The Detroit times., 1912-03-25
PLAN TO HOLD SPECIAL
CHARTER ELECTION WINS
Gilman Says He Has Enough
Votes To Carry PROPOSE
ton in Council

Aid. Gilman announced, Monday.
that he had enough aldermen with
him TO pass the resolution in the cUun.
ell, Tuesday night, calling for a spe-
cial election, June Is. TO submit the
question OF revising the city charter.
The alderman commented strongly on
the fact that Corporation Counsel
lawson, In addition TO giving his opll-
ion thar special election would be
legal. advised the aldermen not 10 cali
special election. The administers
tons policy, Il is said, is to delay
the submission of the question as long
as possible, so that Il might continue
TO ask what the municipal ownership
advocates are doing for the city. Aid.
Gilman made II clear that II Mayor
Thompson seeks TO embarrdss tie
municipal ownership advocates in this
respect, he will be smoked out ar
once
The situation is just this, when
10000 people submitted petition TO
the council, asking il TO present the
question of municipal ownership, We
considered they had the right 10 nave
IL submitted" said Aid. Gilman The
matter OF submitting the question Was
held up in Lansing, after the courts
decision. | was quoted as saying that
the decks were cleared, and we could
proceed With revision OF the chgr-
ter, Judge Hally. then corporation
counsel. advised against that course.
He told us We could amend the char
ter. We had such confidence in MIR.
Hally's judgment that we proceeded
TO &C, on his advice. If Hally hadn't
given us wrong opinion on the sub
ject, there is no question in my MUD
that the question of revising the caar.
ter would have been submitted at
once, and by this time the charter
would have been revised or Ill the
process OF revision. Now they want
us to delay il a little longer. Taking
the two delays into consideration, ii
is a pretty serious question. We
know what the people want: they
have clearly expressed themselves on
this subject. The people still want
municipal ownership. | now feel as
did all the time, that We should sub
nit the question at the very earliest
possible moment.
IT can't understand Mr.. Lawson's
position in advising us to delay sub
hitting the question until the regular
election in November. There is g.
movement on foot TO delay the matter
as long as possible. Mr.. Lawson
advoccy of putting ii of until fall and
then submitting a charter in the
spring election. If the people decide
for revision, seems 10 be in favor OF
the people who have fought against
municipal ownership from the begin.
ming. In other words, II seems to be
in favor or lengthening out the grasp
the ID, IT, r. now has on the people OF
Detroit. We should shake OF that
grasp, cut loose and be masters OF the
situation"
A member of the administration, an
appointe Of Mayor Thompson, inform
ed The Times Monday that the mayor
would seek reelection.
You want to consider that the spe-
cial election on the franchise did not
bring out the people the way the regu-
lar election WILL he said. Blood and
friendship and personality will count
a great deal in the fall election. When
the mayor begins to campaign for re-
election 1t will be different from the
campaign he made for the franchise.
We will have scores of speakers in
the field and make a real campaign.
Mayor Thompson will stand on his
record and on that franchise he offer
ed the people and be reelected"