The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-09-13
Opposition
Continued from Page one.l
holding ward meetings about til

city.
Last night two meetings we're held
In the city, planned by the OPPOSE
ton to the charter as meetings OF
protest. One of these meetings was
held in the First ward and was 40.
dressed. by Harry Shaw. Another
was held at the Fifth ward school
house addressed by Attorney j. A.
Meredith. This meeting was held in
the principals office and the small
room was we'll filled IL. M, Davis
who had been invited to attend the,
meeting appeared while the meeting
was in progress and after Mr.. Mere
dith closed his speech he stated that
he was due at meeting Of the Civic
League and started to leave the build
ing. In his speech he had referred
10 an editorial appearing in the West
Virglnian Friday evening on the paw
ing section of the charter ana frUtu
his reading of it he had gained the
impression that the paper stated that
under the old charter the property.
owners were required to pay all the
expense of the paving. Mr.. Davis re-
quested Mr.: Meredith To remain while
he replied to that part Of his re-
marks. The correction of the wrong
impression was made and Mr.. Mere
dith departed. What the West Vir-
ginian did say on that subject yester-
day on the point at issue follows:
Under the old charter which is
silent on the paving question the paw
ing is done under the acts Of 1895,
which provides that the property
owners pay two-thirds Of the paving
bills and the city one-third. That is.
the property owners on either side OF
the street pay each one-third OF the
cost.'
While there was no copy Of the pa
per TO be had at the meeting to show
Just what was said the explanation
seemed to be satisfactory and those
who have yet any doubt about the
statement can read it in full in the
paper Of yesterday evening or from
the Times this morning which repro
duced the article in full. The SEN
timent was somewhat divided and at
the close of the meeting several vot-
ers pledged their support to the
charter.
At the First ward meeting there
was no one present to reply to Mr..
Shaw and he also paid his respects"
to the West Virginian as well as to
the Times. He stated that there was
a time in his life when he believed
what he read in a Republican news
paper but since the papers had agreed
on the charter question he did not
believe it any more than he did the
Times.
The West Virginian is pleased to
note. however, that Mr.. Shaw quail
fed his remarks If he Is correctly
quoted, by stating that IF what the
West virginian stated were not I'M
truths they were only half truths
which were as bad If not worse,
which all goes to show that Mr.. Shaw
is disposed to temper his criticism
with proper degree of mercy, ex-
tending the same charity to others
he would expect for himself.
There is large thinking and read
ing element in the city composed of
the influential business men, leaders
in the organizations which have for
their purpose the advancement Of the
city, and who have no interest in
politics, who are almost to man for
the Greater Fairmont charter and
the change in the plan Of govern"
ment. These men stand out SO con-
spicuously in the community as lead
ers in tho civic and commercial life
Of the city that their'influence will
be powerful factor in securing the
adoption of the charter, They know
what a Greater Fairmont means to
them in a business way and under
stand fully that the increased popula-
ton will add prestige to the city in
the way of securing more industries
and a larger hold upon the business
world.
KEEP ADVERTISING AND An