The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-29
NOT ScAPfeOAT SAYS
CANDIDATE HAOO0M
torncy Speak Before Voters In
South Richmond.
MEREDITH ON NEW CHARTER
Aspirants For Once Make Statement
Of Their Position In Pending Cam
vass-Mecting Was Harmonious
Throughout

Both candidates for the Common
wealth's Attorneyship made short OK
planatory speeches to the apparent
satisfaction of about one hundred
citizens of South Richmond. last night
in cambridge School.
Mr.. George r.. Wise reiterated what
he has already said. that he is a
Democrat. always has been one and
always will be one, and that he be-
lieves the people should be permitted
to select their own Commonwealth S
Attorney.
Mr.. T. Gray Haddon said he had
nothing to do with what the commit
tee did, but that the committee acted
under the law and under IT'S rights
and rules under the law. The com
mittee had the right. and had simply
done what it had done on two former
occasions.
Both speakers urged the voters
present to go to the polls on next
Tuesday and vote for the man of their
choice Mr.. Haddon asked them not
to make him a scapegoat for what
the committee had done. while Mr..
Wise endeavored to show that the
committee had everything cut and
dried, and that II he had asked for the
nomination and hadn't received 1t he
would have been called a gutter If he
had run. and IL he had not written
the committee at all. and had run, he
would have been denominated an in
dependent, Republican, or what-not.
The speeches were free from per-
sonalties. Both candidates set forth
claims which they hoped would APP
peal to the hearers, and both read
clippings from the newspapers. which
they were inclined to believe were
giving the public all sides Of the poll
teal situation.
Mcredith's Fine Talk.
Mr.. Wyndham r. Meredith, repre-
senting the Civic Association, spoke
for an hour on the revival in interest
in municipal reform, and explained
the principles attending the proposed
charter plan, which the association
hopes to have the people accept
The meeting was held under the
Democratic Club. President C. C.
Jones presided. The attractions had
been provided. but the attendance was
small This was accounted for to a
large extent by the fact that revivals
were in progress and several secret
orders were in session.
Mr. Meredith's lecture was a gem
OF its kind. He made clear the pro-
posed charter, and compared the new
plan with the old, or present one, in a
most interesting fashion. The pro-
posed plan provides for a mayor. with
O Council Of FIVE, representing the
city at large. with an efficient board
to pass upon the nominations made by
the mayor.
Must Have. Experts.
The association Is striving to
awaken interest in municipal govern
ment" said Mr.. Meredith we want
the city run by experts, rather than
political pals. ! know of but two de-
partments in the present city govern
ment which are controlled by experts
the school Department and the
Health Department The men at the
heads OF these two departments are
known from one end OF the land to
the other as experts in their work. and
that speaks for itself. But can you
point out another head in the city
who stands for efficiency or Is an ex-
pert?"
Mr. Meredith illustrated his re-
marks with diagrams, which added to
the attractiveness of the address
There were several young men present
made at convenient places and times
various institutions and schools.
Mr. Wise's Address.
The larger the city. the more COM
pick the questions which come be-
fore the people to be solved" said Mr.
Wise. I'VE should all feel proud In
having such men as Mr.. Meredith who