South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-15
POLITICAL LIONS
WHINE AS CITY
MANAGER GAINS
Weave Women Into Futile
Plot to Upset Commission
Election Plan.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE,
office. and I am not here TO de-
eide the merits or dement's Of the
commission manager plan When
the petitions are filed with me. will
certify them 90 the city council with
IN five days from the time of their
nling." Mr.. Bilinski said.
Start Undcrhand Work.
Politicians generally. Including
members o. TIE regular republican
city organ ization which ls support
Ing Ell f. Secbir, for the mayoralty
nomination. a city hall legal" ad-
visor and others opposed 90 the oom-
mission manager plan renewed their
campaign ~ misreprc
Thursday night in n desperate ef-
fort 10 prevent the voters from reg
istering their will at a special cleo
ton.
The "Woman's Tammany' Of tho
regular city organization has been
spending much time in an effort 10
prevent women from signing the
petitions asking for the special cleo
ton. Opponents OF the commission
manager plan have told women who
were desirous Of signing the peti-
lions that their signatures would DE
illegal. when the law specifically
provides that any legal voter may
Fign such petitions In number of
Instances these opponents Of the
commission manager plan were
laughed at by women who apparent
~ knew tho law and their own
tights under the 18th amendment
10 the constitution Of the United
States.
Those back OF the movement for
railing a special election were opti-
mistic at a late hour Thursday night.
They refused 10 become excited over
the reports Of the activities Of the
opponents OF the movement. They
declared that shey are fully ap-
praised OF the Jaw, and that efforts
OF the opposition 20 use illegal
methods will be unavailing in pre-
venting the calling Of a special
election.
With the city manager plan move
ment acting somewhat In the nature
Of a forebOding shadow. the vari-
Dus political camps in the city ap-
pear 20 be succeeding in increasing
The general political bitterness
among opposing candidates.
fshrco n Large Number
W. ". Ridenour forces refuse to
be placated by overtures from the
seebirt camp TO join forces against
Mayor Carson, II was learned Thurs
day night The supporters Of Mr..
Eanization Is working for the nOmi-
nation Of Mr.. Seebirt when IL should
be nonpartisan.
Were not going 20 be anyb- rvs
goat. Mr.. Seebirt's or anybody
slse's. declared one prominent Rid
amour supp
How can RidenOur or Carson or
anybody else expect TO win with the
organization against him" demand
ID a prominent Seebirt follower
Thursday night in an unguarded
moment
IL was learned Thursday night
mat the much heralder withdrawal
Of their names from petitions ask
Ing for the special election by
large number Of signers Of the pc
titions were only three. Persistent
use Of the telephone by opponents
Of the commission manager plan in
calling up those who had signed the
petitions asking them 10 call up
City Clerk Bninsl<i and request him
20 withdraw their names from the
petitions was also revealed Thursday
night. II was learned that one
woman opponent of the commission
manager plan. ard working under
the direction Of the city republican
organization. had spent the entire
day Thursday at the telephone. en-
deavorlne 90 induce petition signers
10 have their signatures Withdrawn.
The result OF these desperate efforts
OF the opposition 90 the city mana
ger plan was that only three persons
called up the city clerks office and
requested that their names be with
drawn from the petitions signed by
them.