The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-02-19
FAV0RS AMENDING.
OF CITY CHARTER
James B. Diggs Approves
a Plan to Eliminate
Partisanship.
NO LEGAL OBJECTIONS
Wants Business Principles to
Replace Politics in Mu-
nicipaI Affairs.

NorpsrusAn city government ,tH
ONLY como by aud after an HUrud
nent to thr city charter 10 tlim
nate politics from municipal oloc-
tinng by tho plan outlined iu tho cdis
'orial columns Of Tho world ycster-
day according tO Judge James ".
Diges. Not only aid no endorse The
proposed amendment to the charter
but hc expressed that belief that
such a proposition is legally possible.
After an investigation Of the legal
aspect Of The Daso he declared that
he could find nothing in the con
s,itutiou that would stand In the
way Of such q move of the people
~ Tulsa an the coming primary or
tho election later.
Il entirely agree with tho position
taken iu the editorial in todnys
World. as to Tho necessity of amend
ing the city charter In order 90 pro
cure nonpirtisan city government
declared Judge DiRRs IN an inter
Wow laat night
THE managerial form of city gov
eminent. tho charter form OF Ciiy
government. the aidcrmanic form OF
city government so long rs city gov
ernment h. considered u matter OF
politics and It's officials u part OF q
political machine. viii always re.
suit In snhicctiug the public interest
to partisan advantage, and In "a city
government being run In tho In
tsrcst of a political party, and not as
an Independent business enterprise
In the interest OF It's citizens
"1'he city is nothing more than
that ana should be considered as IA
great business corporation, ln which
the citizens are tho stockholders, and
mhAtrII h. Al gntInn
business principles as any other
corporation. seems. however. Inn
possible 10 accomplish this much de-
sired end without entirely scvering
the-city government from political
parties and the control OF politicians.
1.-THE one way such results can be
accom- plished TX that pointed out IN
The Worlds editorial. of amending
the city charter so as to completely
eliminate politics from city elections,
and prevent city officials from being
considered az the candidates OF any
political party.
when this In done we can secure
the maximum Of efficient and eco
nomioai administration OF city at
fairs, provided tho individual voter
iutelligontiy exercises the right of
franchise and brings 10 the selection
Of city officials the same degrel of
care In selecting such officials az the
stockholders of n corporation exer-
else in selecting its trustees and Of
ficiala.
'-rhe only difficulty in doing this
In that section 8 of article OF the
constitution provides that "the legis-
lature shall enact laws providing for
n mandatory primary system which
shall provide for the nomination OF
a Lad In nj ,lnatiana fnr
state. district. county aud municipal
offices for all political parties. In
cluding United States senator's
1T might be contended that this
constitutional provision prohibits the
candidacy of anyone, unless he he
the candidate OF a party. / do not
think this Is the purpose OF the Soc
ton, for the provision permits the
right TO put candidates on the ballot
by petition, as non-partisan candi-
dates II is my Judgment that the
constitutional provision was enacted
for the purpose of securing the nomi-
nation of the candidates OF all parties
by primary election instead OF by
convention. thus doing away with
the evils attributed to tho convention
system OF selecting candidates.
1T was not, In my Judgment, the
nprpose OF this constitutional provt-
sion, nor its effect to prohibit the
elimination OF politics IN municipal
affairs and compel parties to run
candidates for office, hut is merely "a
provide where parties do put up
candidates for office. such candidates
shall be selected at a primary eloc-
ton instead OF at u convention
"To oonstruo this provision as pro
hibitins municipalities from select
ing officials, except as candidates OF
political parties, or as put on "A ballo
as non-p partisan candidates by petit
ton would be achieving a purpos,
certainly not intended by the constl-
tuition. Such a construction would
not in my judgment he upheld 10y