MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 17644, 25 April 1921, Page 7

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

TO THE EOITOV. Sir,—The candidates of the extreme Labor Political Party—that curious medley, halfSinn Fein, half-Dolshevik, that aims at the capture of the governmental machinery of this country, both general and local—have based their claims to consideration, locally on the ground that those who have been managing our civic affairs in the past have blundered. In proof of this they rake up one or two twenty-year old matters with which no present-clay councillor had the least connection, such as the Stream and the gasholder incidents. Now, it is clear, of course, ihat none of those extremely prcoi.<6 persons who arc playing the part of critics have made mistakes in connection with public matters, for the allsufficient reason that the public been very careful no,t to give them the cranes. Nevertheless, in that sphere of operations in which they have held sway they have managed to pack sufficient blunders to wreck any business venture that was ever established. Here is an illustration fresh from their amateur hand, the printer's ink scarcely dry on it: They have just, issued a sheet in the form of a ballot paper showing their supporters how to vote for the candidates whom they have selected to do their bidding, and who are to move ’now and when the caucus sitting in private and composed of men whose loyalty may be in question dictates. The sheet mentioned is a revelation in the matter of blundering—blundering reduced to a fine art —and I am credibly informed that if their misguided followers should carry out the instruction it contains every one of their votes would bo informal. What do you think of that as an example of stupid blundering? It is not twenty years old either, biit surely it will pass into a classic. It is evidently a ease of living in a glass house and shying pebbles; and tho glass that surrounds this group of extremists is mighty thin. There is another point. The sheet, is headed ‘ Don’t Loose This.’ Now, as I consider it would bo a most undesirable thing to introduce party politics into our local government, I hepo those who intend voting for tho untried set of men in whoso interest the sheet is put out will carry out the dictum of the caucus bosses, because even if they don’t, “loose” tho mock ballot paper they will certainly lose their votes. Funny, is it not?—-I am, etc., Citizen. April 23.

THE CITY COUNCIL AND ITS CRITICS. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—-The near approach to the municipal elections seems to have created the usual temporary interest in affairs pertaining to the'government of our city. It 0110 is to judge from the general tenor of many of the letters that have appeared recently in your correspondence columns, it would not be overstating the case to say that instead of thanks for their services in the interest of the city, the men who, at considerable personal inconvenience; year in and year out,- have been serving tiro public, arc held up to public ridicule as a set of blundering idiots not capable of running a pop-corn stall or conducting a- bottle-gathering business. Of a surety a free Press and Tiro evolution of democracy are responsible for the. production of many queer fish. Doubtless this is mainly a phase of the process toward the attainment of those ideals in the body politic udou which the theory of democracy is founded, just as whooping cough, teething, and other infant ailments are phases in the gradual development of the body physical. In each case the phase seems to be necessary; it must, therefore, bo endured with tiro best grace at hand. In the case of our local government the malady usually takes the form of abuse by those who have never lifted a little finger in any real service for-tho community against those who have striven • do so at great personal inconvenience "d without thought of reward. Let us pass in review a few of these “queer fi--h ” who in the body politic occupy a position analogous to the several maladies which inflict the body physical in its slow growth from infancy to manhood. I take a list of names at random from recent issues of your paper ns representative of tho type to which I refer: J. MacManus, Steve Borcham, If. V. Freeman, “Comrade” G. S. Thomson {of felt hat and Fountain notoriety), and J. l C. Arbucklo. Others of a like ilk may occur to the reader. What a galaxy of administrative talent the list suggests! It is pertinent to ask: “What has any one of these worthies done, cither in tho public interest or. for himself, to warrant the suggestion that the conduct of our public matters would show any semblance of improvement if entrusted to him?” Echo answers “What has ho done?” • Since when became it the prerogative of such men to vilify and by misrepresentation and abuse to canvass tho ads of better men than themselves? Mistakes have been made and will Ire made in the conduct of business affaire, bo they public or private, till' tho crack of doom, as anyone who has ever been called upon to exercise responsibility in such matters knows full well. It is easy to be clever after the event. The decision that' awaits the electors of this city next Wednesday is a simple one, and it is this: “ Is there the least ray of hope to indicate their men of tho business training and ability (or the lack-of it), such as these nominated to represent the so-called Political Labor Party, avowedly controlled by a secret caucus of irresponsibles, would be less likely to make blunders than the type of men who have managed our affairs ill the past?” Practically tho whole of those latter are actively engaged in the conduct and control of business ventures, many oL them in a comparatively large way, and are daily brought into contact with tho beat commercial practices. A choice between typos of men of these widely different orders is, I repeat, a simple one lor tho electors; and if “ I know a hawk from a hand-saw,” I think I know the answer that will be returned on Wednesday.—l am, etc., . 'Citizex. April 25.