The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-29
SEEK COMPROMISE ON CITY MANAGER
 AND MAYOR RULE
Women Voters Oppose
 Certain Phases Of Ordinance

The mayor-alderman1" form Of gov ernment is going before the voters in a few week. All citizens who favor 1t should line up with us. Those who don't like it should take stand. A real fight is at hand and. believe we will win because know the majority of the people of Birmingham favor repre- sentative government"
 That is what Frank Dominick told a meeting of citizens at the courthouse Thursday afternoon as he formally ac- cepted the chairmanship of the drive to abolish commission government. Domi- nick promised a campaign free of per sonalities" and named a general steer ing committee in addition to the vari- ous committees previously named.
 Mrs. Asa P. Hull, who is vice-chair, man of the campaign; s. B. Garrett, T. S. Smith, Judge Horace Wilkinson, Hunter Armstrong, W. H. Dcak, Dr. B. o. Wyman, Judge J. Q. Smith and Mir. Dominick compose the steering com mittee. Armstrong will be its chair man.
 After Judge Wilkinson had explained the mayor-aldermanic ordinance, Mrs. Richard F. Johnston opposed some of it's provisions in brief talk and asked if a compromise could not be reached with the advocates of council-manager form.
 Sentiment Divided
 'There is a sharp division of senti- ment in the city" said Mrs. Johnston, ''and a fight for the manager form is coming. Why can't we get together and compromise on a plan that will receive universal approvalE
 Judge Wilkinson replied he would be opposed to the manager system because iS takes away the right of the people to name their chief official. Chair man Dominick also replied to Mrs. Johnston, saying number of the best features of the manager plan had been incorporated in the mayor rule ordl- nance and voicing his obection to any further compromise.
 "The trouble with your ordinance" Mrs. Johnston shot back, Ties in the method of electing the official who han dles the city's business. We need business man instead of handshaking politician as the head of the govern ment. The council should choose him oI the basis of his qualifications"
 After further discussion, Mrs. John stop said the small attendance at the meeting showed that the mayor-alder- manic plan was mot making material headway." She said she had counted only about 60 persons in attendance.
 When the meeting finally adjourned, Chairman Dominick had conference with Mrs. Johnston, who is leading member of the League of Women Voters. It was indicated that their divergent views were not reconciled.
 ''In my opinion" Dominick declared in his speech, i've have the ordinance that the people want to vote for. It has the good features of all the modern types of municipal control and lacks the bad features of the various forms. I am opposed to allowing the council to name the mayor, or manager. am willing to trust the people, and am un- willing toesay to the world that a great city like this hasn't a man within its limits that is capable of handling its bushes affairs"
 Continuing, Mr. Dominick stressed the point that the pending movement does not contemplate return to the ''old.fashioned and corrupt form of al- dermanic rule" He urged the voters Of the city to study the new plan.
 Good officials" he went on, "can make bad government good. Likewise, bad men can make a good government bad High type men would run for office under this ordinance we propose, since it vests the chief executive with wide authority. At the same time, though, it holds him strictly account able for results and provides for his removal if he falls down."
 T. H. Aldrich, former Birmingham postmaster, Dr. B. O. Wyman, T. S. Smith and others made brief speeches. In explaining the proposed ordinance, Judge Wilkinson hotly scored the pres ent form of government.
 Under this system" he asserted. ''more money has been squandered and stolen in comparison with area, than the republican party got away with. I deny that this ordinance goes back to the old aldermanic form. There is lit- tie difference between our plan and the city manager form. The manager plan makes the chief executive responsible to the council; our plan makes his re- sponsible to the people. In other re- spects, we are not far apart. We pro- vide for tight check on city finances and eliminate much politics from the various branches of the government"
 The steering committee was called by its chairman to meet at the courth- house Thursday afternoon to plan series of Tneetinps