Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-20
NOW IN PROGRESS

Campaign to Be Launched to Sc
cure Payment of Poll
Taxes.
Oficers Of the Civic Association were
authorized at the annual meeting held
last night in the Jefferson Hotel audi
torium to exert every effort TO hav.
enacted at the next session Of the
Legislature a law which will greatly
modify the statute. approved in 1916.
by which the city charter may be
amended by popular initiation. The re-
port of the committee or policie; called
attention TO this matter and the recon-
mendation that the law be simpliii.d
was unanimously indorscd. The associ.
ailon also pledged itself to spare no
pains To bring the city's electorate to
its maximum strength
Nearly 500 people. including many
city officials. prominent business men
and "A few women. were present when
President John c. Easley called the
meeting to order.
The work of the association was re-
viewed at length by Dr. D. r. Andcr-
son. executive secretary. who declared
'hat the actual beginning of the muni-
ciiai survey. now in progress. was a
triumphant vindication of Richmond's
so-called theorists and idealists.
These theorists have worked out a
program" said DR.. Anderson. have
inaugurated movement which has re-
ceived the almost unanimou.; approval
OF our citizens
AUTHORITATIVE INFORMATION
WAS GREATLY NEEDED
In September, 1916" DIR. Anderson
continued. the association found that
progress was impossible without more
adequate and authoritative information
than II possessed. Months were spent
in minute investigation OF activities
OF the New York Bureau of Municipal
Research. Evidence from cities and
prominent men in every quarter of
'he land was secured by the associ-
atoms own investigation until we had
become absolutely confident Of the pro-
priety or our course, and had built up
case, In which not d dent has been
maze until this hour. AT Irst many
gentlemen who had not had tie same
opportunity for Investigation raised
objection TO our course We we're told.
Tor instance. that the survey OF Norfolk
by this same bureau had been WORTH
.
cred. however, from our own minute
study of the Norfolk report that il was
an invaluable piece of wor'I. and from
inquirinE in Norfolk We learned THAI
the survey had accomplished good
am further authorized TO say that even
since the survey of Richmond has be-
gun, the bureau has bee-. called upon
TOT further advice by those engaged =
the preparation Of a new charter there.
EXPRESSES APPRECIATION
OF THOSE WHO HELPED
so far as we ourselves are con-
cerned. the success of the campaign
was due to patient and detailed in.
vestisation, whereby we could speak
with authority: to widespread and
continuous publicity by address. by
news stories. by advertisements. by
petitions. by conversations-such pub-
licity as has seldom been devoted to
any enterprise in the city for SO long
period; TO an unwavering pursuit OF
a great enterprise. which we know the
intelligence and conscience of citizens
and public men must approve. as soon
rs all OF the facts were known.
But we cannot take credit TO our
selves alone for this great work. we
port of the press. to seventeen organi-
cations who have Endorsed and assist
ed our movement, to the $500 citizens
who signed the petition for the sur.
Vey, and the 200 and more who sub.
scribed to the survey fund tn m,
hon. Garter c. Jones and other friends
in the City Council. To all of th,...
agencies the association in general no
he
particular. desires to express genuin.
gratitude
The Civic Association will see that
the report of the survey now in pro-.
ress is properly published: that i, is
thoroughly discussed and .xnI,ined
ENLARGED ELECTORATE
IS GREATEST CIVIC NEED
We must keep in mind the grea,
truth so often emphasized hy our AS
sociation and by others, that an en-
iarged electorate is prime necessity
for Richmond At the recent regis
tration. on June 8. l6.049 males be-
tween twenty-one and thirty-one were
enrolled in this city, lO,6l4 OF them
being white. This number is 400 or
more beyond our actual vote am,
told that the actual number Of white
polls In Richmond is $4,000 The elec-
liohs IN June and September arc Of
vital importance to our community
Each member of the association must
not fail to qualify to vote. or TO ba
an evangelist calling other men to their
duty And in October or November
and December we must put on the
greatest campaign for arousng inter-
est In citizenship and increasing the
electorate that Richmond has ever
seen"
John Stewart Bryan, chairman of the
committee on policies, in presenting
tne report of that body, briefly re-
viewed the associations activities OF
the past year. touching upon condi-
tions brought about by the war and
reforms.
TEXT OF RESOLUTIONS
ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY
The following resolutions. offered by
Mr.. Bryan. were unanimously adopted
81 That tho aganci q f{nn Is har>i,,,