Evening journal., 1912-05-29
MORE RAPS
FALL HARD ON
I. THE CHARTER
Adverse Sentiment for Meas
ure Evident at Three
Meetings
ONE VOTE LARGELY
AGAINST The MEASURE

At a public meeting held in Pythian
Castle by the Citizens League last
evening to discuss the proposed new
city charter. the draft was found TO
be unpopular by vote of 26 10 3. The
meeting was addressed by Robert G.
Harman former city solicitor and
presided over by James l.. Banning.
former president of City Council.
A rising vote Of thanks was given
Mr. Harman for his address.
William p White. a member OF the
special commission appointed 10 draft
tho charter attended the meeting
Eleventh Ward Opposes Draft
At the public meeting held in the
! Polish Turner's Hail. at Sycamore
and Van BuiAn streets last evening,
the charter. while II was not subject
ed 10 test vote was plainly in dis
favor
The speakers in opposition TO the
measure were Arnold Francois, the
Rev George Henry Dole and George
A. Lite.
william r. Kurtz was the only
champion of the charter and took ex-
ception TO the kind Of criticism made
to It by Mr. Francois.
The meeting was held under the
ausplces Of the Eleventh Ward Demo
cratic Club and was presided over by
William NJ Connolly former building
inspector The chairman took no part
I'm the argument and at the conclusion
of the meeting he asked the voters 10
? go 10 the polls Saturday and cast their
T votes either for or against the charter.
He said that the discussion had been
fair and impartial and ably conducted.
Francois Opposes Charter.
Arnold Francois the first speaker
was given half an hour to state MS
e opposition to the charter. He COM
x nlained that the people had no say in
T. the framing Of the new charter, but
that ten men. corporation la"se'0
Is mostly did the work.
i He said that people from dineren'
e parts of the city should have neeh ap
e. pointed TO draft the charter
4 Mr.. Francois complained that ~
ie had not been quoted correctly m Ger
J. tain remarks he had made IN refer
ence 20 partisan politics In the cpfr'el
= meeting and what he said IN the pres
y ence of city Council about the riVel
front proposition.
Tie asked that what he said b
= quoted and quoted correctly.
"a The speaker criticised the TACT ina
the assessment list was not made pun
2 lic for business reasons by the pro
mulRators Of the new charter.
The speaker said that the work
,ngmen of the city on next Saturda
would show that they knew how to ki
such charter and also would folio
that in a short time by showing ths
= thev knew how to frame a better on
v The law taxing people and anima
j was A practice 1000 years old, he sal
and gave them the power TO IA
women. He told Of some citizens wn
m had 10 have canvas laid down on the
Is pavements when coal was put In the
a cellars. while the coal to the pof
man was dumped down on the sid
~ walk and shovelled in roughly witt
il ont any canvas protection
81 He scored the landlords and sal
4, that thev made the tenants pay a
:, the taxes. water rents and a bonus
az ownership and another bonus for h'
De ing In IT,
a Reply by Mr.. kurtz.
% Chairman Connolly in introducin
-. W. r. kurt1 as the spedhrt ia io'N
~ of the charter gave him half on hou
IL i'm which 10 make his statements
al Mr.. Kurtz said he would be sorr
!, for the citizenship of this country
they would allow their conduct at th
ne polis 10 be influenced by the appeal Z
d. their passions made by Mr.. Frarcoi'
n He branded that kind of talk rs mer
s- bolderdash and asked il 1t was IN
8 same kind Of talk for the citizens G
m this country 10 be guided by.
n The first point he took up was tha
. of the mayor having power to ca
m npon the citizens in the case Of a
" outbreak Of a big fire. He added: q
does not signify that the mayor
- going 10 shoot your fellows dowI
) There has TO be some head TO tn
government. the mayor or anyood
: else The clause. he said was COPE
- Continued on Second Page)