Evening journal., 1911-12-05
OPPOSE ONE
CHARTER PLAN
MIR. Dole Thinks Future EleC-
ton Should Not be by
Districts
REFERENDUM FEATURE
NOT In INSTRUMENT

Although the attendance at the an
nual election OF the Wilmington Civic
Association in the Wilmington High
School last evening was small there
was enough discussion of the pro-
posed city charter to make the ses-
sion interesting. The question debat-
ed last evening pertained TO the form
Of electiug councilmen That opposi-
tion to the plan Will be encountered
WAS made known.
The Rev. George Henry Dole, pas
tor Of the New Church. opened The
discussion at the close of the election
with the statement that he could not
SEQ good of ciecting three councilmcn
from each OF the two proposed dis
tricts and three at large. He thought
II advisable TO elect nine men from
the city, Irrespective Of where they
lived The proposed method he said
would, in his opinion. place the ward
spirit in an uncomfortable position.
Mr.. Dole favored control of the ad-
ministration by five members elected
at large and all other appointments
should be made by examinations. Tie
also thought the charter should em-
body the initiative. referendum aud
recall. He said he would oppose The
present proposed charter.
II. II. Ward, president Of the assor
citation. said he had been advised that
the initiative, referendum and recall
would not be embodied In the NEW
charter and he also understood that
the real authority would be vested in
"a legislative body with a general su-
perintendent which would be respon-
sible for the workings of all the de-
partments
Mr. Dole said that he formerly
preached that IL was every mans duty
to 20 10 the polls and vote, but at
present be thought il best for every
man TO stay home. 81 have either this
set of men to vote for or another, one
set Is as bad as the other and they
feel that they arc i'm office and can do
as they please Mr.. Dole said.
Albert W. Cummins spoke of the
necessity for organized support.
He said that the charter would GER
tainly be opposed by some politicians
and probably the Socialists, who We're
showing much activity in public af-
fairs, Just now. lie suggested that the
views of the people should be OK
pressed in writing. lie felt that the
public press would be glad TO print
the opinions. Mr. Cummins referred 10
the lack of interest manifested in pub
lie affair in this city
Mr. Ward also spoke of the neces-
sity for organized support and that
unless the support was given he
thought the proposed charter would
be showed under.
William p. Bancroft advocated tho
picking out of the worst feature of
the charter and conhning the work
on that one thing
Mr.. Ward said that il the people
wanted a thing they could get It,
It was finally decided to ask the
charter commission TO attend the next
meeting of the Association. and hear
aud enter into the discussion on tho
proposed charter.
AS the next meeting night Will fan
on New Years eve, IL was decided
10 meet on the second Monday even
ing in January instead
The election of officers resulted as
follows
II IL. Ward. president: l.. w. Bros
,us e-presidcnt; John y. John, sec
rctary and treasurer. The president
and vice-president We're reelected.
Herbert s. Morrow. the former secre-
tary and treasurer stated that il
would be impossible for him to serve
the association for another year.
The executive committe was re-
elected as follows Caleb h. Burche-
nal, A. ID. Warner T. Allen Hilles,
George B. Miller and w f. Kurtz.
Tho treasurer reported the receipts
for the year as S172 and the expendi-
lures, $9442. leaving balance re-
,rninfno Of eT7 re