The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-07-14

of the recommendations, Mrs. George
Marble, member Of the Pensacola
Equal Suffrage League, rose and adj
dressed the meeting.
Mrs. Marble suggested that, mas
much as Fellsmere and Cocoa, Flori-
da, had municipal suffrage, and these
cities were operated under the laws
of Florida, there would seem to be
no adequate reason why Pensacola
should not also have municipal suf-
frage, giving women equal rights
with men. Mrs. Marble also referred
to the fact that every political party
has endorsed equal suffrage, and
gave it as her opinion that party
loyalty demanded that the men of
Pensacola give their sanction to what
their parties had already adopted.
Referring to the fact that at the
mid-year convention last June Fells-
mere, Fla, was put on the map and
received much publicity, through its
adoption Of municipal suffrage, Mrs.
Marble suggested that from bust
ness standpoint Pensacola would find
it to its advantage to give the wo-
men the right to vote on municipal
questions, thus putting Pensacola on
the map at the national suffrage con-
vention in September, which meets
at Atlantic City, N. ].
Mr.. William Fisher moved that
Mrs. Marble be permitted to seek the
advice of attorneys on this matter,
and that the question be left open
until later meeting.
Present beside Mrs. Marble were
Mrs. Minnie Wolfe Rutherford and
Mrs. Samuel j. Scott.
Various Points Discussed.
Several different phases of the
proposed charter as outlined were
discussed by the different members.
Colonel Cary taking the stand that
the election on the seventh Tuesday
after the recommendation from the
city attorney was too long, and he
| suggested that it be made the fifth
| Tuesday. The fifth Tuesday after
the charter is adopted by the people
was also agreed upon as a date TO-
the election Of all officers provided
for in the outlined charter.
Submits a Communication.
James M. johnson, who placed be-
| fore the charter board a copy of the
synopsis of the charter which he had
drawn up, submitted also personal
communication, which was as fol-
lows:
The Johnson Letter.
July Is, 1916.
The City Charter Board, P. K. Yonge,
Chairman, City.
Gentlemen: I am presenting to
you, for your consideration, q synop-
i sis Of a charter drawn by myself,
which I think deserves some serious
thought and consideration. As if
viii if adopted place the government
of the city directly in the hands OF
the people, where it rightfuIy be.
longs. And I am sure that it win
! meet with the approval Of a ma
/ jority of the voters at the polls.
While / am also sure that any
charter presented to them that does
not give them the right absolutely
to select their own officials will meet
with a Just Reputation when the peo-
/ pie are called upon to vote on it. The
people Of this city, if I am correctly
i Informed, are tired Of ring politics
and ring rule, and any man who is
not willing to submit his candidacy
to the people whom he wishes to serve
4 is unworthy Of consideration.
/ Since the publication Of this syn
opsis in Wednesdays Journal,
have been accosted by so many peo-
pie that approve Of it absolutely on
account of its fairness and also its
democratic principles.
II That while have no desire to
usurp the powers or take any undue
advantage Of your honorable body,
II deem it but fair to you to serve
notice on you that if a charter Of
this character is not submitted to
the people for their approval or re-
| lection, then feel that it viii be my
duty as the representative of the
.lpeople of Escambia county and the