The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-23
NORFOLK CITIZENS WILL
renew CHARTER FIGHT
Mass Meeting Authorizes Committee
to Make Preliminary
Plans.
TO FORM CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Failure of Election Last Week No
Cause For Dfscouragement--Ma
Truxton Says Body Must Be Nom
Political.

Norfolk. Va, Aug. 22.-The first
move toward forming a civic organi-
cation, having as its object a simpli-
| fed business form of government for
Norfolk, was made at a mass-meeting
of men prominent in business and
politics. held In the National Bank
of Commerce building yesterday, when
l. Wake Truxton, chairman OF the
meeting. was authorized to appoint q
committee of six to act with himself
in considering ways and means for
effecting the organization.
This action followed considerable
discussion as to the difficulties to be
overcome before a new charter could
be secured, and ii was the consensus
of opinion that a vigorous educational
campaign was necessary, such cam
paign to be conducted by the Civic
Association, together with its other
duties. Major Truxton stated yester-
day that he would not announce MS
committee for several days, as it was
a matter requiring the most careful
consideration.
The meeting was called to order by
Major Truxton, who acted as chair
man of the executive committee in
the charter commission election. The
discussion was opened by Leroy
Hodges. who discussed some of the
reasons for the failure of the cleo
ton and stated that the campaign
had furnished good nucleus for Ia
permanent organization for the pur-
pose of lettering conditions in the
administration of the city's business.
Mr.. Hodges said that the election mad
failed for lack of time, lack OF money.
lack of the complete support of the
citizens party, lack of any support
from the organization faction and
several other causes, all OF which
could be proflted by in preparing Tor
another election.
committee of FIVE or seven men,
hers that would outline the purposes
of a permanent organization and
would report at a later meeting was
suggested by Allen NJ. Cook and Sec
onded by John f. Burke. Mr.. Burke
was one of the nine candidates FOR
the charter commission, and IN open
ing his talk he said 1t was the peo-
pie of Norfolk who deserved sym
pathy at the failure of the election
rather than the commission, as 1t was
the people who were losing by IT.
Mr.. Burke said that the failure of
the election was no cause for dis
couragement, as other cities had
found 1t necessary to try more than
once before securing change OF
government. The people of Norfolk
would get change. he said, and sug-
gested an organization consisting OF
! all the people of Norfolk who wanted
something better than they had had
in the past, this organization to get
behind the movement and stay behind
II until successful
Major Truxton impressed the need
of ar organization of the people rather
than of any political or commercial
| faction or organization. He said that
! one reason no more votes were cast
was because he, a partisan In poll
tics. had been placed at the head OF
the executive committee.
Mentioning what he declared to be
the two biggest mistakes of the cam
paign, Robert B. Tunstall said that
requiring the nine candidates for the
commission to declare the form of
government they favored was one of
them. He said he did not believe
there were nine men in the city who
! had given the matter sufficient time
! and study to declare the form they
favored and the fact that the declara-
| ton had kept many from voting. He
| said there was nothing that required
| candidate to say what form he ia
vored and that this clause should be
stricken from the ordinance. He also
said that 1t would be better for the
! success of the movement IL there
|
| for the commission and that the fact
that the candidates had been selected
as they were, by business bodies. was
another grave mistake. The element
of contest was essential, he said.
No speaker expressed himself as
favoring additional legislation on the
| matter at the next session of the Gen.
! eral Assembly. this detail being one of
the problems that will confront the
| organization when effected. Mr.. Cook
did say that he did not believe a new
, charter could be put into force within
the next four years without new act
OF the Legislature.
A statement submitted by Mr.. Cook
as chairman OF the finance committee
showed the expenses of the campaign
TO have been s320.25, with a deficit OF
about SIS in the treasury. Several
subscriptions were made at the meet
ing