Evening journal., 1913-12-13
Peoples Column
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AND TIE NEW CHARTER

Editor of THE EVENING JOURNAL:
Sir: At the Chamber of Commerce
smoker, the endorsement of a new
charter was opposed by Senator Rein
hardt upon the grounds that the peo-
pie in Wilmington Don't know enough
to want a new charter" and instead
of a new charter he urged the pass
ing of particular acts, as the street
lpaying bill. If any street paving bill
| is passed, the people. who pay for
the paving. should have the right TO
say whether or no they desire the
bilIas framed. The people Of VIII
mington desire just laws regarding
paving, but they do not want a bill
1 passed that will enable the politicians
and contractors mercilessly to exploit
the people.
There is apparently some mis-
understanding as to why the paving
bill in the charter defeated at the
polls was so vigorously opposed. That
bill was opposed because it placed
absolute power In the hands of a
few out of the reach of the people to
subject taxpayers to unlimited aud
unceasing assessments. 1t gave power
to compel adjacent owners to pay
two-thirds of the expense Of paving
the street. and of keeping the pave
ment in repairs, though the owner
of property did not use the street
even for a wheelbarrow The opera
tion Of the law proposed would drive
the average citizen off the travelled
streets, and the workmen into the
back alleys. For whoever knew Of
the condition where contractors and
politicians would not use the law to
its full extent in extorting money
from the masses of the people for
self-gain?
For one, / am opposed to giving any
further authority to officials until the
power is in the hands of the people to
restrain and direct that power in the
lines of justice and the public good.
The burning question of the day is.
Does government exist for the few to
exploit the people for private gain,
or for the good of all and universal
justice? l concede just as honest
purposes TO my opponent as to those
brave men who stand shoulder. to
shoulder with me, yet I hold that
what we do next is not a matter Of
street paving or assessment, but Of
principle. In my sincere conviction
that everybody knows more than any
body, that the concensus of human
opinion is nearer right and less selfish
than that of any individual, and that
the stability of our government and
the peace and prosperity of our city
and nation rest upon the free exer-
else of the inherent rights of every
citizen 10 citizenship, / cannot tent
porize. Our supreme purpose is not
TO get q law upon the statutes books
allowing Officials to do something. but
to return 20 the people their right
ful citizenship, kindle anew the spirit
OF patriotism, and awaken a righteous
sense OF responsible citizenship. You
know, and | know, and everybody
knows that our citizens with the ex-
ception of few who have an axe to
grind. have nothing more TO say con-
cerning the laws to which they shall
be subjected than the cattle tied in
the stalls. This condition is not at
tributed to any Individual. It Is a
fault Of the system, which Is out
grown. l urge all friends OF good
government, and friends of humanity
and justice to make no compromise,
but to go straight to the heart of the
matter. The people want a new
charter.
Respectfully,
George Henry Dole.
/ limit f4er. DcIr ~