The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-01

Just two weeks ago this morning the
Clio b announced that it would con-
stitute itself the medium through which
the desire of our people for new char
ter might find expression. Today we
take pleasure and pride IN saying that
the work is completed, that the people
have risen nobly to their duty and to
their opportunity, and that the list of
signatures as required by law is COM
plete More than $500 of the qualified
voters of the city of st. Paul have sign
ed the petition for a new charter. The
difficulty of preparing a charter petit
tion under chapter 255 of the General
Statutes of 1897 is greater now than it
would have been at any other time.
That law requires the signatures of
per cent of the voters as shown by
the returns of the last general election.
The last general election in this city
was the presidential contest of 1896.
with it's unprecedented interest and its
mammoth registration. On the assump-
uon' tor>safety's sake, although we do
not think it is required in this case.
that this means per cent of the yot-
ers registered, and not per cent of
the votes actually cast a little less
than $500 signatures must be obtained.
In any other year the number would
have been from 20 to % per cent less
Nevertheless, there has been no diff
Guilty in carrying this great work to a
successful and triumphant completion.
because it was work by the people
and for the people. They did it them
selves. There was no need of q mass
meeting, or of arguments, or of a pains
taking canvass of the city; there was
need only of such means of expression
as the G o e has offered for the peo-
pie to express their almost unanimous
wish.
Nobody except a score of peanut poll
ticians, moved by fear of losing their
places or emolument, or else by petty
jealousy, because some one else had
acted where they let 81 dare not wait
upon I would" made any objection or
demur. The common people heard the
news of this petition gladly. They love
their public schools and desire to have
them provided for. They love their civ
and wish to see it march forward in
the ranks of progress, and not left in
the rear while Minneapolis and Duluth
go forward to the inspiring strains Of
self-g government under the home rula
legislation. They want the good fea-
lures of the present system preserved
the economies which 1t enforces main
tanned and others put into effect, where
The charter and accompanying leg
4slatlon now make change impossi-
BILE. No work is so delightful as
that which is done in harmony with
the intelligent devotion of the masses
Of the people themselves The Glob e
believes in the people, and has no high
er aim than to voice their will and help
them in their aspirations.
That they are bent heart and mind
upon the new charter movement is
shown by their uprising in it's behalf
Nothing has ever been seen in this
city before like the unanimity with
which $500 voters have, within the
short space Of two weeks, enrolled
themselves willingly under the banner
of charter reform. To secure this en-
listment for any scheme Of it's own
would have been impossible to the
G 20 be, or to any other newspaper or
agency. 1t is the peoples work. and