The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-14
The Two Platforms

lie IWU 4
The two candidates for mayor have an
nounced their platforms of principles and
promises The voter will find it difficult to
discover a difference or distinction.
They prove, if proof were needed, that
the declaration of the City Manager League
that party politics have no place in municipal
affairs is well founded.
The two parties or the two candidates,
as you choose, both promise the same things
economy, the enforcement Of gas con-
tract, merit system in the fire and police de-
partment, and, of course, enforcement OF law,
whatever that may mean.
The decision of the voters will, perforce,
be made on something besides policies. They
will be forced to decide on considerations out
side the written pledge.
If the voters turn to personal character
and integrity, they will again be blocked.
Both candidates are esteemed, and rightly,
for their integrity.
1t is possible that the decision of the
voters will be based on the probable effect
upon the future of county and state affairs.
In announcing his platform, Mr.. Gloss
brenner says that he has made no promises
and will have no entanglements that will pre-
vent him from giving fine administration OF
public affairs.
It is unfortunate that he did not go
farther, since his nomination came, of neces-
sity, from the acquiescence of Chairman Cof-
fin and his committee.
The people know and understand the
evils that have followed the rise to power of
this boss. They remember Duvall and his
evil days. They remember Jackson and the
statute of limitations. They remember the
Coffin activities in the legislature in which
the city manager law was first strangled for
two years and in which safeguards against
frauds in election were swept away.
Especially will the League of Women Vot-
ers, students Of government, remember the
part which Coffin has played in destroying
the primary. They remember the part he
played in wiping out registration laws and in
taking over the control of election machinery
by law.
The people still have the burden and the
warning of what Cofinism means in govern
ment in his control of the public schools and
of the county commissioners. They know
that it means jobs such as was created for
the candidate for city clerk when, separated
from one job, he was given another with few
duties except to draw his salary.
The statement that no pledges have been
made might we'll have been amplifed to in
cude promise that Coffin and Cofinism
would be opposed at every point and every
effort made to restore government to the
people and the affairs of the Republican
party to the voters of that party.
1t would be more than unfortunate if
fine administration by Mr.. GlosSbrenner
should serve as a smoke screen under which
Coffin would continue to control in the coun-
ty and in the legislative halls.
The people demand an end to Cofinism.
1t is not improbable that after reading both
platforms and estimating the character of
both candidates for mayor, they may ask
themselves which candidate offers the best
hope of complete escape from Coffin and the
evils in government which are identified in
the public mind with Cofinism.
They may look at the battle to regain
control of the public schools from the forces
OF machine polltlcS' lIley may Hllu CilcI
answer in the attitude of the candidates
toward the Citizens ticket.
For the voters can be very sure that no
citizen or candidate who desires to save the
schools from the grip of the machine will
hesitate to enter the fight to elect the five
fine candidates named by the Citizens COM
mttee That may be the final test.