are Under the tho people him ns as ho he is to know the tho people such a 1 system the is 18 within their remedy for this also know reach The officers it If thoy wIsh to and must rule justly retain office We Vo a are inclined d to t. charge chare all aU the th of mIsrule to the Ig- Ig our worst evils and corrupt vote but the tho groat trouble is that men ot of intelligence most needed In our governments govern govern- who are the port part they thoy not perform mont s do refuse to should Not only do the they refuse but they nominations accept whatever In the nom nom- to tako any port Dart It is true that the the of officers citizen is affected average American of tho character by more financially than he Is b by the tho city government national either the tho state or presidential the tho at vote voto more less many good The Tha other ot at any ony than thon election their looking after not citizens are they aro n not claiming own but they consider their own rights and election of city that the tho nomination matter to demand de- de officials is too trIvial a They remain mond mand their leaving of tho the Ith nt home leaving control 1 t entirely In the lne hands or government politicians Still the tho peo- peo It is American cities plo wonder how bow misgoverned when are SO 50 generallY have havo done absolutely they themselves that the tho cities should nothing to cause Couso misgoverned The than be otherwise listless and too submissive sub nub are arO too not taking advantage missive they are they are not taking ot of their their own welfare but an Interest In their rights to bo be they are allowing hand handin without raising a trampled upon in their defense Citizen Citizen- Mn t Wake nt c Up want nant good city government govern govern- If in the people should wake waite up un and tako take mont ment they public affairs do away an interest in government and with the tho party s with salaries largo hish a a. So system ot of efficiency anti and men inca enough Bh to attract to Gothe Go v tO u I n principle elect men i who will L bo be the tho polls nod and men and who vill truly government In the tho interests in- in carry on the tho If the people the people ass ot of having this an and insist on would do respected on and demand Just their rights change ngo would soon ROOD take rub rulo a 0 radical municipal 8 systems systems- stems Party place in our would bo be overthrown and government would bo be directly the officers instead of ot a 0 political ble blo to the Time Tho good compensation ot- ot machine or public service and tho the honor for tho the holding of an to attached the means of ot attracting more moren be would Intelligent n men men to tho tim polls and anda 1 0 proportion o 01 UL r I g men mou iU vu greater office By DY this means on only can accept establish sh a 0 good city government w wo we bu such a system Is In practice but municipal once reform will be bo a 0 t thing ing of and our elt city governments will the tho post past and just Juat as ns any in soon bo ho us as pure existence The rho work Is a 0 great greot ono and requires ro- ro quires Intelligence perseverance andI and but It Is one onO that ought to 1 courage tho the spirit of every loyal loyol American Ameri Amerl- amen amen- I arouse can enn who loves hl hi hilt country and desires to tn servo serve it |