Trial by Ballot

On November 8, Cambridge voters will have a chance to continue a record of clean civic administration begun in 1940, when they changed to a Plan E form of government. Ten years ago they substituted a city manager for the mayor, and election by proportional representation for the then corrupt ward system. That change, combined with the election of honest officials, has provided Cambridge with one of the best administrations in this state.

In the coming election, nine councilmen and six School Committee members must be selected from a total of 56 candidates--40 for Council and 16 for the School Committee. Of those running the Cambridge Civic Association, a non-partisan group of voters, has endorsed 15. All others are campaigning as independents.

During the current race some independents have accused the CCA of levelling blanket attacks at all unendorsed candidates. It would be hard to deny this. The Association has too often tended to lump all independents into one group in campaign literature--the opposition, "politicians," "grafters," or just poor choices. The CCA does have a case, however, in that many of the strongest independents are opposed to Plan E government, and sworn to remove at least the PR section of the city Charter. With the system working well now, and expected to do better, there is little reason to elect men who wish to return to conditions of ten years ago. But the Association can conduct its campaigns more carefully in the future--many independents deserve fairer treatment.

Candidates not backed by the CCA have also argued that the Association is using machine tactics. They point to its seeking to elect its choices on a party like platform, and its pressuring officials to vote for CCA measures on threat of withdrawing or refusing endorsement.

While it is true that the Association has a program, and expects endorsed candidates to vote for it when elected, as long as the CCA continues to use honest vote-getting methods there need be no fear of a return to corrupt machine political. Organization members, representing all political, racial and religious segments of Cambridge, choose the platform, and like any other political group, seek a favorable majority in the government to back it.

Since all the CCA endorsed candidates this year are worthy of office, and their program is a good one, Cambridge would benefit by the election of a majority of them to Council and School Committee.