The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-09
Gooa Weather Promised
For Chay1er V0fing

EU/ CNLI/Ik/ v OfIVS
Unsettled weather, with possible
snow hurries, is indicated for election
day. II Will be cold. the weather
man says, but not SO cold as sunday
aud Monday. The rise in tempera-
ture will be quite perceptible. in
fact. and as il will take but half a
minute 10 vote. there ought TO be no
waiting at the polls for chance
TO get hold OF a blue pencil and q
ballot Al any rate. there Will be
no rain. and no soft mud about the
booth. The weather ought not TO
deter citizens from voting, and any
one who uses il as an excuse for
staying away from the polls will be
frowned upon by more stalwart citi-
gems
Thet executive board OF the citizens
charter committee met volunteer
workers at the polls in Moose temple,
Sunday afternoon and gave them in
structions There were enough vol.
unteers 70 supply at least one watcher
FOR every precinct.
Fraudulent voting is not SO much
feared as is fraudulent marking OF
ballots after the polls close. II all
the men in the booth, after It is closed
and the count begins. find that they
are opposed 10 the charter. there IS
little To prevent them from checking
the books TO find out the names OF
those who have not voted. and mark
ing a number OF ballots no. then en-
tering a number OF names IN the poll
book TO correspond 10 the number OF
ballots marked AS Il ought not to
take more than few minutes TO count
the vote. Withholding OF returns Will
be prima facie evidence OF fraud and
ought to be Investigated
Members OF the Progressive party
met. Sunday afternoon, in Duttield
hall, and after hearing addresses by
Frederick r. ingram. Charles l.. Nc
Carly. Judson Broadway, and AID.
Lodge voted unanimously 10 indorse
the charter The following resolu-
tons were adopted
Whereas The city OF Detroit Il
offered the opportunity 10 modern
ize IT'S system OF government by
the adoption OF the. charter pro
posed by the charter commission
and thereby to attain complete
nome rule at a single step
Resolved, That the Wayne
County Progressive club approves
OF the proposed charter. especial.
ly those features Of II which will
mean Increased efficiency, econ
omy and democracy OF govern
rnent. namely Cd The elimina-
ton OF partisan politics In local
elections (2) The certainty or
elections BY a majority by means
OF the preferential ballot. 90
A complete separation rnrrft-
cipal elections from state and ma
tional elections. ca Concentra
ton OF responsibility. CO.. The re
duced size OF the common coun-
ell With one alderman from each
ward instead, OF two. 60 The
abolition OF the board OF esti-
mates. t7) The Initiative, refer
endum and recall 80 The estab-
lishment OF The new departments
OF public safety, recreation, labor
welfare and arts. 90 The eight
hour day. siX-day week and mini
mum wage BIZ Il further
Resolved. That we as national
Progressives in line with our
principles, urge the members OF
our party TO sustain the charter
as an advanced step in municipal
government
The municipal ownership commit
tee issued a statement. Saturday, crit
zing Corporation Counsel Lawson for
his last-moment attack ON the charter
we are surprised said the state.
ment. I'm part that he could, when
requested BY politicians, whose sole
object was TO defeat the charter on
account or its progressive principles,
which arc hostile TO their selfish pur-
poses give an opinion in three days.
We submit 20 candid electorate:
Could he not have given an opinion
10 the charter commission during the
three weeks be had The charter be-
fore him for his consideration, and
pointed out What ne now claims are
defects and could he not have shown
me commission, aud was 1T not bis
duty to have shown the commission
hou thoso alleged defects cOuld have
been corrected? n IS Nell-knoNn that
Mr.. Lawson has always opposed MUM
cipal ownership and favored fran
chlses and We leave i 10 the public
To decide how much his opinion is
NlftltN Nv ltNf N''i f'ieA hat'-
RA.ph {iaN Eefris poinE OUT mat
nnter tic new charter. municipal gas
az a much cheaper rate than obtains
at prcaent VIII o. possible.
"The new char.er c0uiers on the
public lighting commission The pow
en-. Subject to a vote OF the city. TO &C.
euirc the property Of the present gas
company or 10 build a new municipal
ga- plant = and directs 81 10 sell gas
az cost td-any corporation. firm or
person lu fhe fcity desiring H. he
says
Mr. Ferris also pointslout that the
I9I4 iax rate w}l be no higher than
mat OF 1913 if the charter passes. We
points TO the sixteenth section ~
Chapter IL, which provides that the