The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-22
Permanent Organization Sug-
gested by Leaders of
Hurrah Campaign
SOVEREIGNS MAY
CONTROL AFF AIRS
To Place City in Line for Pro
Qress Without Influence
of Professional Politi-
clan in Future

Plans for a unique, permanent or
can5zaticn of the voters OF Richmond
which shall be non partisan. and for
ever beyond the power Of political
sway were laid last night in the
auditorium Of the jefferson hotel by
the two hundred and nifty commit
teemen who had gathered to discuss
their canvass Of the city IN arouslnE
the eligible bat non-voting citizens to
their power Of franchise.
1t was suggested that the orEaniza-
ton be formed Immediately, but. after
some debate on the question, 1t was
decided to appoint committee CON
sistlng of the twenty-five precinct
captains To draw UP the plans and
report to the committee as whole
at the Business Mems club at O'Clock
next Monday night.
Absolutely Independent.
r. c. Darlington. president OF the
Chamber Of Commerce, offered the
resolution for d permanent organi-
cation. 1t was agreed that the idea
of forming n permanent organization
was good and should he followed, but
the plan was laid over 10 a commit
tee SO that there should be no ques-
ton Of the -partisanship OF the
organization, or league OF voters. The
debaters emphasized The fact that this
was not 10 be a political organization
but a league Of voters who would
exercise their franchise for the best
interests Of the city
Mr.. earrsngton's resolution fol-~
lows
Whereas. the young mems regis
tration committee has completed the
Immediate work o2 seeing everyone as
far as possible who was eligible hut
not qualified to vote. and havirs net
with almost universal courtesy and
commentator ia their efforts to get
the citizens of Richmond to fake AN
interest Ia the civic affairs b. voting
lectively and individually, tenders its
Whereas. ii has been impossible, ~
Che short time, to be absolutely Stare
that everyone who should v-lll qualify
To vote hy May 81, therefore, be IL
Continue Their Efforts.
Resolved First. that the young
mems registration committee hereby
. resolves. individually and collective
~, to continue their efforts. and TO
follow up the WORK 20 the end that
every one who has not qualified and
who is eligible will qualify by May
Sd
Second. That tho young mens
registration committee hereby resolves
itself into Il permanent ORGANIZATION,
which Vii stand ready to promote the
and hereby invites every citizen who
stands for good government to 1o!n
our ranks. The exercise OF suffrage
must he the test Of the best citizen
ship. and the best government must
come from large electorate :" that
those who are pat into office max feel
that they are accountable 20 large
percentage Of citizens.
Third That This body hereby, col
iecttyoly and individually, tender its
thanks for the many words OF conf
mendauon which have been accorded
il, and the expression of appreciation
of thr efforts which have been an IA
spration and help In the work.
The meeting was opened by Mr..
Darlington. lie introduced Fairfax
{, Jones chairman of the committee.
who presided. Mr. Jones was elected
chairman of the committee, and j
Hoge Kicks was elected secretary.
In his prelude Mr. Jones said that
the movement To arouse the non
voters Of Richmond 10 their duty had
been launched and financed by the
chamber of commerce, which, now
that the movement had been well
started and was receiving the support
of the public and the press, turned
the child of it's brain over to the
young men of the city. He told of
how the ee-day campaign had been
started last Wednesday and Of how
the promises of 5000 non-voting
eligihles had been secured that they
would qualify for the exercise of the
franchise by May 3rd. He could not
tell how many would fulfill their
promises but he felt assured that SO
much interest had been aroused that
fully two-thirds Of those who had
promised would qualify. SO that they
could exercise the privilege.
His statement was greeted with
cheers
Many Have Registered
He announced that Ill men regis
tered yesterday and paid their poll
taxes in the city trcaSurer's office and
that siXty-three paid their delinquent
taxes in the Hastings court He took
this is an index or a successful fin
ish to the campaign In the mean
while the good work was to go on.
and every member of the committee
was still to feel il his duty to urge
others to qualify before the primar.
Mr.. Jones called on several of the
precinct captains TO speak, and nearly
all had a word to say. w. +. Waddey,
jr., one Of the captains. addressed him
self to the difficulty which men who
have never voted before find when they
go to pay their taxes. He said that one
man had offered $i0 to one of the com
mitteemen as the beginning OF fund
to pay others delinquent taxes. An
other man offered one of the commit
teemen $4.50 ii he would pay his taxes
Tor him. as ne dldnt Know where 70
go or how to do it. Mr.. Waddey said
he didn't know where the trouble lay,
but he suggested that central office
should be maintained in the city hall
SO that the would be voters could meet
all the requirements in one place. Ev-
erybody agreed with him that the idea
was good one. Many people do not
qualify because they do not know how,
. and become indifferent and do not try.
The meeting was characterized by the
utmost enthusiasm. IL was composed
almost entirely of Young men who were
determined to inject ne w|blood into
the electorate and TO become powerful
factor in civic government. They had