The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-09
The Mayors First Duty

Few men have had SO great an opportunity
to put the stamp of sincerity upon their own
words and lend confidence to movement of
which they were part as now comes to Mayor
L. Ert Slack.
By very prompt, vigorous and persistent
crusade to secure a special session of the Legls-
lature to put into effect the City Manager sys-
tenn of government, Mayor Slack will win for
himself the praise of the thousands of citizens
who have voted for this change.
Some one had to be the political heir of the
Duyan regime, which was in power only
through the amendment to the City Manager
law passed by the last Legislature, and it is
fortunate that the heir is one who strongly adj
vocated the change and is believer in the
City Manager system.
That same amendment extended the tenure
Of office not only of Duvall, who goes out into
oblivious through the doors Of the Criminal
Court, but also of the city council.
There is every factor present to make
crusade by Mayor Slack for special session OF
the Legislature particularly effective.
Neither Governor jackson or the majority
of the Legislature can conceivably have any
reason to desire to continue representative of
the Democratic party at the head Of the largest
city Of the State.
Mayor Slack, having received votes of three
Of the four indicted councilmen, can call at
tention Of the Legislature and Of the Governor
to the conditions in Indianapolis which came
from the present system and are traceable to it
more effectively than could mayor elected
without their assistance.
Most of all, an appeal to the Governor and
an immediate canvass of the Legislature with
reference to the calling of special session,
should jackson hesitate, would be a conclusive
answer to the charge that the City Manager
management drew it's support from dsappoint-
ed and disgruntled office seekers who had failed
to gain power.
It would climax the magnificent effort to
which Mayor Slack gave his aid and support
by show Of sincerity that could do much to
solidify the forces for an effective entrance of
the new system.
That the city Of Indianapolis is entitled to
the City Manager system at once as matter of
justice is admitted. It was pleaded as a rea-
son for the special session by the City Manager
committee. The demand for that special session
was unanswerable, and is today unanswerable
The replacement of Duvall by sympathizer
with the movement does not change either the
necessity or the urgency Of righting the wrong
done to Indianapolis by the Sims amendment
The election of Tuesday only emphasizes the
wisdom Of the change voted by the people and
delayed only until the unrighteous amendment
can be repealed.
In Michigan City, cited in the campaign as
an example of failure, the people again voted
their confidence in the system. In Cleveland
the people again successfully and overwhelm-
ingly resisted effort of the politicians to dis
card the system which proved so successful.
Mayor Slack is to be envied for his chance
to write his name permanently in the list of
the cltys great by very prompt, very per-
sistent, demand for that special session.
The New Mavor