The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-27

sentiment of those whom they are sup
posed to represent. II is said on good
authority that at least two of the
gentlemen included In the FIVE have
spent very little time during the past
yeaer or so in the cit yor even In the
State. One other Is n candidate for
public Office, and while he does not hes
itate TO say that he is an ardent adj
vocate OF the best government pos
sibie for Richmond, he does not feel
free to espouse any form or theory
until the matter has been thoroughly
threshed out and the people themselves
have indicated just what kind of
government they desire. The other
two labor representatives were former
iy active in the labor movement but
recently have not been so much to the
front. Neither Is at present a rep
resentative to the Central Body. Both
creditahle men. 1t Is also pointed out
by representative labor men that
none of the Ave in question were con-
suited with reference to their selection
as members of the board of directors,
and 1t is altogether probable that some
of them Will resign in the near future
Then, too, the working men point
to a somewhat similar organization
some three years ago, which en-
deavored TO select the five members
of the Administrative Board from a
list of some seventeen candidates.
That association was made up OF bus
mess men, some of whom were not
even voters in the city, They went
to considerable pains to prepare
slate, only two of whom were elected.
II is now said that these two would
have received much larger vote had
haxs haara laf f.ff rf4 la Gle
f These facts. 1t is claimed, indi-
cate that the same people are behind
the present Civic Association and that
they hope simply by including a few
men from the labor organizations
among their directors, even though
these men be not the most repre-
sentative or not entirely free in their
Efforts for better government, to in
duce the public at large to believe
that their work is representative of
the will of ali the people. II they
expect by this action to secure the
adoption of the Glasgow plan as out
lined by the author himself. indica-
tons are that they will not succeed.
II, however, they will accept repre-
sentative. and active men from all
walks of life, and IL these representa-
tive citizens will approach the work.
with unbiased minds and they them
selves not committed to any plan, but
willing and anxious to secure the best
form of government for the city.
there Is no telling how excellent a
plan might be envolved by such a
plan might he evolved by such a
committee. And this lis JUST what
the working men would like to see
H. an ehanEesa%a .stov1saai4 made at,
this time. They don't care TO nave
a small representation on n commit
tee or board already committed firmly
TO plan OF government with the
formulating of which the toilers have
had no part. They feel, representa-
tive union men say. that handful
of men who have arrogated to them
selves the seif-imposed task OF chang
ing the city government have been
entirely too inconstierate and con-
ceited in the matter. There seems TO
be too much ground for this latter
view.
That this new organization will
come in for a good deal of discussion
and criticism, not to say a ssroasting,''
at the meeting of the Central Trades
and Labor Council this week there
lis little doubt, as a number OF the
local leaders promise to bring the
matter up"