The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-30
Control of City Would Be Gem
tered, Charges Dan Richmond.
Labor Candidate for Mayor Ops
poses City Manager Plan.
IDEAS BEFORE CITY CLUB TODAY
Secretary Stutz of National AS
sOciatiOn a Speaker.
Ransom Stevens and w. A. Billy
Produce Strong Arguments.

The feature of the meeting OF the
Topeka City club held at the Cham
Der of Commerce at noon today was
the appearance on the floor of Dan
Richmond business agent for the local
Hod Carriers union. who announced
himself as the labor candidate for
mayor at the next election and una!-
terably "agin' the city manager form
of government.
Richmond declared that some OF the
labor leaders are denying that he
and his ticket are the labor ticket
because they have not been endorsed
by any of the labor organizations hue
asserted that these endorsements are
not necessary, and that he and his
ticket are in the field regardless.
He opposed the city manager form
of government for Topeka he de-
elared, because it would mean "ad-
ministrative power centralized in one
man who Is under the direction of five
hfghbrowS who have no sympathy
with the common people, or labor
He based this assertion on the in
tention of the city manager plan 10
reduce the salary of the mayor and
commissioners to 500 n year. That
fixes it so that only men of indepen-
dent means can afford to accept the
office and they, in the nature OF
things will be bankers and reformers.'
he declared.
Ransom Stevens n speaker.
The first speaker before the club
was Ransom Stevens, a former To-
peka man, later a resident of Wichita
and a member of committee OF
Wichita Rotarians sent to Dayton. o.
by Wichita. to investigate the work
ings of the system there Stevens re-
Gently has returned to Topeka, and
entered business here.
He declared himself as being in
favor of the .splan, altho recognizing
It's dangers. of which the greatest. he
said. is the danger "or naYirg six city
managers Instead OF one The es-
sential of the city manager Is that
he be able to tell the commissioners
that they are board OF directors. and
prevent them from Infringing on his
rights. The commission should be
board of directors, ana support tifc
know where a board OF directors
stops and a MANAGER commences, the
plan will not be successful. You can
put politics into it Just the same as
you can into anything c;se.'
Stutz, of Lawrence, Explains It.
John Stutz. of Lawrence. secretary
of the National Association OF City
Managers, presented a paper replete
with facts and figures on the history.
working, and development of the city
mana ger plan. He summed up its ad-
vantages by saying that It puts the
city government in the nands of "A.
non partisan, public spirited legisls-
tive body-the commissioners; a nom
tive heads the city manager. and a
group of CITY employees whose jobs de-
pend upon their efficiency and moth
ing else.
Biby In Strong Talk.
The final address was made by W. 4.
Biby, secretary of the club. elected Gs the
last meeting. who advanced str0uR aTgu-
ments in favor of the efficient service in
government to be secured by the central
ization Of power and responsibility. Bibv
declared that there are hundred men I'm
this town capable of running the town IL
you take the politics out Of the govern
ment- City manager plan is democracy.
in thirty years residence in Topeka, Ia at
tend n public meeting TO assist In electing
n public officer. tho I've been Invited Into
a good many back rooms on TINT erraBd.
Under the present form OF government.
you can't get service. You can yell bat
you can't fire. Under the city manager
form Of government you can tie can to
q mGn overnight.
mo man serve this city acceptnbiT
its chief executive. a salary OF $500
per year. .Biby declared. He can't c0lsf.
and secure the entree and the NaudinE
which he should have our chief execu-
tive, without outside interests, OF thub
salary"
c B. Merriam. reporting for George G.
Bowman, chairman Of the club. who was
ness announced the appointment Of Roy
Bone chairman Of the committee
ways and means and OF Arthur J. CarTuth.
Jr.. as chairman OF the committee on pub
licity and public meetings. Tho persouufI
Of the committees iB to be announced later.