Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 1.djvu/568

556 failed—a fact, it seems to me, full of instruction to American municipal reformers.

Since it is probable to my mind that we must get on with the national parties, I like to think of the less unfavorable aspects of the situation; and I do not at all think the case a hopeless one. It would seem that parties counted good enough to decide and direct all the federal affairs of the nation, all the state affairs of the states, and all of our delicate international affairs might, if properly looked after by the people, be made good enough to handle what is left of our political affairs, to-wit : the government of our cities,—especially with the extraordinary aid of that corrective agency, the citizens' ticket, which is wholly lacking in international, national or state politics.

Of course these parties won't work the will of the people if not attended to by the people. And why should they? But neither would any other parties. And if the people really intend to run parties in their cities, after having so long neglected to do so, I do not see why they cannot run the existing parties as well as new ones; and save themselves the impossible task of building up other parties that cannot be built up.

The effective remedy, as it seems to me, is rapidly growing up—not independent parties in municipal affairs, but independent voting in municipal affairs. A phenomenal increase in this is one of the striking features and factors of the times; and has the advantage, over the establishment of the parties, of being in the actual drift and current of the popular movement.

All of which, bringing me to the second class of obstacles brings me to what I have especially to say—which is, that no change in the mechanism of city government, nor any number of such changes, will of themselves bring us good city government or business methods in city government; and no change in the patronage system, however helpful and beneficial, will of itself, nor associated with any number of charter improvements, bring us good government; nor will the fullest measure of home rule, added to all these good things, bring it. But something else and far different is needed as a final change, to-wit: a change in the