The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-01
TUESDAY. OCTOBER /. 1912.
no TIME FOR INDIFFERENCE.


Richmond people may be inclined To look
With indifference upon the constitutional /
Amendment which zones before the snftrasans
the state for ratification at the fan elections
1belierinx THAI they but slightly Interested
.n.smuch as they have already adopted an
approved system of government under thf eA-
tsfing constitutional requirements
Ri ~. r,yotutnn believes also that with the
induction into Office Of the board OF admins
s3r.tion Richmond will have better govern
men, than now. but it does not believe the
Ss..~.tem .oop 10 he inaugurated is the best that
ran be obtained If constitutional RESTRICTIONS
- rrmoyed. The new beard may do all 'hat
syhe most sangujne expects of it or it may do
1aess. but In either ease there VIII De rur'her
room for Improvement. and TINS improvement
ss@.n be secured only through the adoption OF
Sthe amendment providing for real COMMISSION
s.cvernment in those cities which desire IT.
-, tha new system adopted by Richmond prove
u. Yai,ure or If it does not fully meet eApec'a-
.~41nns there it little to- be doae Inc h&Sisn''
.hnnt 10 be tried is probably the best that
-. \, ob,.ired under the restrictions imposed
e Ar the E0DSf1tuAloH, anu oH'''F
Hssna.s, improvements suggested by experience
~il be difficult. If not impossible OF apph-
cation,
The adoption of the amendment In question
xlil nave the way for changes and improve
] menss II will make possible form OF gov
H.rnment more nearly approaching that OF Gal
u xasson. Des Moines and other cities governed
& IN a small commission of one branch coaheii'
III defeated il will close the doors to the 1m-
4 Droyements that may be needed IN Richmond
III in Norfolk and will restrict other cities de-
Sesrons OF changes 10 the adoption OF iorh'
d efm;lar TO that about TO be tried III hlehmono.
N The neople Of the cities of Virginia II their
sh-etbren Of the rural districts viii help. have
@rhe opportunity to secure an effective for#
EErf commission government ana 10 free iheih-
xe,yes from the cumbersome forms now III oper-
alton The amendment authorizes the general
sa assembly to change the forms Of government
= -rfties aHa-tt4zst whenever city or town
& ~ishes 10 change There is compuision.
ANY city can retain its present form II II so
3 aes.res The passage of the amendment WORKS
no automatic change in the form OF govern
=arrat assembly can make change in that
I fern OF government organization unless the
4 d ople of the city ratify the proposed change
M popular vote. The amendment may be
Il adopted and the general assembly may enact
Law providing for commission form OF gov
@rnment in this or that city but 1t Will not
Aecome lucrative until the city in question
sees fit to adopt il
Richmond people should not fail to vote on
d fhis amendment 1t it. of the utmost import
ance TO them. In all probability the vote OF
The cities will decide the fate of the amend
An,ent as the people OF the counties are inter-
q asted only indirectly and probably will not
h sake the trouble 10 vote IN great numbers.
They should do SO, for its passage means much
u Tor the cities, and that which helps the cities
8 s,,.aps the. counties: but the laws OF human
"a nature are still operative and the probabilities
aye against large vote In the counties either
D fcr ar against The cities. however. arc di-
u .ac.ix interested and Richmond should not de-
q fuae itself with The idea that because It mas
B made one step forward il can afford TO stop
I'D cannot II has gone far as possible under
u ne calsiitution and che next step is to aFsent
u fhe constitution SO 10 enable II TO go fur
~ ther should il be found necessary. Thatscai
81 II - accomplished by voting for the amendment
u Practically every voter in the state believes
q III the commission form Of government. Thu
M theory is attractive and it has been proven tru'
II practice If all who favor 1t viii vote TO
& ne amendment il will be adopted