The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-09-17
The Proposed City Manager.

learned to abhor AUTOCRACY
Wester defines democracy in these words: GA
form of government in which the suprne power is
retained by the people and exercised either directly
or indirectly through system of representation and
delegated authority PERIODICALLY RENEWED. u
The same authority contains this brief definition
of autocracy: Supreme governing power in an IN
DIVlDUAL." No better or truer language do we
believe than this be found to describe more cor
rectly the City Manager form of government pro
vided in the new charter
The authority vested in and the powers delegated
to the official to be known as City Manager over
shadow any and all things else contained in the new
charter. Ask yourself this questions Without the
City Manager, and his power authority supervision
and control, what kind of municipal government
would we have under the proposed charter and how
could and would such government function? And |
bear this in mind that the various things required
OF the City Manager under the charter can be done
by no one esebut him ;UPON HIM ALONE will we
be dependent for the doing of those things which
the new charter cOntemplates that he shall do in the
maintenance and conduct of our municipal govern
ment. In this light let us see where we would be
without him. and in this way can be obtained most
startling idea of the extent and scope of his power
Without the City Manager, we would have no
chief executive officer for the CITY
Without him, we would have no one to enforce the
laws and ordinances of the city
Without him, we would have no policemen to pro-
tect our lives and property and preserve the peace
of the community
Without him, we would have no fire department
to stand against the destruction of our homes by fire.
Without him, would have no one to look after
our school property.
Without him, we would have no way to continue
the operation of light, water and sewerage sys
TENS so essential to the community's welfare and
comfort.
Without him. we would have no one to look after
our parks, public buildings, and city cemetery
Without him, we could not raise one dollar of
taxes for taxes must be collected on basis of tax
assessment, and he appoints the tax assessors
Without him, no supplies of any kind necessary
tc run the city could be purchased
Without him, not lick of work on our streets or
sidewalks could be done
Without him, we would have no city clerk nor
treasurer
Without him, we would have no master guiding
hand to control and supervise the actions of our
Board OF Education, City Attorney City Auditor
and Sinking Fund Commission, and all other activi
ties of the city government
1t we are going to be wholly dependent upon lust
one ot1icial, ONE INDIVIDUAL for all of the things
here enumerated, AND WE. MOST CERTAINLY
WILL BE UNDER THE NEW CHARTER then.
how can any man say that this new form of govern
ment does not tend to the establishment of an
AuTOCRAC1, the vesting of SUPREME GOVERN
ING POWER IN AN INDIVIDUAL?
And YOU, Mr.. Voter, won't have and can t have
any voice III saying who this individual is to be who
Is gong to exercise all this power and control over
YOUR affairs. SO far as you are concerned or have
any Say-so IN the matter, he be anybody from
anywhere, Yankee from Boston, a gunman from
the Bowery, stranger from a strange land un-
known to our people unacquaned with our local
conditions, and out of sympathy with our Southern
traditions and inbred sentiments
And, If he doesn run things to suit YOU what can
4oU do towards removing him? The charter itself
answers NOTHING .
THE JOURNAL DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT
THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY WANT
ANY SUCH FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND,
THIS BEING OUR LAST ISSUE BEFORE THE