Thafs Whafs the Matter With Lincoln
There may be a number of things acting to Lincoln's detriment; respect to the eminent and successful business men who constitute
doubtless there are. But there is one thing, above all others, that is a majority of that committee, we declare with positive conviction
operating to this city's disadvantage lack' of unity of action along that we never saw a bunch of union mechanics in regular meeting
lines calculated to advance the city. assembled, indulge in more "horse play," "rag chewing" and wrang-
This is not due to the lack of zeal along progressive lines; it is ling than the aforesaid charter committee indulged in on the occa
dne to a failure to get together, a failure to "give and take" with a sion mentioned. The same men meeting to discuss a private busi
vicw to at least getting somewhere. It may be treason in the eyes ness enterprise could have gotten together in an hour. When they
of some people to compare Lincoln with Omaha to Omaha's advant- adjourned they were further apart' than when they foregathered,
aee. but iust the ;same the "big sister to the northeast, sets-an ex- Lincoln is todav suffering from an overdose of that sort of
ample along some, lines that. Lincoln, would dp well to emulate. . Por thing... The spirit of "If J can't get all I want I will not let. anybody
instance: A few months ago a joint committee- composed-of -men have anything they want" is altogether too prevalent in this' city,
selected from various business organizations in Omaha met for the It is retarding business development; it is engendering personal re
purpose of drafting a charter. A half dozen meetings were held, the sentments that will injuriously effect future enterprises,
charter drafted, agreed upon and accepted by all parties directly con- The Wageworker has steadfastly stood for the adoption of the
cerned, and the Douglas county legislative delegation is behind it to commission form of government as successfully tried in other and
a man. v larger cities. It is willing to stand for anything that promises im-
A vear ago a similar "joint committee" was appointed in Lincoln provement upon the present cumbersome and inefficient system. It
with the same end in view. After a score of meetings the committee has its own ideas of what should be, and will stick to them until a
is today no nearer a charter than it was the day of its first meeting. majority overrules then ; when overruled it will cheerfully and grace
Why? Simply because men are insistent upon having just what fully abide by the will of the majority, without harboring a resent
they want, and preventing what they do not want, instead of accept- ment nor waiting for an opportunity for wreaking revenbeful spite,
ing something calculated to improve conditions and patiently await- Lincoln has come to the parting of the ways. Either its citizens
ing the time when they can get more. During the early meetings of must cease their eternal wrangling and pull together, or see golden
the Lincoln charter committee a commission plan of government opportunities flicker and vanish away while men pull and wrangle
was agreed upon. But when it came to drafting a commission form over trifles and technicalities. Present conditions are intolerable to
of charter trouble appeared, for certain men wanted to "improve" a men who are eager and anxious to push Lincoln to the forefront of
tried and successful plan by bringing in a little idea of their own. live, progressive developing cities.
Others wanted to "improve" the tried and successful plan by cutting Gentlemen of the charter committee, it is not the charter that
out some particular feature or features. Others opposed the whole you want, but the charter the people as a whole want and deserve
commission plan of government. Some wanted the omission of to have. Unofficially, but none the less emphatically, the voters of
party designations, others wanted party designations. None would Lincoln have overwhelmingly expressed a desire for a commission
yield to secure the commission plan, so all attempts along that line charter. Such a charter may not suit you, but you are not the ones
were abandoned, and a new policy mapped. That comprehended the to be suited. It is your duty to give the people what they want, re
election of a maj or with power to appoint all subordinate officers, gardless of what your personal views may be.
subject to the approval of a council of fourteen elected without re- Citizens of Lincoln, let's have done with wrangling and disputa
gard to ward lines. Naturally this plan was opposed. After several tion. Let's fight like men for what we think is right and proper, and
efforts to agree on this line the proposition was defeated and a com- if we an right; if we lose let's be "good losers," congratulate the
mittee instructed to make some amendments to the present charter v;ctors and push for Lincoln until the time comes when we may
with a view to making it temporarily fit present conditions, pending Avjtn good grace and perfect fairness, again strive to have our ideas
an effort to secure the enactment of a law permitting cities to make 0f civic matters adopted.
their own charters. When this committee reported it had gone a if the editor of The Wageworker did not think Lincoln a good
little further, and as a result opposition arose at once, and nothing town, the best town in which the rear his family and in which to do
was done. Finally, at a meeting last Wednesday, the whole commit- business; if he thought there was a better one for all-round pur
tee went on record as favoring a commission form of government, poses, he will move as soon as he could pack his lares and penates.
similar to the "Iowa plan," but in the meanwhile an effort will be That is, he thinks he would. If he found that he could not, he would
made to secure the adoption of the patchwork charter designed at least try to work for the best interests of the city as a whole. Any
merely to tide over. how, when he finds conditions such that he can. not boost for Lin-
After a year Lincoln is no nearer a charter than it was two years coin he is going to refrain from knocking. A fairly thorough appli
ago. Omaha got through with revision inside of sixty days. cation of that policy by a few hundred citizens would help a lot
Gentlemen of Lincoln business men of Lincoln everybody in right now.
Lincoln! Isn't it time to sink personal jealousies, private opinions. You know the fable of the bundle of sticks!
political disagreements and personal spites and prejudices, and get Well, it is high time that we wrap the twine around the business
together with the one purpose in view, that of making Lincoln big- sticks of Lincoln, and tie the knots good and tight. The sticks are
ger, busier and better? Last summer a special election was called now badly scattered, and some of them are being broken; others are
for the purpose of voting bonds for a new high school and for city danger.
park purposes. Some men opposed the bond issue for business rea
sons that to them seemed good. The bonds were defeated because a
lot of men were "sore" over the result of a former election and carried
their personal resentment to the extent of giving Lincoln a black eye. "O general principles," remarked Railway Commissioner Fnrse
That's the spirit that kills cities, ruins business enterprises and the other day, "I favor the initiative and referendum, but while in
makes grass grow in streets that should be busy. Texas recently I heard an argument against it that struck me as
Lincoln needs a new city charter. That is admitted on all sides, having considerable force. While talking with a Texan about it he
The present charter has been outgrown. A new and adequate char- said:
ter is imperative. " 'I'm against the referendum proposition, suh ; and I have a
Then, m the name of common sense, voters of Lincoln, why plentitude of reason fo my position, suh. Dont you recollect, suh,
not act sensibly and get a new charter? The men who expects to that when Christ was taken befo Pilate that Pilate cross-questioned
have a new charter drawn to exactly fit his views is indulging in in- Him severely an' then remarked to th' effect that he found no fault
sane visions. The nian who will fight any proposed charter because in Him? Then Pilate washed his hands an' turned Christ ovah to
its every provision does not suit him is not a patriotic citizen. th' pee-pul, suh ; and danged if th' pee-pul didn't go right out an'
The editor of The Wageworker has been privileged to sit as a crucify Him, suh! I'm against any proposition that gives th rab
member of the charter committee at just one session. With all due ble any opportunity to do that sort o dirty business, suh V "
How the Referendum May Operate
