The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-23
THE REAL PROBLEM

While it is not yet patent to the people of this community that they must have change in their form of municipal gov- ernment, yet as between the mayor-alder- l manic form proposed by certain ones, and the council-manager form as advo- cated by the League of Women Voters, there is no doubt that the council-man- : ager form is infinitely superior. To go back to aldermen is based on a false theory of the necessity of representation by wards. To favor such a plan is to disregard all history. For aldermen do not represent their districts in actuality they represent their part of the machine. There is no more corrupt form of mu- nicipal government than the aldermanic. Then the plan as proposed has other fea- lures that tend to the belief that it will serve political and not public pur- pose.
 The council-manager form, on the other hand, if it contemplates for the position of manager the individual who is able to produce the best qualifica- tions, regardless of residence, is merito- rious. It should be provided, however, that the council be a small one of mem- bers elected at large, or else it will par | take of the same evils as are associated with the aldermanic form.
 The women show a conception of the duty of government superior to that of 1 the male supporters of the aldermanic form, when they say: "We recognize the present form of government as highly unsatisfactory, but we think a return to the old aldermanic system, even under the proposed new ordinance, would be a backward step, calculated to bring about conditions worse than the present sys- tenn" Undoubtedly the women would concur in the belief that the commission form has not been given a fair trial, for it has not had competent officials to ad- minister it. On this point the women de- clare: "We believe that the success of any form of government depends upon the caliber of the men chosen to admin ister it." That is the rub. As The Age Herald has often remarked, until the people concern themselves. more with the candidates, this fatal weakness will not I be corrected.
 The directors of big concern are chosen because of their business ability. They work in harmony with but one end in view, namely, the success of the enter prise That same situation would apply in commission government, if men were elected who were capable, and whose primary concern was the good of the city of Birmingham, and the businesslike ad- I ministration of municipal affairs. At present, however, we have commissioners concerned more with their political fu- lures than with the public welfare. As a consequence, where there is no unan- unity of purpose there can be, no unan- imity of policy or of action. Therefore, political jealousies control and public welfare flies out at the window.
 Until commission government has been administered by men of the proper type, it will not have been given a fair show, And no other form of government, un- less it shall be administered by men of the proper type, will have show. This then is the real problem before the peo- pie of this community: How shall we go about it to replace our incompetent pub lie officials with competent, efficient and upright officials?