The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1911-02-08

growing expense check against an ex-
hausted balance. The only effective
check against efficient or dishonest city
officials is the Recall and with that the
Balance will generally take care OF
| itself AS to the judicial function of
our cities. their Jurisdiction is so limit
ed that it need figure very little in this
discussion
| The fifth Innovation found in the COM
mission plan is the Recall. 1t might
work under the present political sys-.
tenn. but it is doubtful When party
prestige is at stage, Recall would
become party quetsion. and the real
| issue in such movement by the people
void be obscured. But when a commits
sioner stands alone in the spotlight of
ONCE, with no party organization to
summon to his aid or lend him cloak
the Recall is a powerful deterrent. The
Recall Is natural factor in the com
mission plan. which could not we'll sue
lceed without 1t The direct election Of
the Commission plan has its counterpart
fin the Recall The plan permits the peo-
pie to keep an influence over officials of
the most desirable and beneficial kind.
There are three absolutes in qualifica
tion for public Office. Honesty, Ability
land Courtesy. 1 know of nothing SO
likely to preserve Honestly in public
official, or stimulate Ability, or to in
Esure Courtesy as the Recall.
The word Recall is generally accom-
panied by the word Referendum. The
Referendum, however. is not lin any
sense peculiar to the commission plan.
The present state laws provide for
the exercise of this power in certain
leases. The Initiative. which means
| that if the commissioners fail or refuse
to enact ordinances or to execute a
[policy favored by the people, the people
may themselves initiate it. is not i'm
portant.
What are the objections to this plan?
Let US give consideration to the other
side of the problem. 1t is obvious that
1.-THE objection that will first be heard. is
that the change will not produce the
| good results claimed for it. The objec-
tors say the system is too. new to be
accepted as a demonstrated proposition.
even in the experience of Galveston.
first to give it trial. 1t may be granted
that the system is young. but the con-
census of the best opinion obtainable,
based on actual results. endorses the
commission plan. 1t is urged by some
that the plan is not American, un-
t<AlhSt iSoii. th1S say ooe Sot - ie<sA LIS
origin as we know it. in an American
city. If democracy's rules is American.
then the plan is thoroughly American,
since it is a closer approach to a pu.c
democracy than ever before. 1t will be
said that it deprives the people of that
party responsibility for good govern
lment that wise party leaders feel But
lit must be admitted that in city man
lagement, party responsibility is not
often evident. 1t has been found SO
frequently asleep at the switch that
whole train loads of privilege have
rushed by with nobody TO throw the
derail. / am enough of a party man to
believe that there is a strong and use
full sense of party responsibility in both
the great political parties in nation and
state, but because cities have no bust
ness in politics. the incentive to party
Responsibility in them is very faint II
may be said that the plan invites sc
many candidates to the primary contest
that the ten high men who win may
mot all be the best of candidates. True
but the same objection may be urged
lagainst the present rimary or copven-
ltion system There is a public demand
now for primary nominations, but
primaries make majorities imossible
in majorities. Some day we will thresh
tout the question of whether our nomf-
nees shall win by plurtllities or ma
jorities That discussion. however, is
not further pertinent here. 1t is also
i said that if the people will not elect
good men under the present plan, they
will not do SO under any other. This
argument. however. is without weight
because under the present plan the
nominees for whom the people must
vote are provided by interloping
agency which is often the representa-
tive of a special interest and not the
public interest. 1t will readily be ad-
mitted that party nominations whether
j primary election convention, have
/ caused most of our municipal troubles
The present effort is to cut out this in
fuence and force the voter to think and
act in city affairs upon his own knoVl-
edge and responsibility and not those
of the leaders of his party 1t is easy
for selfish or bad men to mount to
PARTY control in nominations and there
is the trouble Bad men know no party
lines but easily join with their kind
in the other party. illustrating the CO.
hesive power of public plumber.
There may be other objections, in
deed there may be some of weightier
essence but they do not occur to me.
To my mind the commission plan offers
/ a way for as god management in our
cities as the quality of their citizen
ship permits. The stream will not rise
higher than its source. The people will
get just as good the deserve. They
/ can deserve better by changing to a
better system. Compare the two
methods of election. for a moment. I
have set forth the commission primary.
with its half hundred more citizens
! posing as candidates for the nominal
ton solely on their merits. either of
/ character reputation acquaintance.
III have set forth how the ten high men
are then voted for each standing on
Ibis own personality, alone in his VIC
ltory or his defeat Victory is not a
sure tenure of Office, because of the Re
call.
Il On the other hand is the familiar city
4 campaign. Primaries for organization
by both sides of a city party commit
fee start the expense The COMMITTEES