The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-04-11
Yes, Indianapolis Has Civic Spirit

-~~N~~~N~~SNI ~~SN~
Those who may have believed that Indianapolis
had lost its civic soul, that it servely yields itself
to the bosses ad political machines, that it does
not want decency apologize to themselves
for lack of faith
The thirty thousand signatures to the petitions
for city manager election is conclusive proof thct
the city has spirit which awaited only real
chance to demonstrate it's power
Those signatures of men and women of this
city end to the rule of bossism, of pillage,
of political pull, of government by blocs and cliques
and little groups.
For these signatures the voluntary pro-
test of citizens who have tired Of the msrule
which has accompanied the present form of govern
ment.
These petitions are the more emphatic because
they represent the voluntary eager determination Of
men and women who have given little time to gov
eminent in the past to get government which really
represents the best interests of all citizens.
The petitions are not the result of an emotional
appeal or intensive organization.
The signatures were obtained by volunteers not
by paid workers and not by men and women who
expect to profit by public Office.
Those petitions dedicated to good govern
ment and represent the free offering and the cool
Judgment of men and women who have grown tired
of watching fake fights at election times and who
can be excused for showing no enthusiasm for the
poor chance of deciding between two candidates of
the same forces. And political fights in city cleo
tons have been very largely just such fakes and
absurdites.
There is nothing partisan about these petitions
They are protest against partisanship in city affairs
The signers come from no one political party
intent on Throwing out their opponents They are
me UhO nlaca tha Of
and women who understand the menace to their
homes that comes with political bargaining of city
power for corrupt votes.
That 10000 men and women signed these
petitions within the short space of two weeks indi
Gates how deep seated is the protest against partisan
politics in city government and how disguised have
the people become with machine government
NOW it becomes very plain why Mayor Duvall
hurried to the Legislature to secure law which
would permit him to out the next two years of
his Office although he accepted office under the legal
contract with the people to vacate if they wished
to adopt this new form of government
The bosses understood, probably much better
than the advocates of this change how resentul the
people mad become. They secured from machine
Legislature this last extension of their power
But there should be no mistake as to victory
That will not be easy. The bosses and the poIiti
N-NNS-AAAN
all their power all their trickery and probably all
their frauds to defeat this movement
1t may be expected that the city government
with the exception of the Office of City Clerk Bovce
will use every legal subterfuge to avoid granting this
election.
1t may be expected that shrewd LAWYERS for
the machine will devise means whereby courts will
be asked to prevent the people from getting the free
dom they DESIRE
1t is certain that when an election is held tbera
VIII De solid show Of all the forces that have
given indianapolis its bad government, past and
present. TO defeat the movement at the election.
The city manager plan of government offers free
dom tor Indianapolis But to obtain it will require
constant watchfulness and no little work
The battle for liberty for this CITY has onIv iust
begun There must be an organization tn meat tho
"nes ana the trickery and the power of the BOSSES
Inc nucleus of the army is in the 30 600 voun
teers. But that army needs recruits There must no
organization in every ward every precinct everv citv
Dlock There will be need of watchers at noI1s ard
OF men and women who will devote themselves 70
Che task OF seeing this through.
city which can furnish 10000 volunteers in
TWO weeks can furnish the needed forces to win.
For at last indianapolis is awake It's conscierco
is outraged. It's spirit CLOVIS with determination ord
with hope ~