Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-21
COUNCIL RING To
DEFY CHARTER
MANDATE
Opposition Leaders Declare
That They Will Not Call
Special Election.
Continued From Page One.
pies side and the politicians side" was
John Z. NcCleuand's comment
Estimate 1000 in Crowd.


Estimate 1000 in Crowd.
Despite the discouraging night, the
meeting was attended by crowd esti-
mated from 5000 to 5000 There were
few women and boys among them The
stamp Of voters was Enthusiastically on
the face Of that crowd.
Chairman James W. English put a
motion indorsiug the new charter Of
the committee of %, requesting coun-
Gil TO submit this charter and councils
revamped charter TO popular election
within 60 days, and authorizing the
chairman to appoint a committee Of 100
citizens to present the resolutions 10
council they arose to their feet in one
great body and voted AYE"
Just before the motion was put, j. W
Rowe. several times an unsuccessful
candidate for council, Jumped from his
seat and asked TO be heard, The crowd
hooted him down, but wpSn the oppo-
sition vote to the resolutions was call
ed for he again stood up in solitary
protest
Councilnnen Are Impressed.
VisibIy impressed by the gathering, a
number Of councilmen were seen on
the outer edge Of the assembage.
Among them were Aldermen James r.
Nutting and James f. Warren and
Councilmen Roy Alternately and Albert
Thomson. all bitter opponents to the
new charter. They would not admit
that their position had been affected by
the meeting.
As the crowd came out, an anony-
nous defiance was hurled from the OPP
position. Circulars attacking leading
charter advocate reforms and the At
lanta newspapers were being distribut-
ed by boys.
RINGS Tactics Played.
The tactics of the politicians who
have been endeavoring to block vote
nv the people on the new charter ques-
ton were flayed by the speakers.
Declaring that the time had come
when the public servants must be
forced to understand that the people
are their masters, Captain James W.
English. the presiding officer opened
the meeting. The first speaker he
called upon was Charles r. Hopkins,
the noted lawyer who launched into a
stirring appeal for the rights Of the
people.
He reviewed the history Of the char
ter OF the committee of %, how 1t had
been published three separate and dis
tinct times and public criticisms on it
invited Then he told how the other
charter was drawn.
There was man defeated for may
or by James G. Woodward" he said.
He embraces all the essential, funda-
mental and concrete elements Of ring
rule In Atlanta.
Refers to Chambers.
He stood then and he stands now
as the high priest Of ring rule.
He stood then and he stands now
for all that inimical to the interest
of the tax payers of Atlanta.
THAT councilmanic charter was be
gun by a little clique that met in his
office in the night It was not even
fathered under the caves Of the city
hall. The leader is no longer a city
official"
Mr.. Hopkins was referring to ex
Councilman Aldine Chambers. During
this part OF his speech he was con-
stantly interrupted by shouts and
cheers.
This charter does not offer any re-
forms" he continued, Its sole pur-
pose is to fix on your necks, without
any hope of relief, this ring rule
1T is not to be submitted to you for
vote. according to their plan. They
want TO make it a law over your heads.
And the object Of this meeting here
tonight is to get a vote by the people
on the whole Of this charter matter"
We will We will" was the re
Spouse from the audience.
Bares Charter Faults.
Mr.. Hopkins then told OF some of the
faults he had found with councils re-
vamped charter and how it would
strengthen the dominance Of politicians
in control of the city government
This councilmanic charter strikes