The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-27
ATLANTA ID VOTE ON CHARTER TODAY The New Form May Be
 Repudiated THE VOTERS ARE 12,000 Apprehensiye of Birmingham Re- trenchment Plan the City Em-
 ployes Line Up With the
 Opposition Forces
THE VOTERS ARE 12,OO0

1 Atlanta, September 26.-(Spe l)-
 When the polls open Wednesday morn I ing the voters of Atlanta will decide
 whether they will remain under the
 present system of government or adopt | a new charter.
 | Atlanta is a divided camp over this
 proposition At one time, when the
 idea was first preached it rather looked
 as if there would be little or no op-
 position to a change.
 1 It was generally acknowledged that
 the city was not governed by the pest
 form. Even those who are now fight ing the charter admit that changes of some kind would be helpful, but they have no desire to vote in the new char l ter proposed.
 Of course it is impossible to say pos itively that this side or that will win, but It looks very much at present as if the new charter Is facing defeat. About 12,0OO voters are registered. Of this number something over 10000 will probably appear at the polls. The fight will be a hard one and the vote prob
 ably close.
 But against the charter there is lined up a formidable coalition. These forces are headed by the politicians who are | in office now or who hope to be- They are aided by the policemen and the fremen of Atlanta. They are strength ened by those who think that there should be changes in the school sys- tenn. They are bulwarked with the army of working men, the federation l of trades having declared against the charter And in addition to these they have the encouragement of the Greeks, the Italians and other foreigners. On the other hand there are the most
 prominent men of the city, the moneyed and social leaders of the city, with all
 the backing given by their names and
 their achievements for the city in years past. They are led by men for whom Atlantans have great respect
 On the one hand then are the people who feel they have everything to lose by the election; on the other, those who have no personal interest in the battle,
 only a recognition of civic obligation. The police and the firemen were put in the ranks of the opposition, largely
 through the efforts of the members of
 the board of police commissioners and
 the heads of the fire department, also
 through their own fears. 1t has been represented to them that when Bir- mingham went commission a number
 of officers in both departments were ! thrown out of positions by a peremp- | tory command without a chance to in yoke civil service or to appeal to any higher power for d trial on charges preferred
 The proposed plan Is that five men govern the city, one of whom shall be the mayor and that they have ab-
 solute power. as an administra tive
 board, with all legislative body of 10 councilmen, one from each ward The only privilege of recall is that given, when the petition is signed by seven members of council.
 It is specified that the schools shall be exempted to be controlled by a board of education as at present only with reduced membership. The five commissioners get a salary of ssOO0 A year and give all their time to their work. Courtland Winn, present mayor, remains in office one year under the new arrangement.
 Summed up the objections of the opposition are: The plan puts too much power in the hands of five men; the present mayor is legislated into office a an increase in salary of s3O0O; and the exemption of the schools from con- trol by commissioners was due to a de- sire on the part of Senator Slaton of this district to save his brother, Will liam Slaton, who is now superintendent of the city school system.
 At first an agitation was started In
 Atlanta for straight commission, about
 such as Birmingham enjoys. Then the opposition devised charter which called for reduced boards and several other changes. The boards was the
 principal item, the commission form abolishing all boards When the plan was put up to the legislature and delayed again and again
 through the efforts of prominent At
 lantans, compromise charter was ar
 ranged and passed and on this char ter Atlanta will vote on Wednesday.