The Cairo bulletin., 1913-02-07
COMM|SS|ONPlAN
ADVOCATES firm
ON PROPOSITION
Enthusiasm At High Pitch At
Meeting Attended By Rep
resentative Citizens.
COMMITTEES ARE. APPOINTED
Mass Meeting to Be Held at Court
House-Insttactive Pamphlets
to Be Printed.
COMMITTEES ARE. APPOINTED

That the Commission Plan petit
TONERS will exert every e.ort to
change the form of government iil
Cairo this year was the consensus OF
opinion at an informal mSeting
held last night at he Office OF Jusice
of the Peace A. Comings While
the attendance at the meeting was
not quite as large as expected many
representative business men We're
there with enthusiasm reigning
strong among these present.
Frank Spencer was elected chair
man OF the meeting and Judge Com
ings secretary and treasurer. c. l..
Keaton and c. V. Neff were appoint
ed, with authority to name third
member as a committee, whose duty
it will be to obtain definite informa-
tion regarding Geveral technical
points which are to be determined
before the campaign is formally
opened.
Attorney Reed Green, In a brief
address. declared that while he was
absolutely in favor OF the proposed
change in form of government he
had not had sufficient. time to study
the various legal phases of the law
aud was not prepared TO offer legal
advice at the meeting. lie said
there were several points to be de-
eided by, the petitioners before the
cainpaieli J, could be 1rob6ffy
launched, He declared il was HIS
opinion that the only legal way
names could be placed upon the ball
lot at the general election would be
BY writing them in He said he
was not positive that names OF the
candidates could be placed upon
the ballot by any other means.
This, he said, might be regarded as
disadvantage.
Attorney Green later stated that
the writing in of the names OF can
didates on the ballot might on the
other hand work in favor of the
proposition, as it might be the
means OF bringing out the better
element on election day
The question of having copies of
the law distributed was broached.
Mr.. Neff was in favor of delaying
printing the phamplets until defi-
mite information could be obtained
from the attorney general of the
state or other legal authoiitie rel-
ative TO the law points involved
Other petitioners favored the i'm
mediate printing of the phamplets,
declaring that regardless of wheth-
er the fight was continued or drop
ped, the public would be better in
formed on the law. En-
A motion was then offered for the
appointment Of committee to So
licit fund for this work, but
enough money was subscribed at
the meeting to pay for the printing.
The chairman was instructed By
vote of the meeting to call a
mass meeting at the court house
some evening next week and ar
range to have one of more speakers
from cities which have adopted the
Commission Plan present and adj
dress the voters.
In connection with the meeting
of the Retail Merchants association
last night, Secretary Gilhofer read
the following communication from
%. NJ. King, president OF the Retail
Merchants association OF Illinois,
relative to the Commission Form OF
Municipal Government, he having
made inquiries OF aim in regard to
the position the association took on
the question:
Chicago, Feb. 5, 1913.
Cairo Retail Merchants Association,
Cairo, Illinois,
Dear Sir. Your letter OF the Attn
inst at hand regarding the Commis-
sion Form of Government Regard
ing the position the State Associa-
tion has taken in this matter will
say your state officers assisted in
having the Commission Act passed by
your legis ature making 1t possible
for any town or city of 200,001
population, or less, to vote on and
adopt. if so desired, the Commission
Form of Government.
From reports which We have from
time to time, every city that has 81
far voted to adopt said form OF gov.
ernment, seems to be well satisfied
with It; inasmuch as it gives the re-
tail merchant a chance TO run for
office thereby putting the merchan.
in a better position 10 secure Just
land needed legislation, as well al
i fC0neluded an Third paeeo