The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-04
Now for a City Manager

T7OHN L. DUVALL has been elected mayor
of indianapolis. With him has been
elected a city council that represents his own
political group. This group also apparently
controls a majority of the school board.
Control of the State, county and city has
been unified under one political organization.
Command of the whole situation has been
placed in the hands of Boss Coffin. There may
be an effort now that he has served his pur-
pose in engineering a successful election, to
shake Coffin loose, but, as we have said repeat
eddy, Duvall, if he succeeds in doing this, will
have accomplished more than any other mayor
has succeeded in accomplishing.
The result was not unexpected. The only
surprising element is the size of Duvall's plu-
rality. If the election had been held a month
ago his plurality doubtless would have been
overwhelming. AS it was, his margin was safe.
AS between the two candidates, the public
chose Duvall. A post mortem is unnecessary.
The result of the election will make little
difference to the vast majority of citizens. 1t
means a perpetuation of political control, just
as the election of Myers would have meant the
perpetuation of political control. Duvall will
appoint his political friends to Office, just as
Myers would have appointed his political
friends. The system demands it. There can be
40 o1toroo+ivo Ahi1i+1 op1 qualifications will
have little to do with the personnel of the next
city administration The outcome of the cleo
ton has no bearing whatever on this situation
The result is inevitable.
We sincerely hope that John L.. Duvall will
be the last mayor Indianapolis will ever have.
The fact that only a comparatively few of the
electorate cast their ballots is an indication Of
the disgust which the community feels toward
all political Organizations in city affairs,
whether they be labeled Democratic or Repub-
lican. The people Of Indianapolis want the
business Of Indianapolis conducted on a bust
ness basis 1t can not be so conducted under
the present system. The only solution is to
change the system.
The system will be changed eventually.
That is as certain as the rising of the sun to-
morrow morning. Indianapolis will join the
sible and business-like city manager form of
government. The list of cities adopting this
form is growing larger daily. 1t rapidly is be-
coming the accepted American form of city
government. Our neighboring city Cincinnati,
Tuesday held it's first election under a city
manager charter.
The city manager system calls for the cleo
ton of a board of directors, or council, which
will have charge of the appointment of a bust
ness man as manager of the affairs of the city.
This business manager will not be responsible
to parties or to bosses. He will not be inau-
enced by every political breeze that blows.
There is every indication that the voters
of Indianapolis will be given an opportunity
before many months of choosing between the
business system of government and the politi-
cal system. There is and should be little
doubt of the outcome.
Meanwhile, in the interest of Indianapolis,
we sincerely hope for the success of the Duvall
administration, so far as any political admins
tration can be successful. The voters could
choose only between two politicians to head
their city government. They have chosen.