Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-03-22
THE AKRON DEMOCRAT
FRIDAY, MARCH %, 1901.
LONE MAN POWER"

Akron Beacon, i'm the course Of an edi-
torlal headed. "A Remarkable State.
ment," scored City Commissioner
Crisp because he had made certain
remarks at the City Hall,
which. TO use the Beacon's own words,
"indlcated that he believed the people
of Akron have no right to consult with
or give advice to the four men who
have had given into their hands the
government of the city"
And then our neighbor continued;
'"rhat any Commissioner or even all
of the Commissioners should entertain
such an idea is not astonishing
SINCE ALL THE ACTIONS OF THE
BOARD DURING THE PAST FEW
YEARS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN
TAKEN UNDER SUCH A MISCON-
CEPTION OF THEIR POWERS
AND DUTIES. But that any Com
missioner should be bold enough to
express the thought is almost beyond
comprehension.
"'rhc right of petition has been rec
ognzcd In every free government
whether the ruling powers see ht to
giHnt the petition or not. II was TINS
right we believe. which was Wrllns
from King John when lie granted the
Magna Chnrta, and it was also one
of the privileges which the colonies
demanded nt the time of the rcYolu'
ton, aud In the National. state and
municipal governments all through
the subsequent history of the United
States ii has been recognized as in-
yiolablc. Especially has this been
true with regard TO tho making of ap-
pointmenls to Office, aud every man
who has positions to give in the public
service, from the President himself
down, has received petitions for ap-
pointmcnt from his constituents. both
by writing and in person. Tint any
man. even mighty City Commits
sioner of the city of Akron, should
deridc this right of petition seems
incredible.
ESPECIALLY does it sem incredible
from II man who even within period
of two years was laboring night and
day bcsrcching individuals and or
ganIzntlons to present themselves per
sonally before the Probate Judge OF
Summit county, who Is one Of the ap'
pointing powers, in order to urge his
own re-nppointment as CITY Comnls'
sloner That he now should deny the
same right in behalf of one over whom
he holds the appiinting power can
only be explained by the theory that,
now being about to conclude his term
of office, he cares nothing for the peo'
plc. whose servant he Is supposed Ia
be, or that he only holds himself
bounden to n one-man power. Tht
latter hypothesis has long been held
by. many people. ."
This Indictment of the arrogance OF
the members of the Board of City
Commissioners, whose subservlency tc
"one-man power" has become so man
ifest that even the Beacon came tc
recognize the fact, is submitted To the
citizens Of Akron without comment
save this: That If "one-man power
and the insolcncc Of It's subordinatc'
and henchciarics was an evil worthy
TO be condemned in such terms thre1
months ago, 1t is infinitely more of III
evil today, when the agents of th
"onc.man power are working nigh
and day to fasten that evil upon tn
city for three years more.
1t will he bad hour for the cit
II when the time comes TO vote, tn
members of the party which has at
cepted nominal responsibility for tn
results of zone man power are n
more independent than their party OF
gan.