The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-09
The Larger Contribution

The citizens school committee has gone out. OF
business 1t announces that its work Is done with
the election Of It's candidates to the school, That
is correct
But success at the polls not its greatest con-
trbution TO this CITY, Success only incidental TO
ths fact that it aroused and organized the public
conscience OF this community in militant manner
and brought home many, who have before been in
different the fact that citizenship brings responsible
tiles and duties as vel las privileges and powers
The people of every community have always re-
sponded in crisis, and the condition Of school man
agement can we'll be described as critical There had
ben couacency toward the fact that city and county
and state government at times had come under the
control of the selfish and the greedy. The fiction
that politics demands certain brality OF Judgement
had led many to believe that corruptuon and misuse
of public funds are all part Of great American game
and not to be censlred.
The awakening came when the machine at
titude of mind toward government had pervsded the
schools and politicians rewarded for political
efforts bv privileges and patronages in the school sys-
TEN.
There is almost reverence for the public school
system which demands that the education OF youth De
kept free from political entanglements
It was when this stage of machine control was
reached that the people ready for revolt.
The movement might we'll be lkened to the fornla-
ton OF the VgilanteS In the Pacific coast cities in the
early DAYS when crime and lawlesSness became part
ners of government The people protected their lives
and property by this organization just as the Citizens
Committee protected the public conscience against
outrage in school management
There should not be- and probably will not be, any
farther use for Citizens Committee That conscience
which 1t aroused and which is now alert should pro-
tect the public in the future Perhaps the great vote
will warn any boss who may become overly ambitious
that the people will not stand for intrusion into their
school system OF partisan political control.
The two significant movements in this city have
been the City Manager League and the Citizens
School Committee
They were sifnihcant because they brought to-
gether the men and Of all creeds, beliefs and
colors in an effort to promote the public welfare.
They broke down the barriers of prejudice and ele-
waited thought to the high plane Of pure patriotism.
The breaking down Of such barriers can make only
for advancement in government Such results teach
disrst of labels They free thought from its shackes
of tradition.
At heart all citizens think alike. They want the
same things If they think only citizens 1t is the
very few who expect to profit at the expense OF the
many who arouse discord dissention and dstrSt and
find in these factors their opportunities to prost-
tue public Office to private profit.
That the work was we'll done and thorough should
bring everlasting praise and gratitude to those who
led in this ever new and ever old crusade. But the
leaders will find, the days pass, their own salts
faction in the fact that they have given much larger
contribution to the public good than the mere cleo
ton of five fine citizens the directors of the school
system They have set new standards of political
action