A Democratic Business Man Speaks

To the Argus: - I Wish through your columns to speak a word with some of my democratie friends and to all fair minded citizens of Ann Arbor as well. I noticed in a couple of our city papers last week, what upon the face of it appeared to be an honest effort to take the affairs of the city out of party politics and place them in the hands of those best adapted to managing the city business for the best interests of the citizens. But a careful scrutiny of this innocent publication and a talk with a few business men has put a different light upon the affair, to me at least. Atfirstglance it would seem that the forty-six prominent citizens named in the petition are back of this movement. But this is not so, although the real promotors of the brilliant enterprise would undoubtedly be glad to have it so understood. '-We, the undersigned" simply request these fortysix gentlemen to act asa.committee n nominatinga ticket; but, "we, the undersigned," are not known, at least so far as the petition discloses. Upon investigation, the plan for a "citizens" ticket degenerates to a mere republican scheme to regain control of the city government, and to the disgust of many of our leading democrats, this scheme is aided and counts among its chief promotors an erstwhile politician, now a republican, now a democrat, but who now unfortunately claims allegiance to the latter party. To leave no doubt in your mind, that this is really a scheme, do as I have done, read over the names of the committee and see how they stand politically. The list is comlosed of thirty-one republicans and fifteen democrats, a hardly fair representation to the party even if everything else was allright. But everything else is notall right.Many of the names of democrats on the list wee placed there against the consent of the gentlemen, and in some cases even without consulting them; thiseing merely another part of the scheme and intended to draw in other unsuspecting democrats. This one act of the "political refornier" goes deeper into political trickery than either of the old parties have heretofore gone. The most important question for my democratie brethren and for all fair-minded citizens to first consider is this: Is there a necessity for a citizens' movement? I think every democrat can answer this question emphatically in the ncgative, and I doubt if there is a fair republican that will contradict me when I say that the city government has been economically and honestly administered during the time the democrats have had control. The petition for a reform ticket says: "Believing that our city government should be conducted upon business principies and with the strictest economy," thus casting a slur upon the past council and in reality insinuating as to its honesty and capability. Let ns see how the past two or three councils stand up under these charges. By comparison with other administrations, the democrats surfer nothing, as will be seen by the figures given below, taken from the official records: In 1887-88, the last year under a republican mayor, the expenses wer $38,261.51; in 1888-89, $37l5-J1 in 1889-90, $37,730.78; in 1890-91 $43,762.56. The figures for '90-9 show about $5,000 more than i 1887-88, but the larger part of thi extra is for extra expenses - th hospital aid $4,000, and widenin North División street about $1,500 What do we find from these figures Ve find that the actual expenses of ïty government under democratie ule were $7,500 less in 1888-89, 1,000 less in 1889-90, and no more in 1890-91 than they were in 887-88 under republican rule. Vhat has the city gained during the )ast three years, while the expenses ave not increased prftportionately? Ann Arbor has been given one of he best fire departments in the tate (which not one of our business men would think of doing away with) and still our expenses are no ;reater. Ann Arbor is now better ighted in all parts and still our exenses are no greater. Ann Arbor ïas been given many more fire hyrants and water extensions and till our expenses are no greater. Ann Arbor has been given miles of new sidewalks, hundreds of stone rosswalks and miles of better graded streets and still our expenses lave been no greater. These with many oth,er improvements, includng one of the finest pleasure drives n the country, Cedar Bend avenue, ïave been among the things accom)lished by the democrats without ncreasing the expenses of the city, nd up on these they are willing to tand against any charges of unbusitesslike or expensive mantgement. But the democrats have still more o add to their record of economy. ?he balance on hand on Feb. i, 888, was $4. 169.95, which by careul and economical management was ncreased to #8,055.57 on Feb. 1, 889; $10,993.02 in 1890 and $11,90.70 in 1891. These figures must efute all insinuations of extravajance, and their importance is all he greater when it is remembered hat the amount received frora iquor taxes now has to be divided with the county and the city receives rom $3,000 to $4,000 less annually rom this source than it did previous o 1888. To me it appears that there is not he least excuse for a citizens' ticket, ind I would suggest what I consider 1 far better method of disposing of his question than to be drawn into iny republican schemes and turning 3ver the control of city affairs to the epublican party. My plan would )e: Let every democratie business man get out and attend the primares, let a ticket be placed in nomination which is above reproach, and et every democratie business man and citizen make up his mind to devote a portion of his time to the nterests of the city and accept a ntfmination for any office which his jarty may select him for. If there ïas been any trouble in the past, it ïas been in inducing our active busness men to take hold of the reins of government. The work of the democratie party has been too hard in turning Ann Arbor from a solid republican municipality to an equally solid democratie city, so that we cannot afford to give it back to thé republicans even though they have the support of a whilom democrat, especially as no exigency for such change exists. I would be as willing as any citizen of Ann Arbor to go into a reform movement if necessary for the city's interests but I cannot see any such necessity at present, as the affairs of Ann Arbor have never been more honestly or-economically conducted than during the past three years. In closing I would say to my democratie brethren, do not be drawn into this transparent scheme, attend the democratie caucuses and put in nominátion a good ticket, and there will be little doubt of its election, and the vindication of the past administration.