The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-27
DR.. Williamson Speaks.

The penple realize that the COnten-
ton for the referendum clause in the
city manager bill is the sheerest excuse
for opposition and that those who are
insistent upon the referendum would OPP
pose the bill at the polls, try to corrupt
the election and then as a last resort
would fight the measure in the courts
In order to get definitely before the
neople the views of a gentleman allied
with no political element and without
corporation affiliation, one in whom the
people of Memphis have u"nbounded con
fidenco and whose Judgment Ia exceed
ingly sound. The News Scimttar pro-
pounded three questions to the Rev, G.,
H. Williamson, PhdD., pastor OF the
First Presbyterian church, They were
as follows;
DIR. Williamson, what Is your opin-
ion Of the men behind the city mana
ger bill?
2--Do you believe there is opportunity
for improvement In the city government
by the passage Of this bill?
what is the prospect for getting
the people more in touch with the con-
duct Of the government and what is
the advantage
DR.. williamson replied categorically as
follows:
1.-THE primary influence drawing
me to the bill Is the character Of the
men who are sponsors for II. | have
known these men for nearly ten years
and / know their unselfish devotion to
the well-being Of the city present and
future. To such men as these the citi-
zens Of any community must always
turn for leadership In great movements
affecting the life Of the people, These
men have their all invested in the city OF
Memphis. Their homes are here, their
business interests are here, they are
making the Investment of their life
here. The strongest influence, II seems
10 me, exerted by this movement should
be to all thinking citizens the character
OF the men behind this new plan Of city
government,
"2-The political corruption and mis-,
management of American cities Is thu
browning infamy of American life, No,
where else in any civilized countr!
would such conditions be tolerated TO
a day. 1'he jewellers in the cities hay,
been subjected to conditions that havt
limited their political freedom by tn
Vaccinations of the political boss.
THE encouragement Of gross an
deadly evils that have eaten the hear
out OF the city; that has compelled tn
people to submit to a kind Of misrul
against which all sane and forward
looking men have revolted, The stor,
OF the misrule OF American cities is on
so well known, so far spread, that tn
average man has lost interest in tn
most vital concern of his life ms a citi
zen, namely, the rule of the people an
all the people of the municipality,
4tr>kI. .l,,s 1apannR VIan nm nnAaf
stand 1t is an attempt on the part
the best thinkers Of America to brln
up city government to the standar
OF efficiency and moral wholesomenes,
I am Interested in II because ii repre-
sents a forward movement, 1t Is say
ing TO the individual citiEen-"this
your city; the most sacred interests {
your life are here represented, You
home is founded here; your money
invested here. You are working OF
your destiny here. You have an obi
CATION TO every other citizen of III
municipality in determining the for
OF good government
This new charter will give you yol
chance TO take a mans place and col
tribute a mans share to the we'll beir
of your city. | like the nonparttsa
lueA. III IN the Olt sIOIk toilNtIAiN
men are growing every day OF the wa
10 work out the big problems OF the
lives. No single citizen a ever
harmed by a movement that represen
the cooperation OF all citizens.
's. interest Ia born OF knowledg
Let the people have a chance to kno
what is going on in their city, In whit
their life and property are inVeste
s-a - aalrIayaa lee lWga go "a.
the business of n corporation is co
Quoted and you have an Interested eli
zen, The average man and more TIN
the average man wants to have a pa
In the city affairs. The average eli
zen Is a good citizen, LAW abiding, d
cent and patriotic, a man who Won
contribute gladly his share and mo
than his share to the well-being Of t
community life,
Enlarge the chance for men to c
operate. Make them feel r~esponsil
for the conduct of their cities. Crea
within them a civic pride, the kind
pride thai will make a citizen as @
thusiastic IN making his town bea
tiful and morally clean as he Is
keeping his home beautiful and mora
clean. AS citizens Of Memphis, a cI
which, by virtue Of it's location is d
serving Of a great destiny, we a
certainly profoundly interested in Ii
destiny. Our city has the same RIG
to survive as any other city. We ha
the same right to build. adorn, beaut
and make prosperous as any other CT
we have the same right to c
forth our finest citizenship and put
10 the fore as any other city, We ha
done much to make our city wort
Of it's citizenship. Let US hope Il
the present effort to take a long st
forward will succeed to the sstisfacti
and upbuilding of all our people"