The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-05-14
Twenty-Five Thousand Citizens
To Demand Submission of
Amendments Which Marx
Machine Would Stife
FIGURED COUNCIL WILL
NOT DARE REFUSE VOTE
Bucking Peoples Will Would In
yite Disaster When They
Seek Reelection

Petitions calling for charter
amendment election on primary cleo.
tion Cay, Aug. %, on the proposition
OF spring elections for city officials
and eli the non-partisan ballot will be
submitted TO the people for signature
by Judge Connolly and other friends
of charter reform within a few days.
An election on rhese matters on
Aug. %, instead or in November, will
do away with all the objections rais-
Cd By Mayor Marx TO an election in
June" said Judge Connolly There
Will be- no extra expense, since the
primary election must be held The
incleE ent weather argument will not
be valid, since the people will have
10 90 TO the polls to exercise their
choice OF candidates The submission
OF the proposed amendments will not
cause q separate election
"All the arguments adduced by May
or Marx in favor OF charter amend.
ment election In November can be
brought I'm favor OF the submission OF
these amendments in August, with the
additional argument that the decision
Cf the people in August will prevent
action under the amendments, III they
are adopted, from being held up for
two years"
The administration had IL all figur-
ed out that by submitting the amend
ments on election day, IL would rer-
der them imperative until 1917, for
tae home rule act OF 1909 provides
that the terms OF city officials can
not De extended or shortened during
their tenure OF office. Thus, the term
OF a mayor elected in November for
two years could not be affected by
the amendment providing for spring
elections until he had served hrs two
Years. If the amendment Is adopted
In August, however. ii will limit the
term OF the mayor chosen in Novem-
ber 10 three months, specifically An
election will then be held in April
and one has To be- held anyway al
which a mayor will be chosen for a
f0ur-year term
Judge Connolly estimates that %
010 signatures can be obtained TO the
new petitions before it becomes nee
cssary to submit them TO the common
council
II do not believe that the council
would refuse to submit the amend.
ments TO the people at the August
Urinary, n $4,000 voters appeal to II
for this action" said the Judge
A number OF prominent citizens
have volunteered TO assist in the for
nation OF a charter reform league, 70
push across, in as short time as pos
sjble. the most important reforms sug-
gested in the defeated charter.
Plans for submitting the proposed
amendments TO the people on Aug.
- are being very carefully consider
ed. The petitions will 90 TO the coun.
eli early enough 10 cause court ac-
tior. If the council refuses to submit
the amendments. Refusal will lead
lie charter reformers 10 ask the
courts for writ OF mandamus TO com
pei the council 10 submit the amend
ments. II this is refused, the char
ter Gmenders will wage war on the
aldermen who vote 10 hold up sub
mission OF the amendments, and VIII
tty 10 secure their defeat at the polls.
The petitions already signed by
over 10000 voters will be OF no avail
since they do not set any SPECIFIC date
for the submission OF the amend
ments.
Friends of charter reform hgure
that the next move Of the admlnlstra-
ton, If the council does vote to sub
NIT the proposed amendments TO the
people in August, will be TO instruct
The charter and city legislation com
mittee TO submit as many confiicting
amendments TO the people as possible
so as TO prevent a reasonable consid-
Grafton OF the various points, and dls-
Gust the people so that they will vote
an the amendments down. But any
amendments proposed by the common
.ouncil must be submitted TO the gov
,rnor. and IL is believed that Gov.
Ferris can be relied on to spoil that
move nv his veto. IL takes two-thirds
ote of the council to submit char
,,r amendment over the governors
Veto.