Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-20
THE MUNICIPAL CANVASS.
Morton B. Howell, Our Next Mayor, to
the Citizens OF Nashville.
A Scathing Review OF kercheVafs
Administration.

oCdthtuS hCtiO" VI
Administration.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Sept. I, lS74.--TO
the Voters If Nashville: Having been
nominated by the Citizens Convention,
which met on Tuesday, Sept. -, as the
candidate for Mayor of the city of Nash
Vile. not only of the Conservative party,
bat of all. OF every class who desire the
good of the city, announce myself TO you
as having accepted the nomination. 1t is
understood that Mr.. kercheval, 1.-The present
Mayor. is again candidate, aspiling TO q
third Term, and that he will be my only OPP
ponent. In consequence of the short time
To elapse before the day of election, and the
difficulty of meeting all of you in person,
present TO Won in this manner, some of
the considerations which should induce you
to sustain the action OF the convention
Ii is a fact we'll known to all thinking
men. that the financial affairs OF the city
have become so entangled and embarrassed
that it will be impossible to carry on the
City Government at the present rate of tax
alton, without vigorous effort and good
management by competent men. In order
to do this it is necessary that the head of
the NflLN Shall hAiOh llC COu-
dition of affairs in every department, that
he shall be fully informed in regard TO the
details of the business of the city, and be
prepared to answer inquiries, make sugges-
tions ana give information at any moment
He is paid a large salary to enable him to
devote his whole time, attention and abili-
ty to the management Of its business. To
him all committees should look for informa-
ton and advice. From him they expect
instruction and assistance. In a word, he
ought TO be'the superintendent and manager
of the corporation.
How does the case stand with Mr.. Ker-
cheval9 Has he been the Mayor Of Nash
vile in anything but the name? Has he
done what the people sent him 10 the City
Hall to do? Has he done anything worthy
of the high position he has been supposed
to fill?
The Finance Committee is the most i'm
portant one in the list, and has the most
difficult and responsible duties to perform.
1t is composed of gentlemen who have their
private business to attend to, and who can
not afford to spend their time in the Office
of the Treasurer, without any cOmpensa-
ton, besides being present at the regular
meetings Of the Boards. They hal right
to suppose that they wouldhave the aid of the
Mayor in the regulation of the finances of
the city-dRd lcere mistaken. 1t has not
been his custom to attend their meetings.
When he happened 10 be there, he
made few or no suggestions. He never
undertook or proposed TO give any advice,
and they soon learned to expect nothing
from him. For months past he has had
little or nothing to do with the Finance
Committee, except to go to them, trbeR he
,sds sent for, and answer questions as to
moneys spent BY his direction, or TO explain
something he himself had done. In fact.
the Finance Committee were compelled
10 take upon themselves the duties and la
bOrs Of the Mayor, which was impossible, or
Ia he without head.
As an evidence of the opinion entertained
BY members of the Finance Committee, Of
Mayor kerchivars services, not one man Of
them favofs his reelection. EceTy member
Of that committee goes for the nominee. III
there is a single one who supports Mr..
Kerchival, let him say so, and | will stand
corrected.
What has been said in reference TO the
Finance Committee is true, i'm almost the
same manner, with reference to all the
other committees of the City Council. By
virtue Of his office the Mayor is a member
| of every committee, and il is a duty be
owes 10 the people thai elected him 10 be-
come familiar with the business that is
| brought before them, and make suggestions
/ upon which they can act. Mr.. kercheval
has done little or nothing Of the kind.
| What he has done, nobody seems to know.
The gentlemen composing the City Coun-
| ell, who are in position TO understand the
necessity for having at the head Of affairs a
well-infOrmed and vigorous officer, show
| their opinions of his efficiency by the
| changes that have taken place since the last
| election. When Mr.. kercheval went into
Office at the beg inning of the present term,
| nineteen of the thirty Aldermen and COun-
cilmen We're with him. / am reliably in
formed that, to-day, he can assure himself
| of bat tirO. Twenty-seYen are against him,
and one is doubtful.
But outside of the work Of the several
committees, where has Mr.. Kercheyal
| given any sign that he was the Mayor OF
the city? The common impression is that
the Mayor is the Chief of the City Police,
| rs lie is required to see that the laws
of the city are enforced. The pres
ent Mayor has never shown the least in
terest in that branch of the public service.
He has never even shown to the officers
| and members of the police force the small
courtesy Of being present al their roll call,
which was as little as he could have done.
1t is unnecessary to specify any more par-
ticularly, or to give instances of What Mr..
Kercheval has not done. | arraign him
before the people of Nashville as not quail
fed, or not the man to be the Mayor OF
this city, because he does not perform the
duty and render the service for which he
was elected. 1t matters little whether it is
because he cannot or will not. The fact is
that he does not, and that is sufficient rea-
son for allowing him TO retire.
1t is not possible that the people of Nash
vile will vote to continue such an admin
istratiOn. The affairs of the city are in toe
desperate a strait for any hesitation oil
doubt. l ask you to 20 to the polls on Sat
urday, the 10Th, in your strength, and by
your votes put the stamp of your disap
prOval on the negligence and ineffciency
of the present Mayor.
MORTON b. HOWELL.