The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-26
FEAR VOICED
IF MANAGER .
PLAN FAILS
EsterIine Says Fair Chance
Should Be Given New
Government Idea.
WARNS OF POLITICIANS
Foes of Honest Rule VIII
Seek Ruin of System,
He Declares.


Failure to make a success of city
manager government in Indianapo-
lis when it goes into effect next year
would be a calamity, not only to
city, but to all Indiana, declared j.
w. Esterline, chairman of the In
dianapolis City Manager League
executive committee, before the
Scientech Club, at the luncheon at
the Chamber of Commerce, Monday.
1.-THE city manager plan deserves
a fair chance to show what 1t can
do for this city," he said, expressing
confidence that the attacks Of pro-
fessionaI politicians on the man
ager law in the legislature will fail
if the people maintain a united
front.
'You will see two parties arrayed
in the campaign to elect commits
sioners this year," said Esterline.
zone made up OF those who want
decent government, and one OF
those who want the other kind"
Declaring he was expressing his
personal views" and not the con-
illusions of the leagues executive
committee, which might not ratify
them, ESterline said it was his opin-
ion that the City Manager League
Should not indorse any candidate
for city commissioner who goes be-
fore the people as a candidate Of q
political party"
Warns of Tactics
"a strenuous effort will be made to
get the people to think Of candi-
dates along party lines" he said.
describing tactics that may be ex-
pected in an effort to "nullify" city
manager government here.
''This battle won't be Fought on
its merits. The opposition will re-
sort to creating confusion and
smoke screens, so that the voter will
not quite be sure on what he's vot-
ing, just as legislators were not
quite sure when the city manager
bill came to q vote in the house the
other day.
awe may expect the same forces
to be aligned against us that have
nullified our efforts for decent gov
eminent in the past"
Esterline said he believed it would
be advisable for the league to ask
no one to become a candidate or TO
sign a petition for anyone's candi-
dacy, until "a small group can be
selected on whom the citizens can
unite"
"You may say, That's not demo-
cratic;;' but you must remember the
opposition will unite on It's seven
candidates and we ought to have as
much sense and refuse to be divided
on political, geographical, or any
other lines"
Burden on People
When efforts were abandoned in
the legislature to provide the pro-
portional representation system of
voting, "a heavy burden of respon-
sibility was thrown on the people"
ESterline said.
4OEOA bAOAAll 10
signed to insure the minority of rep
resentation while safeguarding cleo
tons against machine domination.
Bitterly opposed by legislators un-
friendly to city manager govern
ment, proportional representation
was stricken from the Noll Clarity
ing bill by agreement of friends Of
the measure because of doubtful con-
stitutionality Of "P. r." under the
Indiana constitution.
Asserting that Indianapolis cit
liens must be aroused to the i'm
portance of electing honest afe
well-qualified commissioners to in
sure success Of the city manager
government, Esterline declared:
EVERY citizen must say to hiln-
self one Of two things: Either, It
Is my duty to do my part to make
1t just as good as 7 cam or My in
terests lie in making it a failure
No Worse Than in Past
"And if city manager government
is failure here, it won't be worse,
and probably not as bad, as we
haze had"
The manager league chairman
said he was confident the city man
ager act would not be repealed. A
bill for repeal has been in the
hands Of the senate cities and
towns committee for month.
"And there is no question whether
or not we should have city manager
government in Indianapolis, Ester
line said. "That doesn't admit Of
further argument in view Of the
referendum in 1927.
"a few people tell us we can't
have 1t because it will be declared
unconstitutional
Leave that for the supreme court
to decide instead of some precinct
committeeman -