The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-11
Cincinnati

I'm HE city government of Cincinnati has just
passed through civic revolution City
government has been freed from p$Sty politics.
Business administration has taken it's place.
. Cincinnati hopes soon again to wear proud
ly her title, "Queen City,, title furnished by
years of corrupt and incompetent manage
ment Of her affairs by a self-serving political
machine similar to those that operate in Indi
annapolis.
A new government will be installed Jan.
and new class of citizens will take control
The old political council, filled with war poll
ticians, is out A compact council of nine takes
its place and city manager will administer
municipal affairs. In the council will sit dis
tinguished jurists, business men and other civic
leaders Well-known ex-saloonkeepers will be
missing.
Other cities fighting for improved munich
pal government will take heart from the vic
tory of Cincinnati Some will say if Cincin-
natl can do it any city can do it, for no Ameri-
can city ever suffered more effective political
obstruction 'than this Ohio River metropolis.
The machine built by George B. Cox, model
for all city bosses, continued to function under
Rud K. Hynicka and Cincinnati seemed almost
helpless But the machine is now wrecked.
All that Hynicka has saved from the debris is
two, or possibly three members of the council.
These were saved to him by the proportional
representation system of voting, which system
he had bitterly opposed.
& Proportional representation gives minorities
asvoce in the government. Hynicka's organiza-
ton having become minority, now has minor
ity representation in the council.
The revolution in Cincinnati began in No
yember 1928 The banner of revolt was raised
by The Cincinnati Post, pps-Howard
newspaper. 1t asked why the city should con-
tinue ousting one gang of politicians only to
install another 1t suggested non-partisan
form of government administered by reputable
citizens. By the following May dozen civic
leaders had rallied to the banner. They draft
ed new charter which included the city man
ager plan, proportional representation and
nonpartisan ballot A charter election was
held and the Post program received 10000
votes against the 10000 marshaled by Hy-
nicka S workers.
"Now, said the Post, eve have erected
new government. Who shall occupy 1.-THE
old gang of politicians or the friends Of the
new charter2 In whose hands shall be placed
the power to appoint the first city managerY"
Hynicka offered to the people slate of can
didates composed of the same material from
which he had always formed Cincinnati's city
government The friends of the charter pre-
sented slate drawn from among able lawyers,
business men, former judges, trades union lead
ers, social workers and civic leaders
The campaign was the warmest in years
Not only was it necessary to instruct the peo-
pie on the issues of the campaign but also to
teach them hoy to vote under the new system
How well this teaching was done may be
Judged from the fact that out of nearly 10000
votes only 5000 were found to be wrongly
marked.
1t is a great day for Cincinnati A great
new period of growth and development lies
before the Queen City.
What Cincinnati has done indianapolis
can and eventually will do.