The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-08
Peoples Forum
JUST
Editor West virginian:

Editor West virginian:
Here are a few things I would like
for your readers to think about in con.
nection with the new charter:
l. Suppose the supporters Of the
new charter were trying to increase
the number Of commissioners by n
member and increasing the salary OF
each commissioner and the mayor.
what would the people be doing and
what would the people be saying?
Why, sir, l believe they would be hold.
Ing mass meetings in protest against
such an outrage. Then when the PEG.
pie who favor the new charter seek to
reduce the number Of commissioners
from four to threelan d lower salaries
and cut out useless Jobs, making a
direct saving of over $4,000 each year,
why r the people not holding mass
meetings in its favor? They simply
do not understand the provisions OF
the proposed charter or they would
do so.
2. Suppose the new charter made
the election laws less stringent than
they now are and left the town at the
mercy Of floating. p~urchaseable voters,
as the old charter does, would the
people. stand for that? Then, why not
get busy and work for fair and
honest registration and fair and hon.
est elections in our city?.
3. Suppose the new charter gave
only two parties a chance to hold OF.
fee or have any say in holding the
elections, OF even went further and
made 1t possible for one political par.
" to get and hold control of the city
affairs, regardless OF the will OF the
people. Would there be any protest
over such q charter? More than like.
ly. Yet that is Just the condition
which we now have and which the
new charter seeks to remedy. Under
the proposed charter any one can be a
candidate In the primaries for the OF.
fee Of mayor or commissioner. The
six persons having the highest mum.
Der Of votes will be the candidates,
and then In the election the three per.
sons receiving the highest number OF
votes will be elected. and at no time
will a mans politics be shown or des.
ignated In any way on the ballot. This
gives Democrats. Republicans, Social.
lists. Prohibitionists. Independents and
people Of no political affiliations at all
an equal chance to get in the race for
mayor or commissioner.
4. Finally, suppose under the pres.
ent charter, people living on side
streets would have to pay each one.
third of the cost Of paving on streets
running by their property, the city
paying one.third, and under the new
charter the city would go scott free
and the property owners would have
to pay all the cost Of paving, includ.
ing cost of hauling the old brick from
the main avenues. Wouldn't. the PEG.
Pile make Rome howl, II they under.
stood 1t clearly? Under the new char.
ter the conditions named above arc
just reversed. The people do have to
pay only %two.thirds OF the cost Of paw.
ing side streets and the city one.third,
while at present side street residents
have to pay the entire cost. Did yon
know that? Think this over and then
ask some more questions about the
new charter.
I verify believe II the people knew
thoroughly the provisions OF the new
charter ninety per cent of the voters
would make an open fight for its pas.
sage by the legislature. Let us re-
peat the points noted above: Reduc.
tion Of the number OF commissioners
from four to three and a reduction
In salary Of each official, making u
saving Of thousands Of dollars to tho
tax payers. A square deal for PEG.
pie OF all political parties. Honest
and fair elections. "A change In the
method of paying for pavements' of
side streets. Numerous other provis.
ions in the interest Of the masses Of
the people. Get behind the new char,
ter and help boost. It Is a good prop.
osition. 1t is the charter the people
OF all classes asked for and wanted
two years ago, then why not get in
line and favor 1t now?