The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-09-05
The Difference


r. Not even the most jealous MEMBER VI
that fine body of men and women VINO nave
worked and are working to save the city from
the graft. inefficiency and waste OF polltlcal
government would suggest that the seven
candidates of the City Manager League have
a MONOPOLY on honesty, brains, intelligence
or high purposes.
Nor could the harshest of critics or the
most venal tool of bossism have the temerlty
to suggest that they do not have brains, IN
teligence. honesty and high purposes.
They have these, which are shared by
many others, and they have something more
They have in their keeping the hopes,
wishes and confidence Of the thousands who
rebelled against Coffinism and bossism, who
we're tired of political control Of municipal
government, who want nothing out OF gov
eminent but square deal, who do not be-
lieve in protection of the law violator, the
granting of favors in contracts, the appoint
rent of units and misfits to public jobs
These candidates are underwritten by the
men and women who led the protest against
evils in government.
These candidates, when they go into
office, will have, if possible, heightened
sense Of responsibility. For them to falter or
to fail would be to betray the hopes OF the
thousands of unselfish men and women who
have given time and effort to cause with no
hope of personal advantage or of gain.
The difference between the City Manager
League and the Coffin machine lies in this
fact. Those who have worked for the league
have not sought jobs or contracts or graft or
protection from the law. Those who work for
the Coffin machine expect ultimately to get
theirs"
It would be we'll for any man or woman
who is tempted to become candidate
against the Endorsements of the league to
remember these facts. The field, of course,
is open. Any citizen has right to become
candidate for these offices.
It is the hope of the forces of greed that
there will be many candidates, so many that
the people may be confused and thus permit
bossism to put into power its secret servants
There will be, probably, two kinds OF
candidates. One will be the real candidates OF
the bosses. The old politicians of all breeds
will probably have an understanding before
the election. They can not be expected to run
away without fight
There will be other candidates, honest
and patriotic who will be inspired to an
nounce themselves Any such who is asked
by his friends to be a candidate, should
ask himself whether he believes that the
ticket of the league will not furnish the good
and efficient government which is promised
He should ask himself whether these seven
will not protect the people from graft, pill
Iage oppression and indecency. He should
ask himself whether he would prefer a city
managed by these seven, under the scrutiny
of the thousands who give them their conf
dence, to board picked by Coffin or other
professional politicians.
For one thing is certain. The city will be
run by thee seven or it will be ruled by
bossism. Before any one becomes a candi-
date, he should be able to definitely state why
he believes that the league ticket will fail to
deliver all that has been promised.