South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-27
THE HUNGRY POLITICAL HEN-HAWKS
AND THE UNRIPE COSTING.

Like so many hungry hen-hawks after an unripe
gosling is the comparison that be given TO
the rapid filing of candidates for the nominations
FOR Office in both the old political parties scarcely
a one of them having altruistic motive, but
thoughtful only of their personal or party advan-
tage Mr.. Average Citizen, who pay the bills,
whose interest in the municipal welfare and
whose money these political vultures are wont to
prey needs only the thoughtfulness of the farmer.
to check the hen-hawk downward
We can have a government concerned in the city's
welfare first. by going after it. All that is needed
is petition to the council for election plebs-
cite if YOU rIease-and sufficient number of peo-
RE TO decide TO make the change from the old party
government. under which now live. to the new
comparison commission and city manager system,
which the Indiana assembl. has enabled to adopt.
1t isn't necessary to wait years until
ether administration such Mayor Carson and his
predecessors have given us. We have it be-
ginning next January. A favorable vote on the adop
ton Of the new system will junk the party tickets
that are to be the outcome of the May primary
scramble In November then we Will elect COM
,lission Of seven men. That seven men viii
ploy city manager and henceforth he Will be the
active city executive presumably man who knows
his business, and who viii know his business If the
commissioners make it their business TO employ
man who does know his business.
What South Bend wants is those community i'm
provements, in which all are concerned, which they
mutually enjoy. and the maintenance of those inn
provements that we have with an atmosphere Of
safety and community self-respect Rats the sub
ordination Of these things the payment of poll
teal debts and the contracting of other POLITICAL
debts in every little administrative move. Talk
about government by bootleggers.' Well. South
Bend has it, not directly Of course but indirectly
has it though payment that has been made for votes
that inquired in the success at the election four years
ago. and votes that have been bought by the party
in power for the election that is to come
quite likewise too with the gamblers and pros
ututes The candidate who guarantees at least ia
havdy houses differs from the others the fact
that he guarantees them and the others don't. lie
at least promises to limit them TO that number
ploying a megaphone from both angles, where or
dnarily in partisan elections. in the quest of such
support the promises 10 such elements go out in
more gentle whispers. less offensive to the ears
upon which they CRATE 1t all goes illustrate. 1t is
the system that has in quite coextensive
in time with partisan city government and is likely
10 stay as long as the system does.
The purpose OF partisan election in municiral
affairs IS first of all 10 entrench the party The
whole thought of the party leaders is victory for
the party never mind the insidous under-current
Of promises representing water both shoulders.
No thinking man or woman but has seen enough Of
IL 10 scken them. and no. true. that there
is no way Of combating it, A little more respon-
sibiity TO the people and less the party. and
little OF that eternal vigilance that is the price OF
all things. is all that is necessary.