Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-18
IT'S THE MEN, NOT THE SYSTEM

cause Of that fact.
IT'S THE MEN, NOT THE SYSTEM
After a trial of seven years, Lynn
Mass, has voted its commission form
of government out of existence ant
gone back to council of eleven mem
bers, four elected at large and on
from each of the seven wards.
This is of interest to every cit,
where the commission form has beer
tried and it is of concern to ascertain
what was behind the Lynn situation
and why that city took step tha
might be called backward.
The same thought has occurred t
the editor Of the Pioneer Press in st
Paul, where an effort is being made
Just now to trade a small-bore commits
sion plan council for a governing body
of proper ability. The Pioneer Press
on the action of the Lynn
voters. says:
1t is easier to see what has hap
pened than to decide why it hap
pened, though an analysis seems
to make the latter clear. AS to
what happened under the commits
sion system, it may be summed up
in increased budgets, increased
debts, increased payrolls and in
creased taxes. Everything in
creased except efficiency and man
agement.
And right there is the explana.
ton.
The trouble has been, not with
the system, but with the men put
in to carry it out Good salaries
were fixed and they attracted men
who wanted to grab them, not
men who wanted to serve the city
and could do it. Men were chosen
for their popularity, not their ef-
nciency; for their ability to get
votes, not for their ability to man
age city affairs. At the last cleo
ton a concerted effort was made
to bring out as candidates men who
had proved their capacity and
were willing to make personal sac
rifices for the good Of the city.
Some we're secured, but in the
election they were defeated by
popular" candidates and the old
trouble went on.
Lynn was disguised and woke
up enough to try another tack. 1t
was decided to experiment with a
system which would not attract,
by the salaries paid. the candi-
dates with nothing but personal
popularity to recommend them.
That is what it is doing now. 1t is
hoping to get into office men to
whom salaries are no special OBJ
ject and who will serve the city
faithfully and capably, through a
high civic purpose.
It seems to us that this Is proof
that the system counts less than
the personnel in city management.
The right kind Of men will run a
city the right kind of way with an
unsatisfactory system. The best
kind of municipal machinery will
not produce the desired results il
the men who run it are incompe-
tent and mere warmers Of official
seats. Some people in St Paul pro-
TESS supreme discomfort with
the commission form Of govern
ment If they get right down to
brass tacks they may discover
that it is not the system which is
unsatisfactory, but the officials
who operate it.
What applies to Lynn or to St Pau
applies with equal II not increased
force to Ottumwa. The present FAR
cical city government in Ottumwa il
not the fault of the commission plar
nor even of the men chosen for officia
jobs they cannot fill efficiently. 1t is
the fault of the voters who consider
but a candidates fitness
for office when they 60 into the boot
to mark their ballots.
While a majority OF the voters re
fuse to think, no system of govern
ment can be devised that will offset
their absence of judgment.