The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-30
MAKING KNOWN THE CHARTER.

The action of certain citizens looking
toward the dissemination of more general
Information regarding the proposed new
charter is in the highest degree timely
and commendable. The work done by the
charter commission during its later ses-
sions is all excellent, and renders its
work in its entirety worthy of careful
public examination. Indeed. as whole,
that work has assumed a character Of late
which largely withdraws from 1t the
measure OF public Indifference and doubt
which attended its earlier endeavors.
From the outset the C l o has been
constant in its demands that some means
be adopted for informing the public more
thoroughly than they promised to be in
formed of the substantive changes
wrought in the present incongruous in
strument through the labors of the COM
mission. This end is now in a fair way
of accomplishment, and it gives the
C 0 b e genuine pleasure to observe that
the Woman's Civic league Is an active
party In producing the desirable result
Of the primaries of the two parties that
the public attention would be largely con-
centrated in the forthcoming campaign
upon The personality of the several can
didates. and that the proposed new char
ter was likely to fare but ILL., This con-
dition viii without doubt continue in spite
Of all that the daily press can do unaided,
unless some movement Is seriously main
tanned to impress upon the voters the
prime necessity of giving to the charter
the attention or something approaching
the attention that its Importance entities
It TO.
Compared with the adoption Of substan-
tial changes in our local organic law, the
question Of candidates is comparatively
insignificant Party success will be look
ed Upon by the contending forces as the
great end to be attained, despite all that
even The new movement can hope to ac-
complish. But for that very reason is it
Indispensable that something shall be
done in behalf Of the charter. The G l b e
believes that the charter should be adopt
ed. speaking with the limited knowledge
which it possesses Of its provisions. And
1t believes that it is certain to be adopt
ed if the radles and gentlemen who have
Interested themselves will act with de-
cisIon and energy.
There is no time to be lost. AS soon
as possible fair synopsis of the changes
proposed in the present charter should
be published. To this extent the daily
press VIII cooperate most heartily. 1t
will go further; and the G 10 b will most
cordially urge the adoption of the instru-
ment on the voters throughout the cam
palgn should those changes not be against
Its understanding In any material respect
of the needs and demands of charter Iegfs-
lation.
The notion so sedulously cultivated in
certain directions that the people were
SO welded to the present charter that
they would not tolerate any substantial
changes in 1t IS radically false They
understand quite as well as those who
undertake to judge for them the degree
Of confusion and strife which has pre-
vailed in the effort to interpret its pro-
visions. They know that it is mere Iegis-
lative patchwork. If they are given a
chance to remedy its worst features and
are enabled TO understand what is asked
of them, they will doubtless adopt 1t with
the understanding that by amendment in
the future they can render II all or naar
~ all that they desire.