The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-06-13

this Common council. all three OF
whom have been found guilty and
sentenced to prison. II also in
dicted the mayor Of the town, the
superintendent Of police and about
one hundred members Of the po-
lice department for conspiring with
common gamblers, which indict-
ment resulted in conviction Of the
mayor and superintendent Of police
and a large number Of police Off
GERS. Obviously those in favor Of
the amendment cannot he serious
in arguing that Streamlined form
Of government prevents corruption
in public office.
2. The election at large at non
partisan election is almost a sure
guarantee that the will Of the peo-
pie will be thwarted. Under that
system all of the members of the
Common Council Of the city Of De
troit or the proposed legislative
body Of the county may live in the
Book Cadillac hotel or the Alden
Park Manor. II has been found
from painful experience that this
type Of man does not even know
the problems of his social init
mates. much less the problems Of
the various groups and interests in
cosmopolitan city like Detroit.
Any honest person comparing the
operation of the public utilities in
sections where the members elected
at large in non-partisan elections
live with their operation in sections
where they do not live will be
convinced that this form of gov
eminent is clearly detrimental to
the people Of the community at
large. Under the same system of
reasoning. those in favor of the
amendment should be fighting for
the election of members Of Con-
gress from the state at large or
members of the United States SEN
ate from the Unitsd States at large.
This would be just as sensible as
the present proposal. The mem
bers Of the Wolverine Bar asSO-
citation have no objection to a small
legislative body as such, provided
that each member represents a dis
tinct district Of the county on
strictly population basis.l
3. Certain groups in Wayne cOun-
ty have long commended that there
was danger from certain minority
groups to the majority Of the peo-
pie unless elections were non-par-
tisan and at large. We assume that
they refer to racial minOrities since
there is no other logical basis. Per
hapS a sufficient answer to this
would be that there is no racial
majority group in the city Of De-
troit or the county Of Wayne. We
understand that the members Of
the Polish race constitute the larg-
est minority group in the ciGnty
with population Of approximately
$50 900; that the Negroes constitute
the next largest with approximate
/ ly 100000: with other groups such
/ as Jews, Italians, Germans, British,
etc, falling in smaller categories.
At present a small but socially and
, financially powerful minority Is
misruling and misgovrrning the
majority by just such devices as
proposed in this amendment. The
only truly democratic means of
/ election would be TO divide the city
] into the number Of districts that
I 1t has members Of the legislative
body on a strict population basis.
I People II that district would then
I have better means Of knowing
the character and reputation of the
candidate therein. At the very least
they would know him. Under the
nOn-partisan al large method il is
very doubtful IL one per cent Of
the population actually knows the
members Of the legislative body.
4. The Wolverine Bar association
has no objection to the fourth rea-
son given above provided the
offices proposed to he eliminated
are set out and not left 10 the
whims and caprices Of 10 persons,
II Of whom are elected at large
from the city Of Detroit.
5. our reasons for opposing the
fifth argument above are the same
as the argument against non part.
san at large elections as set out