Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-13
PETERS DECLARES
WAR ON CHAMBER
Withdraws From Organization
and Will Fight Sale of
Ford Lot.
C0RDIALE ENTENTE TO END
Says Chamber of Commerce and
Council Are on Verge of
Breach.
C0RDIALE ENTENTE TO END

Expressing his desire to disassociatc
which he may be called upon TO make
war. President r. Lcc Peters. OF the
Common Council. yesterday forwarded
TO Business Manager w. T.. Dabncy, OF
the Chamber of Commerce. "A communi-
cation asking that his name 10 taken
from >thc chambers roll Of member
ship.
In the same mail MIR Pctcrs sent two
lcttcrs TO President W. r Reed OF tho
Chamber Of Commcrcc. In the FIRST
he requested Mr.. Reed TO remove
him as member OF the >charn-
ber's committee on conventions
In tho second letter he reviewed
at length his intimate connection
with the movement for the
tion of a municipal building on the
Ford Hotel lot. ana his decision TO
withdraw from a body which. hc holds.
has gratuitously and with scan, cour-
icsy undertaken to thwart that plan.
BHEAK IS CAUSED Hi
ACTION or DIRECTORS
Mr.. Peters was led to take these
steps by the action OF the board OF di-
rcctors OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
which mt meeting held Thursday af-
tcrnoon passed resolutions indors!ug
Stnte OF Virginia. and pc,l,ioning the
Council TO appoint Il committee TO CON
fer with similar committee from the
Legislature for the purpose Of effect
ing the transfer.
Such an alienation o. the Ford Hotel
tract would Automatically KIN the new
municipal building movement. which
was set in motion last year by Mr.
Peters. and upon which the city has A.
ready spent s2.75o in prizes for com
petitire building designs and tho fee
OF an advisory architect under whose
direction the designs competition was
conducted
There is at present pending before
the Council Finance Committee u rcso-
iution appropratinE $500 for work
ng drawings OF the proposed building
which has been designed by CarrieaI &
Johnston. Although there has been
opposition TO the measure IN III.
finance Committee, its supporters have
by no means dcspaircd OF It's passage.
\ transfer of the Ford Hotel property
o. the State would. OF course mean
he death of the appropriation
'ETIsRs INDIGNANT At
SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS
The announcement OF the chambcr's
ecision stirred Mr.. Peters to irnme-
late action.
Tho Chamber OF Commerce and The
'ity Council have enjoyed pleasant re-
htions for number Of years." said
ir Peters yesterday. discussing the
ituation. 81 have taken pleasure as
member OF that body and prcsidcn,
the lower branch, as far as I could
cooperate with the chamber and
|elp II In It's plans
AS far as | am concerned, that
leasant relation is 1T an end. / have
lready declared war-the war begins
p-daH shall oppose the sale OF the
ord Hotel lot to the State or TO any
fher interests. In order that may
so with a free hand and with a free
Pnscicnce. have resigned my mem
rrship In tho Chamber Of Commerce.
uch ~ I regretted 10 do SO. do MOI
re to belong to an organization
hich have 10 nEht
T. light rO TIL: FINISH"
SAYS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Let there be no mistake about IT,
am In the fight TO tho finish am
alone. either. There are many
embers OF the Council besides mo who
o opposed to the sale of tho Ford
'tel property. ! don't know what
rsons or what considerations have.
ddeniy converted the chambers
ard OF directors To a position favor
the sale of the property but shall
my best to prevent It,
I regard the chambers action as
unwarranted Interference in view
the fact that an appropriation meas
having to do with the proposcd new
nicipal building is now pending be-
the Finance Committee for Il hear
instead OF waiting for the chair
OF the committee. who Is out OF
'n TO return to the city and call
Meeting for the purpose OF consider
th's matter, when 1t might have
'ressed its views With more pro-
ety. the chamber. through its board
directors, has undertaken to kill the
Ole plan by an appeal to the
neil.
rs BREACH WITH
COUNCIL. IS IMMINENT
predict that the Chamber OF Com
ce Is on the verge OF breach with
- City Council 1t has in the past
ely hold itself aloof from questions
regard to which there was sharp
sion in the Council, and which had
connection with politics Now. it
ears 1T has abandoned that position.
Is ready to participate in a fac
al fight. which may tear the Council
wo Well. let the fight come: am
w for it."
10 uncompromising attitude OF the
ident OF the Common Council and
swift determination to break Mt
from the organization i'm which
las held membership number OF
s. in order that he might wage war
-handed, was the sensational de-
pmcht OF the storm which was pre-
ated by the chambers action.
o WAS every evidence yesterday
there would he much more plain
king before the breach was. ad-
d.
Peters is chairman OF the Coun-
ommittee on Advertising and En-
ises, which has co-operated closely
the Chamber OF Commerce in pro-