The Detroit times., 1912-02-12
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[AUDS { ]MMISSI0N PLAN
OF CITY GOVERNMENT
Eliminates Politics and Quickens
Interest in Public Affairs,
He Declares
WOULD WORK WELL HERE
Needed Most in Larger Cities
Because People Can't Watch
One Another Closely"

John u. White, of Chicago, is in the
city TO deliver a lecture in the audi
torium OF the Central hlh school this
evening. The subject will be THE
Commission Form of Government"
with special reference to Des Moines'
experience, and the noted single-taxer
and reformer comes at the solicita.
ton of and under the auspices OF the
Twentieth Century club, the Henry
George association, the Unitarian
Mems club and the Detroit Municipal
league.
The lecture is free. President C. s.
Beadle, of the Detroit Henry George
association, will preside.
rs the commission form OF gov,
ernment feasible in city as large as
Detroit?" The Times asked Mr.. White
"Yes, sir. the larger the city the
more II is needed" he replied. I'm a
little city the people can watch one
another. The larger the city the less
they can watch one another and the
more they need a government thai
they can understand. For instance
nc one but Boss Cox understands Gin
cinnati's government, but, with com
mission, Cincinnati would never have
had the history 1T has had under
Cox's rule"
do the people in general take as
much interest in public affairs undel
commission government as under tn,
ward representative system?"
About ten times as much Interest
because the commission government
Is something that they can under
stand. II is plan in which they cal
become effective, and not remain
pawns in game among crooked poll
ticians."
do you consider the recall featur
essential to successful commission
governments"
ANY man who employs anothe
man and doesn't have the power &
dismiss him. Is in a very unfortunat
position. The employe becomes TIL
master instead of remaining the sci
want. The recall Is merely the powe
IN the hands OF the employer TO dis
iniss. AN -Iinsatisfactory employe."
did any city that once adopted th
commission plan ever return to tn
old system?"
None that ever heard OF. The.
rcw birth to return"
Does the commission governme 4
eliminate partisan politics in the man
agement OF municipal affairs, an
why%
ut does, because there is no oppor
tunity under the commission form 10
the party cause TO express itself. Th'
candidates are all named by direc
primary Their names appear IN al
phabetical order without party desig
nation"
Would the commission plan b'
good for a county,
at would be good for any kind o
government
who are the usual foes OF com
mission government" Mr.. White wa
asked
Every superstitious lawyer Is op
posed to 1t. Every fellow who con
sciously Is opposed TO a deal.
Mr.. White has been a conspicuou
and forceful figure in progressive cir
cles for long time. He is a white
haired veteran OF many fierce battle
for the triumph OF innovation, for tn
betterment of the people. But In spit
OF his snowy locks, he has retained
FIRE OF youthful intensity, and he hands
cut his ideas with relishable vim am
wit. He has participated in constitu
t.onal fights In Arizona, New Mexico
Ohio and elsewhere. and acknowledge
that he had been disturDer or tn'
peace for many years.