Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-13
FRIDAY, AUGUST i3. 1920.
f,,enlns'',' rven,ns Yesterday l3SUU
Nav for /. New City Charter.

n is most encouraging to the cause Oh
those who have earnestly desired, lor
many years, a charter for the city OF VIII
mington under which it might break away
entirely from partisan municipal admins
tration and give the people the pracucai
benefits Of a purely business adminlstra-
ton. TO note the entrance OF the Morning
News into the new charter campaign.
There is no uncertainty, no equivocation'
IN the stand announced by our morning
contemporary. 1t is in the campaign Tor
purpose. resolved to do all in its power 70
bring about the desired result. And US
action AT this time is OF much more thah
ordinary Importance. as new charter
must come from the Legislature, and mem
bers Of the next Legislature will be chosen
nj the ensuing election.
I'VE do not believe there should be any
partisan or even party politics IN mu-
nlcipal government, says the Morning
News. Under our present city charter u
- ,mnossible 20 eliminate such politics
either from municipal elections or mu-
nlcipal administration. If we can help
tho people 10 realize that il Is 70 the
pecuniary advantage of every man ana
woman in the city 20 have the most ei-
6cicnt and intelligent government pos
s,hle. they will then take the matter INTO
their own hands.
This is the kind Of q campaign, we take ~
upon which our contemporary proposes 70
enter. ard IL e of the right kind. Such
campaign should awaken the people OF
Wilmington 70 q realization Of the situa-
non in which they have long floundered IN
rcspect Of their municipal administration
which is Of such great Importance 10 them.
Il will be no difficult task TO reveal 70
them the kind Of administration they are
inflicted with. and how they suffer IN
pocket and in person from ITS continued
,neficiencv. And. once aroused TO a
knowledge Of the situation, and what II
threatens for the future unless reform
shall be inaugIrated. there Is no reason 70
doubt there viii be an uprising OF the
people. with demand for changed ana
improved conditions which even the
politicians Of the two leading poliucai
parties would not dare to ignore.
OF course. the first step is TO secure q
new charter-a business charter-under
which municipal administration may De
conducted In an efficient and practlcai
manner. Such charter can come oniy
from the Legislature, which IN the regular
course Of events will not meet until next
January. But much may be done IN the
interim. A good charter measure may be
prepared. and candidates for the Leg1sla-
ture made acquainted with It's purposes
and provisions and pledged TO securing its
ensctment And once enacted. Its apphca-
ton 10 the purposes of efficient, result
nroducine administration will be largely
in the hands Of the people. The latter VIII
then be IN a position to work out their own
salvation, and there is no reason 10 douot
that If gwen the opportunity they VIII 90
their mart. Other communities have done
this. and so can the people Of Wilmington.
The Morning News is IN q position to
do valuable service to the cause OF I'M
proved municipal administration. ard
there is no doubt of the spirit IN which 1t
takes up the work. 1t is willing to lead
or 10 fight in the ranks under the leader
ship Of any Of our contemporaries as may
appear best for the attaipment OF the
common purpose" But there is no oc-
casion for any question of newspaper
leadership in such a cause. Let all do their
part and active leadership may easily and
appropriately be taken by the agencies
which interested citizens can provide.
The newspapers of the city doubtless will
do their part TO support them.