The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-04-09
Kitchen Cabinet Has Two
Representatives from Each
Improvement and Civic Or
ganization in City.
DELEGATE OF TRADES
COUNCIL TO FRONT
Charles Kirk Fights Move
ment to Give Commercial
Club Preeminent Domin-
ance on Advisory Board.

Mayor Robbins is to have his
kitchen cabinet" One was provided
for him at an old fashioned town
meeting held in the Commercial club
rooms last night, a meeting attended
by a fair sized crowd. including ten
or twelve very interested women. all
apparently delighted with the prospect
of their sex finally having something
to say about city government.
1t was a smooth running meeting.
everybody expressing approval of the
mayors plan calling for an advisory
board. including members of the Com
mercial club, the South Side Improve
ment association, the West Richmond
Improvement association. the newly
organized Fairview Improvement as
sociation, the Richmond Trades Coun-
Gil and the Federation of Women's
clubs.
However. there was a little dispute
over the number Of representatives
each organization should have on the
board. some Commercial club men,
bers holding that this club should
have four representatives and each of
the other organizations two represen-
tatives.
Kirk Fights Proposal.
Charles Kirk, one of the Trades
Council representatives, objected to
this. and Joseph Mills. a manufac-
turer. supported the position taken by
Kirk. Then Folger p. Wilson and W.
K. Bradbury withdrew their sugges-
tion Of a preponderance OF members
for the Commercial club. The motion
providing two representative from
eacn organization 10 serve on the ad-
visory board went through.
The meeting held last night for the
purpose of organizing the mayors
kitchen cabinet" was unique in the
history of Richmond, and a step to
bring the government of the city clos
er to the people; a plan which will
permit the city officials to keep in
closer touch with the wants, plans
and desires Of the people they are
serving
Powers of Board.
The advisory board will be clothed
with no official powers. but at the
same time will supplement the board
of public works and the council as the
third branch of the city government.
To this board of representative citi-
zens. representing the various walks
of life and the various districts of the
city, will be brought all questions OF
importance so that they can aid with
their advice in solving all such prob
lens.
Within the next two or three weeks
there will be meetings Of the various
organizations to be represented on the
advisory board for the purpose Of
electing it's members. As soon as all
the "cabineteers" have been selected
Mayor Robbins will call the first
meeting of the board.
Mayor Robbins Presides.
President George Seidel of the Com
mercial club acted as temporary chair
man of the meeting last night and
Mayor Robbins was chosen permanent
chairman.
Politics umidly intruded into the
discussion, but the introduction was
rudely rebuffed by all speakers. in
contrast to the hearty reception eX-
tended to the women'S suffrage cause
when its local representatives declar-
ed that the path being blaZed by May
or Robbins provided an entrance for
the women of the city into the big
field of city government.
In calling the meeting to order Mr..
Seidel declared the city of Richmond
was tne biggest corporation III Inc
city and that it was to the interest of
all its stockholders. the citizens, to
see that dividends were declared each
year in the shape of economical ad-
ministration of affairs and wise pub
lie improvements.
Upraids Political Howl.
I've heard this plan of Mayor Rob
bins called a .grandstand play and
petty politics. declared Mr. Seidel.
a staunch Republican, But / do not
believe 1t. However, no matter what
it is, if it brings about desired results
and know il will, il will be beneficial
to all the people of Richmond. The
administration has asked our aid in
the management of city affairs and IL
we don't give IL then it will be our
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