The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-09-25
No Turning Back Now

three judges of the supreme court
Put the civic conscience, high purpose and
nne yea, which had inspired a crusade for
decent government and better public condi-
tons under it's provisions is not dead That
is beyond assassination.
The immediate reaction to this decision
should be a determination on the part of
those who have given their trust, their time,
their money and their enthusiasm to this
cause, to fight as never before against the
evils they sought to Danish through
changed form of government.
To these forces the decision comes as
surprising and astounding blow to their
hopes. One of the unfortunate cir
cumstances surrounding the decision and the
present situation is that while the unimpeach-
able men and women were working and plan
ming for the city manager election, con-
fdently relying upon the assurances and
opinions of many outstanding attorneys that
the law was valid and beyond overthrow, in
other quarters of the city, where different
type of citizens congregates and discusses
public matters, a most accurate forecast of
the outcome was common and confident.
1t is unfortunate that leading lawyers and
the better citizens were wrong, while those
who frequent the poolrooms and resorts of
questionable nature were correct in their pre-
dictions as to the final result
The decision of the court finds the law
impossible of operation in one particular. 1t
says that the provision that the city clerk,
within five days, must certify to the validity
of the sgners to a petition for a change Of
government cannot be carried out in a city
of the size of Indianapolis
This is a duty, which, says the decision,
cannot be delegated to others. And it correct
ly estimates that the clerk, if personally
called upon to find and interview every
signer, would have to visit two and sixty
three hundredths of a voter each minute,
day and night during the five days.
The court, and in this all will assent,
says that this cannot be DONE and takes jul
diciai notice of that fact
There will be many who will regret that
the court could not find it within it's province
to take judicial notice of the fact that at
the election held under the petition filed with
the clerk, the citizens of Indianapolis cast
their ballots at the ratio of nearly six to one
in favor of such a change.
To minds less judicial this might have
suggested that the one purpose of vertical
ton of petition, which is to test the desire
of a sufficient number of citizens to make
the expense of an election reasonable use
of public funds, had been justified and that
it might be properly assumed that out of the
overwhelming number of citizens who ia
vored the change a sufficient number of
qualified voters had petitioned for the cleo
ton in which they participated
However, the court has ruled The law
is dead. And turning from its grave, the
friends of good government, stunned though
they may be by grief, must find a way to &C
complish the results they hoped for by other
means.
For the tragedy of the situation, if it has
its tragical aspects, is not the death of the
city manager law. 1t lies in the possibility
that the finest group of citizens ever organ
lied in this city, with the most fervent en-
tnuSlaSIn ever SHOWN LOT CIVIC righteousness,
may lose their zeal and take on color Of
hopelessness and helplessness.
The city manager movement was legitl-
mate child. 1t was begotten of resentment
against the outrages which had been per-
petrated in the name of a partisan city gov
eminent and mothered by lofty hope that
a city, unshackled from bossism, from
machine rule, from intrigue and manipu-
lation, might reach great height of spirit
as we'll as prosperous comfort for its citizens.
That resentment still exists. That hope
still lives.
Today those who have led the thousands
who gave their trust and confidence to what,
it appears, was an unconstitutional aspira-
ton, have deeper responsibility than ever
before.
They must stand guard against trickery
against hopelessness, against dispersion of
A. Fo~ooz ~ c;x;c Thov must