The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-15
BY Louis B. Settler
Cooprtqht. 1925. bu United Press

C0Drrf1ht, 1875, bu Untted Press
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Aug. 49,
Organized politics, which for many
years has held dominant sway over
the municipal government here, is
perilously near complete rout as the
result of the voters action in re-
tanning proportional representation
In the city charter against the adj
Cce of the professional politicians.
The two political machines com.
bined several months ago in a move
ment to kill proportional representa-
ton. They INITIATED petitions call
ing for a special election on Aug. IL.
They believed that by so doing few
voters would visit the polls in mid
summer and inasmuch as proper
tional representation was an alb
stract issue, with no personalities
involved, it would attract no particu-
lar attention.
AS a substitute for proportional
representation they offered an
amendment to the city charter for
the establishment Of a ward
system which had prevailed prior TO
1921, when the proportional repre-
sentation city manager charter was
adopted.
Vote IL Light
Proportional representation is the
system of voting which Is designed
to assure representation of various
groups In the city legislative body
in direct ratio to their numerical
strength. Under it the city Is
divided into four large districts.
Varying numbers of councilmen are
elected from each Of these districts.
Under the system proposed by
the machine politicians the size Of
the city council was to have been
increased from 25 to 33 councilnen.
The city was to have been sliced up
sized, some over-large, but all the
result Of many years Of political
gerrymandering. One councilman
was to be elected from each ward.
The successful councilman was to be
the one who obtained the highest
number of votes, irrespective Of the
number of candidate in the field.
However, the professional poll
ticians in picking Aug. IL as the
date for their special election. were
right in their belief that few voters
would turn out at the polls.
Cog Slips
They believed that, with a light
vote, they could swing the election
to their own advantage by turning
into the polling places their thou
sands of workers.
But somewhere in the weil-oiled
mechanism a cog slipped. The vote
was nght-exceedingly ight-only
$4,000, out Of a qualified vote Of
$4,000, responding to the urgent
entreaties Of charter defenders to
visit the booths.
Yet, in spite 81 this light vote,
the proportional representation
method of voting was ordered con-
tinued in the charter by a scant
margin OF 900 VOLeS. Inc machines
had been administered the soundest
thrashing they had received in many
a year. They had been licked at
their own time on their own issue.
Politicians Must Go"
AS result. they are today in a
precariously weak condition. A
drive has started to get into the
city council at the next November
election men and women who are
unafflliated with either machine.
D. S. Humphrey, chairman of the
charter defense committee, a group
organized to save proportional rep
resentation against the combined at
tack of the machines, says:
"A new era in the politics of Cleve-
land has arrived, the machines have
met their waterloo. Men and wom-
en- of the highest type are now in
demand for places in the city coun-
Gil Those who in the past have