Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-27
CIVIC ASSOCIATION
SEEKS NEW MEMBERS
Directors VIII Outline Suggestions
for Proposed New City
Charter.
j. *. BRANCH MAKES ADDRESS
College Professor Said His Whole
Class Agreed That of Many Cities
Mentioned. Richmond Had Worst
Form of Municipal Government.

|
Form of Municipal Government.
/ Inspired by stirring address by
John Kerr Branch. chairman of the
executive committee. the board of d.
rcctors of the Civic Association or
I Richmond last night decided to begin
"a campaign for membership immedi-
ately and to proceed at once on ont
lining suggestions for tho proposed new
city charter Dr. stuart Mcclure
president of the association. announced
that he had decided to increase tho
charter committee from three to five.
;" as L" include business man.
lawyer. student OF economics and
m"hicipal government. IA professional
man and man vcrsed in the public
welfare needs. The enlarged commit
tee is as follows: John c. Easlcy.
chairman: DR.. b. r. Anderson. of Rich
mond College: Henry G. Miller. DR..
George Ben Johnston and Arthur
Scrivcnor
The rccomme ndation that the red
room on the tenth floor OF the Amer
lcan National Bank Building he rented
as headquarters for the association was
adopted and 1t WAS decided that dur
ing the formative period at least the
association shall meet on the hrs, and
I 'hird Mondays of the month at S:Is
o'clock.
WILL SEEK TO INCREASE
CAMPAIGN FUND
W. Meade Anderson. chairman of the
iinance committee, said that $lloO had
, been contributed withait solicitation
put he believed such had been tho
| growth OF the association and such
was the promise it had given OF achiev-
ing permanent reform. that many times
that amount would he needed Tho
committee will proceed ut once TO in
crease the sum
mere was every indication that the
I directors are deeply in earnest as to
| the work which the association has
Planned to carry through for the bot
torment of Richmond. ana there was =
'ei!ihg note of inspiration In most Of
the short talks which were delivered
Mr.. branch. who had come from his
country home in Duchess County. New
YORK especially to give his effort "a
me association, pleaded with all the
visor of plain language for immediato
and concerted action
We have no open sesame which
VIII lead us on TO victory" he s,id
We are just beginning We :,rc nav.
but planting the seed which we v.nnI,
nave grow into the fruition of general
. T.
the most beautiful city in tho worId
II deNolves upon us TO care for II ava
10 improve it. 10 make of il a bon,e
! city IN which people will dwell con-
( tent" eo"-
WANTS POLITICIANS WITH HIM
INSTEAD OF AGAINST HIM
ne SAID mat a politician had told him
mat the City Hall employees were
/ laughing at the association. ar ,bnv
are laughing n us" he said. "they cav,
/ tell us why. and we will correct tho
! iauIt Let each of us see these no,
ticians and learn why they arc laugh
ing AZ us. The doors are open 10 th.n,
Tor We want everybody TO join us ana
! 10 cooperate with us. We must get K,
large membership for We want the
whole body of the people back of us
! and with us. 1t doesn't make much Diff
! ference what kind of n charter we have
! What we need to do is TO arouse the in
icrest of everybody in the welfare OF
the city for the city belongs TO each
individual There is nothing that we
want, If ii be right, that we can't gor
/ right here and now. We want a citv
of homes. We men have been asleep
and we have just awakened We have
hecn away and we have just come back
| nome. But II we work together We can
make Richmond the city Of our hearts
desire If YOU just take that lesson
| home 10 YOU. to make Richmond city
| beautiful you will have done the great
! est work in the world"
SEEKS NO OFFICE AND
SUPPORTS NO CANDIDATE
| Executive Secretary George w Roy
ers cited few examples OF model
| charters adopted by other cities, laying
, especial emphasis on the success of the
| charter of Dayton, Ohio, a city which
last year saved $4,000.
| N!ce-President +. W. Duke said that
the thinking process had been estab-
| lished, and that now it was necessary
to grow the Drawn and muscle if the
work ia to be pushed to its proper CON
| clus!on. Ho said that the association is
| a political organization, but not a
political organization in the sense in
which that term is generally used. It
is nonpartisan, seeking no office for its
members and supporting no candidate.
| DR.. Anderson. Of Richmond College.
talked interestingly OF the necessity Of
combining the theoretical with the
practical. and said that 1t was first nee :
cssary to arouse interest in the meth =
DDS OF permanent good government. ON
a recent examination, he said he had
asked his class to say which of several
cities. among which Richmond was in
cluded. had the worst form Of govern :
Richmond was that city. The audience
enjoyed the joke.
Secretary Rogers will open hcadquar-
ters this morning and campaigning for
membership will begin to-day.