The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-08-11

Very truly yours,
FRANK S. SOCCER, president
Norfolk Rotary Club.
p. S.-You are at liberty to use
this letter as you may see fit.
From Springfield, Ohio.
Lakeland Chamber OF Commerce,
Lakeland, Fla.
Attention Mr. 7. ]. Appleyard, Jr.
lGentlemen:
| have just learned that your city
has adopted a new charter providing
flor the Commission-Manager form OF
government. | noted this result with
especial interest, as you were good
enough to write us some weeks ago
asking our opinion Of the desirability
lof this plan.
There is no question in my mind
but what you have made a tremend.
GUS step forward in your municipal
affairs and while l do not make it a
rule to give gratuitous advice, | do
want to urge upon you the selection
Of the right men for the city COM
mission. think it is almost always
true that the professional politician
died hard in a case like this and
yet the very fundamental of success
If the Commissioner Manager form is
that the commission itself be kept
lree from craftsmanship and politics.
The city manager is after all the
lappointee of the city commission and
reflects the standards which they set
up in his direct administration of
the city affairs. | just want to say
that you have taken one big step, but
you will take an equally important
one when you elect your city commits
sion, and one which if wrongfully TAX
en- may largely nullify the good work
already done.
Yours very truly,
II. G.. ROOT,
President the Springfield Rotary Club.
I. j. Appleyard, Jr.. Manager,
lakeland Chamber of Commerce,
Lakeland, Fla.
Dear Sir:
In answer to the inquiry in your
letter addressed the president of the
Rotary Club. at Wichita. permit me
to give you the following information:
First q very large majority of the
people Of the City of Wichita consid-
er the City Manager and Commission
sorm of government the best that has
ever prevailed in this city. This
type Of government has now been
operated in this city for over five
years. There have been, during that
time. two elections in addition to the
election originating the proposition
At each election, the work OF previ-
)us administrations has been APPROX
I'd by a very large majority, and
commissioners have been elected whJ
were not candidates, and yho woul1
not accept a political position under
my consideration whatever. Unde.
this plan. our commissioners have
been practically drafted by the vot-
srs. No effort whatever was made
for the nomination or election, and
nothing could induce the commission
9rs elected to seek the place. They
are business men of ability and char
acter long resident in the city, manag
| ing large business institutions. and
men of Willingness to divide time be
tween their own business and the
affairs and welfare of the city. We
| have no politics in city government
here. Nobody knows or cares what
the political affiliation of any bust
ness man who acts on the commission
may be- No more attention is paid
o his politics than to his religion OF
the lodge to which he belongs, OF
whether he belongs to- any lodge
church or political party. If he is
I good sound business man of good
judgement, who is! willing to help
handle the city affairs in. a business
Hike way, he is a candidate if he l.:
wanted by substantial number OF
good citizens. Any municipal govern
ment that can harmonize two violent
opponents in form of first class daily
newspapers in a city of $4,000 people
and get either the expressed active
or passive support of both publications
and continue for five Sears. without
either newspaper being able to get
its feet on ground solid enough to
start. or undertake to start, an oppos-
ition ticket or movement, must have
proven itself to be a success, and an
administration of the kind that the
majority of the people want and ap-
preciatc. This is the situation in
Wichita.
Second, outstanding results which
ask for on the part of City Manager
government in Wichita, briefly and
generally stated as are follows:
Complete enforcement of govern
ment from politics and patronage CT
any kind. Tie City Manager, who
is an appointee, selected and employ.
ed by the Board of City Commission.
ers. is supreme. He has authority
to employ and dismiss any and every
employee in the city service from a
common street laborer up to the head
of the highest department of the
city.
All departments are under the jur.
isdiction OF the manager. No com.
missioner can interfere or require or