Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-25

ATTACKS CITY
MANAGER RULE
State Chairman Wasmuth
Brands Plan as COnfs-
eating Citizens Rights.

The opposition of at least a part Of
the Republican State organization has
been thrown against the attempt of many
Indiana cities to discard their present
form of government in favor Of the city
commission manager system. The stand
OF this formidable organization became
known when E. NJ Wasmuth Republican
State chairman, yesterday issued a state
ment protesting against the proposed
changes.
Mr. Wasmuth based his opposition on
the theory that the elimination of party
responsibility in cities would take away
from the people their right TO rule.
The statement is expected to have a
bearing on the first election on the sub
ject, which will be held in Marion next
Tuesday. Mr.. Wasmuth's stand came
as somewhat Of q surprise to the pro-
ponents Of the new system inasmuch as
the law making possible the changes
was passed by the last Legislature, which
was Overwhelmingly Republican.
WILL NOT IMPROVE
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. wasmuth's statement was as fol-
lows:
"a number Of Indiana cities will hold
elections shortly to decide whether they
will abandon the present system Of local
party government and, as State chair
man, I am personally very much opposed
on the merits Of the commission and city
manager form of government, to their
establishment If honestly thought that
the establishment of these new systems
Of city government would improve local
government, I should favor them and say
30 most emphatically. However. I am
conscientiously convinced that such is
not the case.
"The most important consideration Of
all government is that IL must be re-
sponsible. A party is merely a group OF
individuals who, by their collective &C
ton, insure party responsibility and In
which all classes of our citizenship have
their right to be heard and their inter
ests considered Such is not the case
under the commission or city manager
forms Of government. The people should
always hold for themselves the right to
elect by direct vote their chief executive
on the basis OF group responsibility so
that he may be responsible directly to
them, and it is not satisfactory to have
the chief executive responsible to an in
termediary body which would be. in this
instance. the members OF the commits
sion, under either Of these plans.
GIVES DEFINITION OF
PARTY RESPONSIBILITY.
Party responsibility means that all
classes of citizens, regardless OF their
views on business, labor, religion and
kindred subjects, may find opportunity
to have their interests considered and
represented in the composite organiza-
ton Of a political party, but under
either Of these new systems the indi-
i, viduals in power may consciously or
unconscbously represent one or more OF
these factors without representing the
others.
The result is that, under either OF the
new systems, we have minority rule with
one, or at least a few Of the many in
terests Of our complex America life rep
resented in a dominant way.
at is my honest opinion and best
Judgment, without regard to the impor
lance OF political machinery, that we
may have a much more satisfactory form
Of local government, based on political
parties, with a defniste responsibility to
the people and representing all interests,
than We may have by either Of the pro-
posed plans which may be controlled by
a minority, which may represent part of
our citizenship to the detriment Of the
other interests and which have no fixed
responsibility"