Evening star., 1922-07-15
Expected Happened When Mayor
Oles Resigned.

The expected happened. when Mayor
OIes of Youngstown quit cold on his
lob at the end of only six months
This is conceded both by the friends
and the enemies of the man who es-
sayed to rule a thriving American
metropolis In the same way that he
had conducted his business. Running
originally as an Independent candl-
date, he was considered joke by the
politicians, but was swept into office
by the people who hoped. that he
would end factional rule in the af-
fairs of the city. But from the start
he talked a great deal. He promised
much that manifestly was impossible.
His unusual methods Of publicity at
tracted great attention to Youngs-
town and his abandonment of his
post has been the subject Of editorial
comment, some friendly, some dis
tinctly the opposite.
Mayor Oles candidacy began in a
Joke and his administration ends in
disaster" says the Youngstown Vim
dicator. THE truth is that Oles talk
were impossible. We had hoped that
the high order of ability which had
enabled him to make such a success
of his business would somehow enable
him to become a successful mayor.
He couldn't stand the gam Opposi-
ton and defeats. which would have
reused all Of the spirit and fight in a
strong man, proved too much for
Oles and, tired of 1t all, he laid down
at the end OF six months. He blum
dered. the Pittsburgh Leader believes.
because he thought he could ad
minister the affairs Of city as he
had directed his private business. His
resienation is sheer defeat for an at
tempt at honesty in administration
and the triumph for practical poll
tics of a brand that Is running towns
and cities all over the United States"
Then again, "Oles was a mayor" the
Baltimore Sun asserts, who was go
ing to clean up the city. overnight.
but every one knew that he couldn't,
and he didn't"
Oles' heart was "in the right place,
but his head wasn't in political
sense" the Cincinnati Tines-Star
thinks, and "as mayor he was guilty
of the paternalism that American peo-
ple hate so heartily. His resignation
is humorous anti-climax. and an
anti climax is fatal to man VINO
seeks preferment at the nanos OF tne
Snerican people, who have a healthy
annreciation of the politically ORA
matte" And, although his JOB was
thankless," the Dayton News recalls
that $40 are all jobs of a-similar ma
ture. The public idolizes It's onciaIs
today and stones them on the NOR
row. His abdication orings, Rs,;c % afHy
forceful lessons to other pubic ON.
cials. Chief among these lessons 10
that which concerns the inadequacy
~ any one man, no matter now hlsn
his ideals or aspirations. 10 co.
all abuses in a municipality. Ine PEI
ple themselves in tine iohs 'uh
There ,s no question that Oles was
right when he asserted that ne ;t pJ
Youngstown on the map, the UetlU.e U.
Free Press somewhat sarcast ~ ~
asserts in wondering what s'IaS
kink of mentality Is 1t ina. .nan A.
tests itself every now and tnen IN
oerican community electing some
nnadulterated freak to high once! 10
~ nure facetiousness? Or facetIous-
n.ss combined with desire to snow
disapproyal Of, and BRING
unon. existing conditions an1 r.
tutions in a particaiat p.ica stuSv in mass
nsvcholoey." The whole trouble WIN
Hss in the view Of the Utica OD-
sarver-Dispa tch, "is that ne had never
1earned what a hard-botled. scientinc,
merciIess game this poltlcal sys.
is. He has shown that ne was fsands
W with the powers behind the throne ne
ND gone along in harmony. Also ne
has @ n]roved ] himself a gutter. About
al M there is to the six months OF tne ne
oles administration Is 1aiiu.e hs wanted I
:. coT,u ran LIT" the Cincinnati Enquirer
recal1s. TO rIn aithoush Il; "a lot Of the things
he wanted to do doubtless were proper PEI
and desirable. but reformers OF the
red are. brass band and camp meeting
variety invariably meet with tTouI.e 2se
ionsd theories to practical public mat
sters. Mr.. Oles enjoyed-or didn't-his
brief prominence m the front pase.