The herald., 1898-11-20
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS TO
UNITE FOR MUTUAL WORK
COMMITTEE OF SIXTEEN MEN
Eight Bodies to Select Two Members
Each to Serve as an Executive
Committee

City Government was held last evening at
the chamber OF commerce for the purpose of
considering the campaign to be carried on In
support of the new city charter.
Kew. Burt Estes Howard called the meet
ing to order, and ON motion was elected
chairman and j. b. Millard secretary.
Judge Wells stated the objects Of the
meeting, which, he said, he understood was
, called to take action for carrying on an ag-
gressive campaign, with united front of the
various organizations represented; and H.
I. Lee, in behalf of the board of charter
freeholders, outlined the measures taken by
that body for informing the voters of the
merits of the charter. He said it had been
intended to circulate by mail short print
ed statement of the leading features Of the
instrument, and otherwise to aid in bring
ing it before the voters in an intelligent and
comprehensive manner.
At. Mr.. Lees request, Judge r. H. f.
Vayel told of the work he has been doing
in the interest of the charter. He spoke of
seeing the chairmen of the various city CEN
trail committees, and said they had signifed
q willingness to permit part OF the time at
the political meetings to be held in party in
terests to be used by speakers for the char
ter during the progress of the campaign. He
had lately learned of the organization of
new charter club, which appeared to be
working earnestly for the charter. and the
Union Reform league had also manifested
much interest. He thought it important,
both by means of public addresses and by
printed matter, to make every voter fnmil-
lar with the great reforms sought to be ef
fected in the municipal government by a
change of charter.
Fl. w. O'Melveny said there was some
doubt as to the better mode of presentation
of the charters claims-whether by litera-
ture or by word of mouth With others, he
had attempted to epitomize the charter, but
the length of the synopsis had been so great
that it had seemed doubtful whether the
voters would read it more readily than they
would read the charter itself. He had also
thought of causing to be published by Hle
city papers condensed statement of charter
provisions, and favored the issuance of a
pamphlet, terse and to the point, which
ohould bring out the salient features of the
charter, and mailing it to the voters.
Judge Fariel called attention to very
satisfactory epitome of the charter pub
lished night in the Evening Express He said
that, with the exception of two slight errors,
the terse presentation of the case was all
that could be desired.
Mr.. Howard thought that some kind of an
organization ought to be perfected, which
would enable those friendly to the charter
to work harmoniously for it's adoption, and
suggested that a committee be chosen to act
with reference to that end
Judge Graft moved that an executive COM
mittee, to consist of one member from each
OF the bodies represented in the meeting, one
from the New Charter club and one from the
Union Reform league, be appointed to for
mulate plan of campaign and take the lead
in bringing the merits of the charter before
the voters at large during the time remain
ing before election.
Mr.. Millard asked that member be added
from the public school teachers, promising
from the representatives of the educational
interests cash contribution of $500 in aid of
the dissemination of literature.
C. M. Wells suggested that it might be
we'll to increase the size of the committee,
so that each body should at all its meetings
be represented. If two from each organiza-
ton were designated, there would be more
force
John Cross favored the publication of
complete analysis of the charter, but the
more terse methods of exploiting its merits
was generally favored by those present.
w. H. Workman offered an amendment
to the motion, adding to such committee the
chairman of each of the city central commit
tees, it being, in his opinion, desirable to
commit the parties one way or the other as
to the charter.
Judge Graft suggested, however, that no
political cast be given to the charter ques-
ton, and the speakers at political gatherings
refrain from political references while dis
cussing the charter He also was impressed
with the idea that the committee intrusted
with the management of the campaign
should be kept small, as it would thus be
more effective.
Mr.. O'Melveny suggested that it would
be necessary to appoint subcommittee, and
with two men from each body it would be
easier to apportion the duties than if the
committee was limited to one from each Or
ganization
Judge Graf accepted the amendment Of
fered to his motion, that the committee con-
sist of two from each body, and Mr.. Work
man made and withdrew an amendment that
the chairmen of the Democratic, Republican
and Populist city central committees be add
ed to the committee, it being pointed out by
Mr.. OMelveny that there was no way now
to determine whether or not these men
would serve. In withdrawing his amend
ment, Mr.. Workman requested that the
committee as finally organized secure at once
from the chairmen of the several political
city central committees an expression as to
their inclinations toward or against the
charter, that it might be known exactly
where they stood.
The motion as finally put and carried pro-
vides for the appointment Of two men to
serve on the charter executive committee
from each Of the following organizations:
Chamber of commerce, board of trade, Mer-
chants and Manufacturers association,
League for Better City Government, board
of freeholders, New Charter club, Union Re-
form league and public school teachers. This
provides for committee of sixteen, and it
was moved by Mr.. O'Melveny and carried
that each body severally appoints its own
representatives on such committee and mo-
tify the secretary of the League for Better
City Government Monday morning what
members had been SO appointed, whereupon
the meeting was adjourned