Evening journal., 1912-03-27
BROADEN THE CHARTER AGITATION.


W HAVE received from the Rev George Henry
w Dole prominent and active member Of the
Referendum League, letter to which We gladly give
space and editorial attention That is due the fact
that il represents the views of a responsible citizen,
and in its fairer and broader statements. those of
his associates in the Referendum League In addition
It will assist, we hope in stirring up general public
interest in the proposed new city charter. and con-
tribute largely toward bringing about that general
discussion that should attend consideration OF ques-
tons affecting the fundamental law OF our city. MIR.
Doles letter follows
Permit me, a reader and subscriber of your paper
since becoming a citizen of Wilmington, take an
exception to editorial Of yesterday the 25th en-
titled Prepare to Vote Integenty' There you say
II is bad sign, and shows that the sound, substan-
tial thinking in the several wards not doing
their duty because of the seeming apathy concerning
the proposed new charter Your paper has published
the fact of the activity of the Referendum League in
its effort to defeat that charter. You do not say
that Sound, substantial thinking men are not
doing their duty. but the form 81 your assertion is
such TO imply that all who working hard to
vote the charter down not sound or 'substan-
tia' OF thinking The Referendum League is
composed of professional and laborers, of lay
and ministers, of Republicans and Democrats bul
because they are TO man uncompromsingy opposed
TO the charter you seem TO read them an OUT Vi Ie
spectability. have hundreds OF laboring men
who belong to their union, and have yet to near OF
the first one who is not unalteraby against the chaI
ter Are all of the union men, because opposed TO tne
charter or because they are mostly poor likewise arc
not sound, substantial, or thinking meny
Il have discussed the charter with those wEo franz
ed IL, and with others who favor II. The most tha'
even its trainers have ever said to my knowledge
is that il is better than the old charter Even this
much has not been proved, and | most emphatically
pronounce the charter deploraby worse than the
old. The provision whereby officials are given full
power to pave whatever streets they choose and as
much they please, without even right OF appeal
subject petition of abuttng alone makes
the new charter worse than the old in opening unlm-
tied avenues for contractors, officials and politicians
exploit the taxpayer and the renter for the renter
eventually the bill for rented property The char
ter provides minimum salary that ONCE holders
his store open il he should to his clerks l leave
you to dN your salary, but 10 Il only that you
do not make it less than dollar day? For the
politician the CRATER, and the oice-holder the new
charter is better than the old but for the citizen
it lays him wide open and without defense protest
But these are only two of score OF equally unbusi-
nossko and wrotchedly unjust provisions Of the pro-
posed charter Permit me to say in conclusion that
too, hope that the sound substantial and thinking
men in the several wards, will study the charter if
so obvious thing needs study and, If they have
the city good at heart or regard for Justice work un-
ceasingy against the charter and go the polls aud
vote Il down with majority that will have but one
meaning
Mr. Dole is unfair in attempting to read into our
editorial inference mpuaton that sound
substantial and thinking in the several wards
have given to the proposed city charter thai
careful attention and discussion it deserves. Our
sole purpose 90 call. into the conferences ans
the incidental discussions all sound substantial an,
~
to say that # all other Wilmington had eyncet
the interest IN the proposed city charter and hat
discussed It's provisions with the Same earnesness
of thought the members of the Referendum League
the general indifference that exists today would
have beeu dssipated long ago II Is question
that should interest everybody. because It Ntoll,
affects everybody While there who aliv,
TO that fact, think that Mr. Dole will admi
that the great of the voters who think wher
they want TO think have been wocfully deficient il
interest The question whether the charter would be
good bad for the city is open which shoulC
be threshed out by a comparison of ideas. II Ger
tanly should not and cannot be settled by one-sde'
statements emanating from Mr. Dole or anyone else
We hold brief for the men who framed the pro
posed charter Nevertheless, we think that Mr. Dol
goes far when he insinuates that they have delber
aely framed and proposed for the organic law of
city instrument for the benefit of grafters politi
clans and contractors. Our idea has been that tn
who framed the proposed charter should be treat
ed with respect and that in considering their work
should be accepted honest effort better exist
ing conditions. 1t is for the voters in the June eloc
ton TO decide whether that work has been done wei
One way they reach intelligent decision is I
study the existing charter and the proposed AM
weigh them by fair and dispassonate mental process
! The other way is 90 attend public hearings and
listen the discussion of controverted points BY me-
who have compared the existing charter and the on
proposed, and who big enough discuss the ques
tons with the broad disnterestedness men who re
gard the interests of the municipality as paramour
to private political interests. With such condition
prevailing and with general interest aroused no uu
easiness need be feared relative to the outcome &
the charter election June II would represent III
real sentiment OF the people decisvey that th
minority would feel constrained accept the verdi,
! gracefully Therefore We advise Mr.. Dole and a
other intelligent and thinking In the communit
to devote themselves to stimulating that general il
erest which is so essential to wise settlement
| the charter question
There is question that that section Of the Mint
ward lying north Of Washington Street Bridge ha
made marvellous development in recent years and