Cambridge did not hold a monopoly on corruption. Other Massachusetts cities enjoyed similarly foul reputations. In 1938 the state legislature tried a remedy. It is not surprising that strongest support came from Cambridge reformers. The would-be panacea was Plan E, which provides for a city manager to run the city's affairs and a nine-man council, including a mayor, to legislate.

The course of municipal affairs increasingly worsened for many years. The tax rate jumped several dollars annually until it became very nearly the highest in Massachusetts. Its financial woes multiplied as industries left Cambridge seeking more favorable conditions.

Representatives from the Cambridge Taxpayers' Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the League of Women Voters banded together in 1938 to fight for Plan E in Cambridge. Nationally noted for his New Deal leadership, James M. Landis, Dean of the Law School, was enlisted as chairman of the group.

In three months they set up an active organization and promoted a highly effective publicity campaign, gaining enough supporters to petition for a referendum on Plan E. But stubborn Councillors refused even to consider the petition. With balloting day imminent the Plan E Committee resorted to the courts.

Saturday was the crucial day. The 15 Councillors headed for Harvard Stadium to enjoy a football game, courtesy of the University. Fifteen deputies greeted them at their seats, with a warrant for each. Election day found the referendum on the ballot.

In the ensuing campaign Plan E was the object of charge and counter-charge. "Communistic," cried the politicians, "dictatorial." When the local Communist party came out against this new plan the politicians were forced to change their line of attack. It was the deceitful and covert means, they said, whereby the "Harvard-Brattle Street-Money-Taxpayer-Republican" forces hoped to regain control of the city. The battle even featured a resolution by the City Council that Harvard be expelled from Cambridge and incorporated as a university city.

Contemptuons of Do-gooders

Plan E lost out in the November election, but by the surprisingly small margin of four percent of the total vote. Thinking, however, that this reform move had spent itself in the losing fight, the old politicians went back to 'their self-seeking ways. They were, in fact, contemptuous of the part-time efforts of amateur do-gooders.

In the next two years the boodle boys became so blatantly crooked that not even the most apathetic voters could stomache it. In 1940 the voters of Cambridge decisively adopted Plan E and proportional representation.

The 1941 non-partisan election, however, was terribly disappointing to the Plan E group; only four of its endorsees were successful, leaving Council control with the five ostensibly hostile "independents." Since Cambridge was the first city in the state to try Plan E government, there were no procedents to point to in the event of early setbacks.

Informal meetings of the Council-elect resulted in the selection of Colonel John B. Atkinson: "born and raised" in Cambridge, "long prominent in the shoe business," "war hero," and totally unfamiliar with professional city managing. Atkinson's office gave him broad powers. Most important was his power to initiate budgetary matters for Council consideration.

The new city manager was green, but he was a fighter and an organizer. He repeatedly defeated blocking efforts of opposition Councilmen; he pulled down the tax rate and attracted more industry to Cambridge; he replaced who-you-know with what-you-know as criterion for city employee advancement as he streamlined municipal administration generally.

Birth of CCA

In 1945 reform government in Cambridge nearly failed because the Cambridge Committee for Plan E began to lose prestige and power by taking a virtual "holier-than-thou" attitude. The Cambridge Civic Association was founded then and since that time the City Council has been CCA dominated.

As his success and popular prestige mounted Atkinson is said to have become dictatorial in his relations with the City Council. Resentful Councilmen chaffed but it wasn't until the spring of 1952 when two CCA men, Mayor Joseph A. DeGuglielmo '29 and Edward A. Crane '35, bolted from support to lead the fight against him, that Atkinson was fired. John J. Curry '19, a former educator, was appointed in his place.