Evening journal., 1913-12-16

eighth Of all cast is sure to be one
Of the seven largest numbers into
which The whole number can be di-
vlded up. To put It more concrete
ly, If Smith has 60l votes and the
whole number cast is 1900, no more
than six other candidates can pos
lsibly get rs many votes as Smith. Any
capdldates, then, who on this princi-
pie have received enough hrst-choice
votes to make up a constituency are
al once declared elected.
Effective Voting.
'lf il Is found that a candidate has
more i' Il choice ,otcs tlan the htrber
required for constituency. a. sunalus
ballots are distributed to other candi-
dates according TO the preferences Of the
voters who Gust them as indicated on
them. The object Of this transferring
of surplus first t-choicc ballots is not hard
TO see; it is 70 make every ballot that
counted for nothing towards the election
Of bis next highest preference whom it
can really help, The figure ] on the
ballot, you see. means This is the man
! want 10 help elect if possible,
The figure meansi This is the
man ! want to help elect il cannot help
my first choice The figure 3 means
This Is the man ! want to help elect II
/ cannot help either my first choice or
/ my second. And 50 on; the figures on
the ballot are simply orders given by
/ the voter to the election official SO that
the latter can make .Ae ballot effective
towards the election of that candidate
preferred by the voter among those who,
considering how everybody else IN the
city Is voting, can possibly be helped
/ by A."
Presidents Report Of Work
The report OF the president and the ieX-
ecutive committee for the year follows'
Almost coincident with the cleo
tion of the present officers in Decem-
Der. 1912, there was brought out by
the Referendum League OF Delaware
q charter bill, intended to the State
wide in its application, for adoption
by'any municipality OF the State upon
favorable popular vote. After due
consideration, and after holding two
public meetings to get the thought Of
the members of the association on this
subject. your Executive Committee
decided to endorse the measure and
work for its passage.
"The Legislature was already In
session The work OF public informa-
ton had to be carried through with
only too much rapidity to be effective.
The charter bill prepared by the
Charter Commission had been defeat
ed only the previous June so that
charter propaganda in general was
suffering from a temporary setback.
In spite Of these difficulties. the bill
was passed In the House with but a
single dissenting vote and secured a
failed to secure the constitutional ma
/ lority Of ~ necessary for a special
municipal bill.
The bill had suffered but little
from amendment during It's progress
The important amendments consisted
OF the elimination OF the special cleo
ton for adoption and a restriction to
make It apply only 10 Wilmington.
"Mr. Burchenal, as our representa-
tive IN Dover, did excellent work. The
thanks Of the association is also due
Mr.. William f. Kurtz and Mr., william
White, who ably seconded Mr.. Burch-
) enals efforts.
After the defeat Of the bill, the as
Z ISOLATION carried on no further activ-
5 tiles except that, with the consent OF
the Executive Committee. your Pres
7 ident through the courtesy OF Mr. j.
2 B. Bell published a series OF articles
s In the Sunday Star, dealing with Com
8 mission Government and kindred sub
y poets.
!. After due consideration. your Ex-
q ecutive Committee decided that fur
g ther work IN the preparation OF q
e new charter should be undertaken
e at once. II was further decided that
9 the Executive Committee itself should
r resolve Itself into a Charter Commit
? tee to do this work but II was
!. thought wise to take in additional
b members to make a committee Of hf-
y teen. The additional seven members
b have been selected. Care was taken
. In the selection to secure men OF
charter experience, men IN touch
'' with popular thought and men famil-
I lar With the political phases OF the
subject. Finally II was aimed not
7 only to secure representatives from
4 the two sides OF the old cleavage line
3 OF Democrat and Republican but aleo
OF the more modern division Of no.
D litical thought OF liberal and con-
seryatiye. Accordingly, the followins
men have been chosen TO serve on
this committee and their consent Sc
I cured
Francis l. dupont Robert H.
Richards, Rev. VIM. Temple. VIM p.
White, Jerome b. Bell. Armon d.
Chaytor, Jr, Charles W. Bush.
These seven gentlemen, together with
tne eight members Of the executive com.
mittee comprise the committee for the
! preparation Of the revised charter. This
body has already met for organization
has adopted the name of The Charter
Committee Of the Wilmington Civic As.
e sociation,' has elected its officers and has
D started its work.
, 1T is expected that the completed
work can be made public in the spring
OF 1914 suihclently early to give IN,
members Of this association and tn,
= citizens At large ample time for its con
2 sideration Since this charter Commit
tee Is not legally constituted body
o II Is free agent in that It NAV re
wise ats work after publication, TO meet
the best thought Of the people OF vii
!, mington.
Respectfully submitted
Irving Warner, President