The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-16
State SLIPS
IN PROGRESS,
Farley TOLD
ESterIine Sounds Warning
at City Manager Group
Conference.
500 ARE AT MEETINGS
Principles of New Form of
Municipal Rule Are
EXpounded.

Indiana is slipping behind the ma
ton in the march of progress of
American Cities" declared John w.
Esterline, Indianapolis City Man
ager League chairman, at the State
wide city manager conference today
at the Claypool.
About 500 Hoosiers attended the
gathering under joint auspices of the
indianapolis City Manager League
and the League OF Women Voters.
Civic leaders from the thirty Indi-
ana cities represented will play a
big part in the legislative program
Of the city manager leaders in the
1929 general assembly. The con-
ference was to educate State leaders
III city manager principles.
"Our difficulty today is that many
cities are trying to limp along with
an antiquated, WORKOUT, patched-up
contraption, designed and built in
the days when we did not have
complex city problems" Esterline
declared.
Remedy Is Sought
Things have occurred in Indiana
during the last two years which are
not possible in most States Of the
Union and we are here to find out
why"
Loss Of confidence in the political
leadership of the State was blamed
for the successful Khan reign in
Indiana.
THE real reason why the name
Indiana is a byword and a Joke
throughout America and even across
the seas is because we citizens have
not kept abreast of the time; we
have followed professional poll
ticians ard reactionary newspapers
up the blind alley of civic stagna-
ton. Indiana should be one of the
most progressive States in the
Union" ESterline said.
Esterline scored the Statewide
organization of machine politics
and urged a civic awakening"
What we need is a good house
cleaning in about sixteen cities by
adoption of the city manager form"
he concluded.
Charles P. Taft, II, If Cincinnati,
Hamilton County prosecutor, adj
dressed the luncheon.
Face Heavy Competition
IF our cities continue to be mis-
governed, American industry and
commerce will have to carry a con-
stantly heavier load, not only in
business competition within the
United States, but in international
competition and world markets as
we'll declared DR.. Leonard D.
White, University Of Chicago pro-
fessor Of public administration.
Adoption Of tested business prin-
ciples as fostered in the city man
ager form, establishment of simple.
responsive democratic method of
deciding municipal policy, perma-
nent organization of the disinterest-
ed section of the community for eff
fective political action and selection
of competent, right-minded men
and women for city council and
school board, were suggested by DR..
White.
There must be permanent and
effective organization of the COM
munity and readiness of right
minded citizens to run for public
office If the old political crowd is
to be defeated" he said.
Stresses Good Council
Importance of a "well-organized
and intelligent council" was stressed
by DR.. White, in his talk on THE
Way Out for Indiana Cities"
The fight for the city manager
form in Indianapolis was reviewed
by Claude H. Anderson, executive
secretary of the league.
1--WE realize that the big fight to
elect good commissioners is ahead.
but, at least, we won the first skirm-
ish. Emerging from our campaign.
as most desirable by-products. our
people have become more hopeful,
our citizenship more alert, there Is
more civic pride, we are more opti-
mistic, there is more good cheer and
among US. We feel
therefore that we are on our way
toward making indianapolis the city
it should be" Anderson declared.
Mrs. H. r. Misener of Michigan
City, where the manager plan has
operated for six years, declared the
"commission-manager plan is a
challenge to Indiana citizenship"
Serious work along constructive.
administrative lines for the sake of
her city is due no less from woman
than from man. She owes to her
city some of the time now wasted in
pleasure seeking and frivolous pur-
suits" said Mrs Misener.
Winfield Miller, attorney, ex~
planned the Indiana manager law.