Newspapers / The Herald-Sun (Durham, N.C.) / March 11, 1915, edition 1 / Page 6
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' ' - tr 1 i-i ii- - : r HT ' THE MORNING IIEBED, MARCH 11, 1915 T 1 v rummiiite&mkuni r-r.-. . 'f-in-ituniiM momrn tif: ft l.t'! 'i I I ,: r V - t-v' it', ... . 1 .- s -.,,. its v , ... f a minimum risk to run against a they assemble the clerk usually has In mistake not to adopt. no radical features, and nothing .that maximum of opportunity for success, readiness a batch of petitions of such t witnessed the lavine of the fonn- will invite serious attack. Durham W. I. CRANFORD. t importance as to take up the entire Nation stones of the town of ..Durham, should become a real, up-to-date city, evening. In addition, citizens of the and r am very jealous of her welfare! and 1 confidently 'believe its rapid de- A FIRST VOTER. town, who have any interest at stake, nnit" thernfnr if r hvo .n ' velonment and extensive up -building EX-MAYOR GRISWOLD. most of the members of the -new 1 favor the moDosed charter: I- boards have been entirely without ex- 1. Because nearly three-fourths of perience, and, as a rule, the term of it is made as the present charter. service is Jar spent before a new 2. Because everv voter will have board can possibly get the business in "ati opportunity ot. vote in a legalized hand so as to act even with a small It gives nie the greatest pleasure to appear to present their claims,' and the community who would be guided are results that we may expect in the primary, a right which has never be- degree of intelligence. , be able to cast my first vote for the the discussion of these personal claims by my advice, I bespeak their loyal near future-, provided, we get on the fore been given to all the voters. Pre- But when it conies to the execution managerial form of city government runs the meeting far past midnight, support of the new charter. In my 'Job, and have the proper legal ma - Vlous primaries have been a farce. of the real work of the city, the plan It strikes me that every young man unless some alderman who Is already judgment, the city ou!d make a great chinery for directing our affairs. 3. Because there will always be of having a city manager seems to me In Durham should take off his coat and tired from his private labors, moves mistake in failing to adopt it. No Of course we always have some good experienced men on the board. the chief merit of the new charter. go to work in behalf of the new city to adjourn. What is unfinished may one WOuid De guilty 0f charging any cltziens who are "stand-patters' in 4. Because there are about eighty At present most matters of improve- charter. In years to come the man- be hastily referred to the next month- intentional wrongdoing in any way on everything. They .have opposed good ., , ., . ...... n-l.t nnA lit, nPPmPTlt nf (hp Pl'tv'a affail'Q U'Ul tia lv nipptln? (ir n RnApifil UIPPtlTlir TT1A V IL. A - . . . ,. aihn1a tTA rxrxA ntpiala anil Airafv- or ninety employes in uie service ui mrui ' uiuuul up aim uis n - c ... , o mo pari or me ooara or aiuermen, "i cm the city, without any one-head to su perintend their work, under the pres ent plan. , 5. Because each ward will be rep resented. citizens, so that the hands of the on our siiouiuers, and it is to our ad- be sot to act on unnmsnea rousiness. but no one can deny that the old svs- thing else about the city that required board are usually full and overfull of vantage to have the best form of city In this way the affairs of a rapid- tern is wastefully extravagant. I was serious expenditure of money and petty matters brought up by some citi- government. Let all the first voters ly growing town that has already for several terms a member of the 1 expect these "stand -patters" to zens a little more anxious or insist- rally to the support of this good reached the city Stage are being con- board of aldermen myself, and I am PPse the new charter, but generally A. II. CARR. been brought before them by citizens wnen we can substjtute the manage- who are interested. However, the ria, for f TOVernn,ent for th nrfis. The only way to dispose man (wo years. I am thoroughly great mass of people whose interest is ent system. As to who will be the city manager, ent on having his special interest cause . Because the mayor will be given iookcq alter, wnne a nunareci otners a vote on all questions. a little more modest or considerate of 7. Because five men can better nan- others' interests never present their EX-ALDERMAN RAWLS. ftio Hi. Jmsinpss nf tho ritv instead of cases, for sheer lack of time or op- I have served the city as an alder nortunltr. S. BECAUSE 1 DO NOT THINK of most of these matters is. either to convinced, from experience, that the even greater than the few, but who WE SHOULD VOTE STREET BONDS srant them all on the one-sided rep- adoption of the proposed charter will never