The Washington times., 1913-11-29
THE TROUBLES OF CINCINNATI.

Mayor Henry T. Hunt. of Cincinnati. whose ca
reer as prosecutor of graft and afterward as re-
form mayor attracted national attention, has written
graphic statement of the reasons why he was de-
feated in the recent elections and the old Cox-Herr-
man-Hynicka machine came back into power. 1t is
story which reflects in large measure the difficulties
attending efforts at municipal bettermen in Ameri-
can cities generally; tine story of reaction against
such and of interests allied with politics.
Cincinnati being cosmopolitan CITY, Hunt tried
not unnecessarily to interfere with the pleasures and
habits of the people. He was not anti-saloon ex-
remist for instance. But he Democrat; the
Democratic Legislature in Ohio passed a saloon
license law that reduced almost onehalf the number
of saloons in the town, cut the towns revenue S420,
000 and enforced per cent increase in the tax
rate. That lined up one powerful interest against
the administration, though the city authorities were
nowise responsible.
Then that same legislature tried to pass legislation
to revoke the franchise of the Cincinnati street rail-
vay. Hunt declares it amounted to confscaton anu
was interference with other plans for transporta
ton betterment that practical and in progress
Hunt opposed the BILL and aenated the Cincinnati
radicals The bill finally failing in the senate the
ee car employees struck, tied up cars, and forced
Hunt, in order to restore service to apply for re-
cever to the property and restore service.
That made both, sides mad the radicals because
Hunt kept order and prevented destruction of prop
erty; the conservatives, because he dared suggest
so radical program receiver to conserve both
the corporate and the public interest!
Next in midsummer, the employees of the ice
manufacturing concerns struck. To protect the pub.
lie health the city took possession of tine ice plants,
operated them, and supplied ice 1t was an effective
remedy applauded all the country for its vigor
and effectiveness. But il alienated whatever of
sevative support left, without at all appeasing
the radicals whom the street car war had driven
away! ~
/ Next came a strike of teamsters, which caused
more real incopvenience than the other strikes.
Again there vigorous enforcement of the law TO
protect property, the strike broken-and the la
Dor unions were enraged against the administration.
The administration had promised important pub.
lie works, and had authority to borrow at per cent
for them, Money not to be had under ~,
which necessitaed new legislation. This delayed
work, and the town unthnkingy blamed the city
administration.
Mayor Hunt and his associates enforced the
building laws, insisted upon ire-escapes and other
betterments under laws that had never before been
more than dead letters; cleaned up the town in
many ways, but at every move it made proportion
of the people enemies of the regime, and they all
turned upon it when election came.
Mayor Hunt believes his policy will come back" q"
We suspect that it will. Reform administrations
have way of lasting about term; then being re-
tired on reaction which, is turn. doesn't last long
The thing that was seems commonly to be regarded
more favorably than the thing that is when it comes
to city administration Reform, in practice, is mi ghty
hard to popularize.
This Cincinnati story points unerringly the con-
cIusion that free cities needed; cities that
run their affairs without eve7lastinglv appealing to
legislatures for authority to do anything worth
while Boston should not be ruled from the state
house, but from the city hall; New York city ought
to be free of Albany; Philadelphia needs emancipa-
ton from Harrisburg; Chicago from Springfield, and
every big city with special problems should have its
freedom to work out its salvation. There is the
immediate need for municipal government through
out this country.