Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-21
POLITICIANS
WILL DEFY
PEOPLE ON
CHARTER
Opposition Leaders in Council
Declare They Will Not Call
Special Election.
VAN DYKE DECIDES TO
OBEY MEETING MANDATE

Leaders of the opposition in council
to the reform charter declared to-day
they will ignore the mandate of the
people expressed at the big mass meet
ing at the auditorium last night for
a vote on the charter question, Instead
Of providing for an election within the
next 60 days to submit both charters
to the people, the plan urged in the
resolution adopted at the mass meet
ing. a number of councimen issued de-
hance to the people and announced
that they would stand by their original
program.
Captain James w English, who act
ed as chairman of the meeting last
night. said to-day that he would an
nounce the committee Of 100 to submit
the request of the mass meeting to
council tomorrow When that body
goes before council one of the closest
and dramatic fifihts ever seen In coun-
ell will develop. according to the line
up of to-day. The committee will sub
NIT that it is question of whether
council win recognize the sovereignty
OF the people in municipal affairs.
Ants Breathe Defiance.
Alderman James r. Nuttlng who has
been one Of the most active opponents
Of genuine charter reform, said to-day
that the meeting had not frightened
him nor had it developed any reason
why he should change his position.
Alderman James f. Warren and Coun-
cilmen Albert Thomson, Claude L. ASH
ley and Roy Alternately all said they
expected TO support the resolution
agreed upon by the caucus of fifteen
members of council Aldine Cham
bers, who was defeated for mayor and
is a leader in the ants fight, spoke
along the same line.
On the other hand Alderman A. n.
VanDyke, one of the fifteen to sign
the resolution asking the legislature
to enact the councils revamped char
ter into law without submitting ii to
the people, conditioned on the people
repudiating the charter of the com
mittee Of %, declared he was ready to
accede to the request of the meeting.
- do not think IT the best plan" no
have expressed themselves to make it
my duty to vote to submit the charter
to an election as requested"
Smith Delays Decision.
Councilman Charles w. Smith. an
other of the fifteen, said he had not de-
cided what action he would take. He
said he felt sure council would go into
thorough study of the whole situation
before acting
Despite the attitude Of many of the
councilmen. Mayor Woodward and
other charter reform leaders expressed
strong hope that council would obey the
expressed will of the people. They think
the chance worth hard fight in coun-
eli. anyway. The spirit with which
they are entering the contest is evil
deneed by reports that if council re-
fuses another mass meeting will be
called and a committee appointed 10
hold an election.
Reformers Are Jubilant
Here are some Of the favorable COM
ments on the mass meeting heard to-
day:
There were several times as many
during the last mayoralty race and
more than II, 900 votes were cast in that
election. This certainly demonstrates
the wish Of the public on this charter
question: declared w. G. Humphrey.
Martin Amorous said:
The people present last night were
voters-men from all walks of life and
all sections of the city. There were al
most enough advocates Of the charter
present TO carry it in an election"
Presented United Front.
Il don't think l ever saw meeting
before when the people were so united
on a question. If it had been a good
night 10000 persons would have been
present" asserted Captain J. w. Eng
lish. who presided.
1T was. one of the best political
meetings l ever saw" said Mayor
Woodward. For council to refuse to
act according 10 its instructions would
be a direct and absolute population Of
the expressed will of the people"