The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-21
LEAGUE OPPOSING ]. !.
CHARTER CHANGES
spcc,al Elections Expensive and.
Amendments Backed BY Poh.ss 4
acians and Trouble Makers. rs

Denver. Colo, Apri. 2o.--"Speciak
elections have become almost nxeds
hsbit with Denver, and heretWore
there has been apparently very ffteto
organized opposition to this sort oI
burdensome expense upon the
payers" said A. J. Finch. superm-
tendent of the Colorado Anti-SatoonA
League, in explaining the reasons why
the league Is fighting all or the pros
posed charter amendments. $500
The special home rule electiont
held last May cost the taxpayers
something like $4,000, besides the
litigation which followed" continued
Mr. Finch. "Mr Teller OF the elec4
tons commit ssion tells me that tins
expense of the special election set for
May will be not less than 10000
more These are preventable hard-
ships, against which the taxpayers
need protection.
The interested factions behind
each of the proposed amendments are
working night and day for the same
purpose, namely. to perpetuate irf
power their own political machine,
giving the citizen just as few rights
and as little consideration as possfpie.
Each of the amendments Is backed
by politicians. not statesmen, TOT
there Is a vast difference between the
two terms.
"A statesman is man who Hes
awake at night, thinking and plan
ming how much he can do for all the
people. A politician is man who Hes
awake at night, thinking and plan
ming how much he can do all or the
people for; and politicians.
'wiggle In and they wiggle out.
Keeping the people all in doubt n
Whether the snake that made the
track @@t@
Was going South or coming back
Take the Macy amendment for
instance II It should be adopted
another special election would be
necessary to name the city Officially
who would no sooner take their
places than the defeated factions
would petition for q recall election.
If they should be unsuccessful In TINS
then they would doubtless attempt
to change the charter again, pilinE
up about $4,000 more for the tax
payers to meet.
Then there Ia the Epeer amend.
ment. 1t carries with It the city OF
flcials and the Macy people say that
lis illegal. threatening Immediately to
commence court action contest1n8
the legality OF the same IL IL should
be ,adoptedI-another 100000 for the
taxpayers 20 pay. Everybody In ia
Is an open book, and the common
good of the city demands his over
whelming defeat.
VIII Test Legality.
Then there is the Booth amends
ment, also carrying with It the city
officials and the Macy people say
they will contest its legality In the
courts also II ii Is adopted. The
Speer crowd would also start SONS
sort of a movement, looking to the
overthrow of the Booth aCministra-
ton. Doubtless 1t would entail an
other special election. either a recall
or TO change the form OF government
again. the taxpayers being privileged
TO foot the blll--another 100000. SO
These political trouble-makers
ought to be rebuked. They will be
soundly rebuked, too. II the citizens
will go to the polls on May and
vote NO on all OF the proposed
amendments. If all of the amend
ments are defeated this thing OF spe-
cial elections every time the moon
changes will end. Then the people
can provide either for a charter con-
vention and remedy the defectA IL
there be any In the present form OF
government. IN a sane, sensible way.
or leave matters as they are until the
next general election and elect a set
of officials whose first duty will be
to serve the people and not be merely
political chess mem