Evening journal., 1921-04-07
WALKER WOULD
fight ON FOR
new CHARTER
CONTINUED from irst page)

Aconllnueu from nFSL paBe)
administration Of the affairs OF our
city through the medium Of a new /
charter have been defeated by the |
politicians of the Republican party, |
who, for reasons best known to them
selves, refused TO respond TO the call
OF our citizenship for relief from our
present antiquated and 1isiointed
form OF government. Tho power
was theirs. so is the responsibility.
"As your chairman. it now be-
comes my duty to render an account
OF my stewardship. That you may
be fully informed. and to keep the
records complete. it will be necessary
for me to cover some details with
which you may. to some extent, al
ready be familiar"
Mr.. Walker reviews the launching
OF the charter movement and re-
counts in detail the fight in the
Legislature to obtain passage Of the
bill embodying the scheme. He then
says;
You will see, therefore. that in
both the Senate and the House there
was a well-dehned and effective plan,
seemingly agreed to between Repub-
lican politicians and Republican
members OF the Legislature to de-
feat any and all city charter legis-
lation OF a beneficial nature; in the
Senate by forcing the Democratic
members to line up against an un-
acceptable bill, and in the House by
lining up the Republican members
against a bill which was acceptable
I -. h.
friends Of chartar reform, but which
was not acceptable to a small group
OF Republican politicians in the city
of Wilmington.
I'VE labored long and faithfully
IN behalf OF new charter. We ac-
cepted amendments proposed by
Senator Robertson, which amend
ments we did not regard as being
inimical to the interests OF the pub
lie. Through our agitation in our
communit we crystalized the strong
public sentiment which existed in
favor OF a new charter. and saw to
Il that that crystalized sentiment
was brought formally to the atten-
tion OF both the Senators and the
Representatives
We AAAA ITO AAtA AliAA AANfA AAAt
. public hearing at which not one
word was said against the charter.
Senator Robertson and his associ-
ates would become parties TO a par.
tisan scheme which would result in
d. the hopeless mutilation of oui
, amended bill so that it could not be
accepted by any friend of real char.
ter reform Nor was there any sug.
!, gestion from the Republican side OF
= the House that plan had been de
/, vised by politicians who desired tS
continue their partisan rule in VIII
mington To line up the Republican
y members Of the lower body in a sole
" block 20 destroy what hope remain
ed TO us Of charter legislation iI
y the public interest.
"As ! view IL, there has been
shameful disregard and defiance o.
public opinion In our city Thi
:, was SO fragrant as to be almost with
y out parallel in our political and gov
= ernmental annals. II seems to M
" that h calls for a stinging rebuke a
the hands Of the people Of Whining
ton.
There no longer is any hope O
getting a charter bin through tn
present Legislature. Therefore,
think il is the duty OF all Of us. q
view of what has occurred to decid
now what the friends Of charter re
form for Wilmington should do i
the future.
shall we perfect permanent OF
ganization which will continue {
agitate for a new charter from thl
time until the people have receive
what they want; or shall we 81
quietly until the next session Of tn
Legislature approaches and then be
gin an eieventh-hour agitation
which probably will be followed b
like sinister legislative results?
MY experience in this fight ha
convinced me that IL II is to be woi
f. must be through organized. sys
tematized and never-ceasing agita
tion. beginning now and carried o
without fear or favor from now unit
that time when the politicians rec
ognize the right Of tho people o
Wilmington to say what they nee
and what they want In the shape {
municipal government. and until N
Legislature is composed OF men WI
/ recognize the voice Of the people