The diamond drill., 1918-03-02
PUBLIC FORUM.

Mr.. Thomas Conlin,
Dear Sir: | notice Dy the Diamond
Drill that there evidently Is some OBJ
lection in your city TO the proposed
new charter. examined this new
charter in a general way as publish
ed and / consider IL a very fine char
ter. Assuming that those who criti-
else IL are sincere, l believe that a
careful study OF IL from an unpreju
diced standpoint should convince them
that it is a great Improvement upon
the old one.
II the people of Crystal Falls are
desirous of taking municipal affairs
out of the realm of politics and con
ducting city affairs along the same
lines that a successful corporation
conducts its business. then it seems
that the people of your city should
be unanimous in the adoption OF this
new charter. II is easy for any per
son to view with alarm any organic
law There are people who believe
that our Federal constitution confers
too much power and authority I'm the
President There are people who be-
lleve that our state constitution con-
fers too much power and authority in
the governor, History, however, fails
TO reveal an abuse of that power In
very many, If any instances Conse-
quently it Is natural for people who
have been operating under a political
municipal government To feel that the
new charter confers too much power
upon manager or upon commits
sion. These fears are generally based
upon a theory that men i'm Office are
not honest, yet in ninety-nine cases
out Of hundred a man who accepts
even a municipal Office takes 1t with
view of rendering some service TO his
home city and not for any wrong do
ing. We live in a country where the
majority rules We are believers in
democracy. We certainly should be
willing to abide by the judgment OF
the majority of the people in our city
in our state or in our nation.
Commission manager form of gov
ernment Is meeting with general ap-
proyal throughout the country and. TO
my mind it is only matter of a very
short time when this system will be
adopted in every city in the United
States. The time is not very far dis
tant when to manage city will be
a recognized business or profession
and men will be educated in the great
universities for Just such work !
never did favor the so-called COM
mission form of government A gov
err en- which divides t1a affairs Of
the municipality into three or five
different departments and holds eac1
man responsible for a department |
Go believe in tile manager form which
places the responsibility for the en-
tire management in one man Under
the commission form Of government
the legislative officers are made ad
ministratve officers also while under
the commission manager form the
legislative officers are separate and
apart from the administrative as they
should be.
! am not writing this letter for pub
lioation, but simply to give you my
ideas 1t was while l was represen-
tative from your district that the first
city charter was granted take 1t
as no reflection upon myself when J
say that this new charter is very su
perior to the one which | secured for
you. | believe the eight years which
| served in municipal affairs in this
city have given me some insight into
municipal affairs and | am sincere
when ! say that your old charter anl
the old charter Of this city are not
proper instruments from which TO Sc
cure good results.
wish that | might be able to br
present at some Of your meetings
where this matter Is discussed AMI
give the people OF my former home
city the benefit OF my experience. Al
though | have not been resident OF
your city for nearly seventeen years
yet ] want 10 assure you thatI have
not lost my interest In IL. because u
wae there ] first started in upon the
practice OF my profession, and II Is
there where have many warm
friends. II there Is anything can Dc
to assist you in the adoption OF this
"plendid charter. trust YOU will com
mand me.
Very sincerely yours.
SHERMAN T. HANDY.