Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-11
REFORM MAYOR
OF YOUNGSTOWN
HASHARD FIGHT
Finds Keeping Campaign
Promises No Easy
Task.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, March III
an satisfied with may administration
thus far" declared Mayor George L. Oles,
in an interview with the International
News Service. in reviewing his first
month in Office. "You see I'm bound
hand and foot by civil service regula-
lions. If 1 could only say to Police
Chief James Watkins: Come, Jim, get
your money, your fredT as I would do
IN my private business, I'd get some
where. AS it is I have to fight six
teen quack lawyers, the politicians,
bootleggers and the underworld!
The mayor finds himself at the end
OF his second month in office the center
Of an imbrOglio due to the changes he
has attempted to institute. He faces the
biggest fSht in his life, with the political
interests Of both parties massing their
forces against him. Though fighting vir-
tually alone, Oles has public sentiment
prepOnde-antly with him
During his unique campaign last fall
Oles promised that he would reduce the
municipal expenses, would eliminate
superfuOus offices and would reOrganize
the police department. He intimated that
he would have private conference with
Police Chief James Watkins which might
~ suit in the latter's dismissal He prom
z2ed to wage war on bOotleggers, gam
blers, immoral women and to clean out
the underworld. He said he would treat
the rich and the poor alike.
MAKES GOOD
START.
Oles has made a good start toward
redeeming these promises. He has asked
the police department to accept a hori-
zontaI wage reduction Of 10 per cent and
has requested the cooperation Of city
IN
aries of all other municipal employees.
Council has tackled the problem reluct-
antly, most Of the councilmen having
their ears to the ground.
The mayor has likewise made a start
toward cleaning out the undesirable,
though he claims to be handicapped in
this respect by failure OF the police. IN
der Chief Watkins, to cooperate as they
should. As an outcome Of this situation
Oles has suspended Watkins and says
he is prepared to force his dismissal. The
latter is fighting the move and has open
ly expressed contempt Of the mayor. It
will be a finish fight, as Watkins is re-
garded as an astute politician.
OIes finds that he is seriously handi-
capped by civil service regulations, which
prevent him from doing many things
that he would do II he were operating his
own business. The civil service commits
sion consists OF "hold-oyers'' from the
previous administration and the mem
bers have displayed no particular friend
illness toward 0les.
TRY TO
DISCREDTT HIM.
Pressure Of all kinds is being put forth
TO weaken oles and to discredit him.
f>se denies reports circulated TO the effect
tsaat he will resign and says they are
put forward by his enemies
II will follow the motto l learned when
a boy" declared the msyor-If at first
You don't succeed, try, try again
Even the mayors enemies are sur
prised at his fighting qualities, which
they never suspected he possessed. Oles
says he has just started and will carry
out his prediction pledges II it takes
every ounce Of energy he possesses.
1.-The politicians and the underworld OF
Youngstown can't scare me and can't
swerve me from my purpose" declared
Oles.
He has also called on all city depart
ments to reduce the number Of their
working forces.