The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-25

DoQy o uS lily u MShPiAS'
During the two years previous to the spring of 1918 Memphis
In the spring OF 1918 only one man was in the commission Of eno
atterward ousted), and there have been several sets OF commits hl is
people.
diion for years, but reached a climax OF INSTABILITY, last spring:
Visualize as much as you can the atmosphere Of municipal affairs
in the spring of 1918, for it was at this time that a group OF 20
pubhc-spiritsd men, having only the welfare Of their s city q I near hat
thine . b done . u None OF I these - men had ever held political office,
nor would be seekers for office neither had they anyone 10 name
difficulties, they decide upon the city manager form Of govern,
by most industrial corporations-the people representing the stock
holders, the council being the board of directors and the city man,
to be working successfully in a number of other cities,
to 100, who were selected without reference to the way they had
pre Vnonb voted land and a. as ne i,1 TepT TSsH Ss% @ a AL m Seti ss''s snd
this plan of city government was laid before them and approved,
Which we're as follows: Select carefully il men who had never
Ofoe f SSlf th eU otfiees O saEs, S Sna ve n OF %eI proven 20 good %IS ohsra Ut gD and
ability, and were willing in such a time to render a service to their
the consent of these II men, to have five Of the II take office i'm
sign in favor of this movement. They we're to serve until the legis-
lsture convened in 1919; then the charter Of Memphis Memphis was to be
under this plan would then resign in favor of this new plan Of
the i. we're to form the first governing board for the city Of
No3emssr. o4 is1s. 'S SIe S9nnS''o at %Seh t tpme t the PSsa19V could dS select,
by popular vote, as provided in the charter, representatives to serve
"sm At "a this n time ne tSe si leaders 1s taT the Ts' different Ss1S to Political Of 10 factions ap-
P moSeneat ' pTo S0GI OF s mpP 9d st enG0sFt tssf the tns@ SITUATION 'H 20 o. had %l1 rea an
gotten beyond the control of the politicians themselves, and that
AHON VpLAA DAEhOlA d hSNSAhNul VI hhR NlAAHnht AoPhOhOi PubAA
spirited men, II they would take hold of the situation and straighten
it out.
At a meeting of the citizens committee Of 100, on May 2S.
ls1S,"this plan was outlined, an executive committee was named
from the floor, none of whom wanted to serve because of engage
ments of various character, personal and public, which they had
already entered into, but were urged and persuaded to do SO by
the main body, They were charged with the responsibility of
working out the details and ways and means of bringing this plan
into fruition.
There has not been at any stage secrecy in regard to the pro-
ceedings Of this body. All meetings were open to the newspapers
and all of them were attended by representatives of the newspa-
pers. The newspaper men were present at the inception Of this
movement last spring, and for the first time in the history OF Mem
phis, so far as we know, the four newspapers conferred upon and
united under one banner in support of this movement.
When the citizens committee failed to get the resignation of
the five commissioners. securing only the consent of three 1.-THE
mayor and two others), they declined to take any chance Of jeopar-
dizng the complete success Of this movement by divided authority,
by having three of their number to run for mayor and commits
sioner, which offices were to be vacant In August, but the citizens
committee decided to hold together and ordered the executive com
mittee to continue its activities along the same lines previously
outlined, for in 1919 the Tennessee legislature convened, and in
1919 all five Of the city commissioners terms would expire, and
the complete plan could then be carried out.
don, Mr., Bolton Smith, Mr.. Charlie Gerber. Mr.. Fred Orgill and
Mr.. R. R. Ellis went before the Shelby county Democratic deIega-
ton. which was a largely attended meeting, composed Of business.
professional and laboring men. and secured the insertion of a plank
in their platform pledging support to the city manager form of
government for Memphis. Then the roll call was had and each
member OF the Shelby county delegation there nominated, when
his name was called, stood up and pledged himself individually
when elected to support legislation to accomplish these ends.