The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-09

mate or initiate movements bearing
on our government, which ought to be
fruitful of good to the citizens gener-
ally.
Il also am quite certain there are
gentlemen connected wien cut city gov
eminent in various capacities. legts-
lattve and otherwise. who will well
come suggestions as frequently as the
Mayor may desire to present them.
Touching the question of authority
lodged In the Mayor. about which there
has been considerable ~sscussion re-
Gently, / read in the Constitution Of
Virginia: In each city of the Common
wealth there shall be elected A Mayor,
who shall be the chief executive offi-
Ger of the city.
Now there is, ] think, a very gem
orally accepted definition of this pro-
vision. 1t is clear to my mind that
the Mayor is clothed with ample au-
thority to see that all city officials dis
charge their duties according to laws
and ordinances in such cases made and
provided, and in the event of their
failure SO to do he may suspend them
and subject them TO investigation.
There is another feature IN CON
nection with the Mayors responsibility
equally clear to me. 1t Is, that for
any result brought about by any order
issued by the Mayor. or by his advice,
causing criticism on the part OF the
citizens. he. the Mayor. should bear
the fun burden of that criticism and
not shift or try to shift the RESPONSE
bility on to other departments or in
dividuals.
information has come to me fire.
ouently since my announcement that
friends eff the stiaera candidates are
crediting me with being the candidate
of various and sundry organizations in
this city. l desire to say most en-
phatically that ! am not the candi-
date OF any organisation. society or
faction. that I have never been APP
preached or discussed my candidacy
with any representatives OF any such
bodies. These gentlemen have said
that I am the candidate Of the Civic
League" the Vice Commission" the
Young Mems Christian Association. the
Anti Saloon League" and then some.
am informed there are thousands of
members Of the Civic League; / wish
l knew I was to receive the votes of
all Of them. VIII either of the other
candidates say they do not want the
votes of these men? According to
the return from the election on Sep
TENDER q, 1914, there were some thous-
ands of votes east in sympathy with
I the ANU -SHloOn lLEdEuS w ia ElLi4FI
OF the other candidates say they don't
want any OF the citizens who cast those
votes to vote for them?
Gentlemen IL l were the candidate
of the several organizations whose
names have been used in this connec-
tion ] would owe you an apology for
taking your time this evening, be
cause my election would be assured al
ready.
Ia
the News Leader of January II, last
| read: Hawkins is being classed 4
the Tight Lid" candidate The only
fair construction that can be put upon
this statement is, that If elected. viii
endeavor to see that the laws, as
find them in statute and ordinance
will be enforced. To this soft inpea ch-
ment i plead guilty. viii either of the
other candidates say differently? The
( Mayor does not make the laws, but
he does swear to see that they are en-
forced.
THE same article credits the present
Mayor with being the Neutral candi-
date. / leave for you to Judge what
this means. / do not charge Mr.. Aim
siie with being responsible for this
classification. do say. that IL /
know anything about the temper of
the people of Richmond. and l think l
do. they do not want a Neutral for
their chief executive. No. they do not
want anybody who would take for an
ideal that most famous of 'neutrals.
whose neutrality made him infamous.
the man PLATE.
Now. gentlemen. I have come to the
polls at the request of many of you.
place myself in your hands. II all
who were represented by the signers of
the petitions presented to me, are
earnest and diligent from now until
the close of the polls on April 4. next.
! I have no fear as to the result. ]
don't want any of you to be mourners
on my account on April s. 1916"