appear at court, are little con- UNTIL WE HAVE SOME EXPERI- resentation of the personally interest- give the city a more economical ad- sidered. The mayor's nominal salary ENCED MAN TO PROPERLY SU- ed parties, and this would soon come ministration, anil greater results to the is insufficient to claim has entire PERINTEND i THE WORK AND PER- to naught for ten times as many re- benefit of the citizens. time. Therefore, his real business is MAXENCY OF TWEMEXT quests would be formally granted as Q- E. RAWLS. practicing law. The members of the !).' Because the aldermen will not could possibly be executed, or these board of aldermen each receive less he able to borrow a large amount of requests must be referred to appro- EX-ALDERMAN GORMAN. than $10 a month, and certainly no f ,.,... v,t niini, J. nin'atf rnmmittpps for in vestitrat ion As a former aldprnmn and hoiru, member, unless he is Very wealthy, J 1 1 1 7 1 H v jui yul a uui ouuncu ' rr - - - - law. ducted. The greater part of the work thorousrhlv familiar wtth thA wnrkines speaking I am inclined of the opinion of the board of aldermen is occupied ot the board, and I don't hesitate to that the great bulk of our progressive in considering measures that have say tnat j wiu rejoice to see the day citizens thoroughly understand the need of more business-like methods In conducting the great business of run ning our city, and will join with us in carrying the election. I will gladly loin with other citizens in carrying on an active campaign in favor of the new charter until the day of election. JOHN SPRUNT HILL. 10. Because common sense sug gests that aldermen meeting only two nights a month can't properly super intend and manage the affairs of a $22,000,000 corporation, without a business-head. W. J. GRISWOLD. THOMAS M. GORMAX. ATTORNEY GUTHRIE. I have read the proposed charter. EX-ALDERMAN JORDAN. and report. This means delay and somewhat familiar with the present can afford to neglect nis Dusmess 10 then some more delay. To get three management of the city's affairs, 1 studY the needs of the town and plan men from widely different vecupa- most heartily endorse the proposed fr the town's welfare. Consequently, tions, and from widely separate parts new charter. it is no one's real business, and pub lic interests sqffer. 1 am in favor of the city manager nlan because it will become the busi ness of some one. an expert, to study the town's needs, and work at the business from day to day, and cer tainly it is a strong man's job. A good parallel could be found in the management of the public schools, of the town. Suppose there were no head to the system, save the board of v ... 11. trustees; and suppose once a monm they held a meeting for the purpose think it a model document. It has my hearty support, and I think our W. B. GUTHRIE. of the city together with a little leis ure at the same time and ta get them all on the scene of the matter to be investigated is no small job. The al most invariable result is a great ac cumulation of such small matters and Relative to the new charter question the continuing from meeting to meet- )l00ple should adopt it by a unanimous now before the people of Durham for ing ot such special committees, until vote ratification, please permit me to give the matter dies of slow starvation or my humble opinion briefly, as I see it. a new board comes in and clears the My experience as alderman for calendar, and begins building a new this city a number of years, and by one for the next board to clear in the close observation for a longer time, same way. I have become fully convinced that The great weakness of the present our present aldermanie government is Plan is its scattered authority and its a failure, in so far as getting prac- scattered responsibility. .Besides, com ticnl results is concerned. mittees and boards ere necessarily I have given considerable study slow and cumbersome. They are in to the subject of municipal affairs tended to check and delay. But it seems to me we need rather less man more delay just now in our city's let us cross that bridge when we come to it. Let us first adopt the new char ter, and then I am satisfied that the community, in its wisdom and good judgment, will select the proper per sons for aldermen, and that they in Ex-alderman and Former Chairman ot turn will select the proper person for Street Committee, city manager. ' I hope the agitation of the question will not cause too much friction, and that the good people of our city will No more important measure has handle the situation witnout giving ever been submitted to the voters f Durham than the proposed new TOBACCO MAN. offense to each other. Let us have a business form of government, elimin ating all politics. I believe the future welfare of our city demands it. JULIAN S. ARR. DR. MANNING. The trend of public thought in municipal government at this time is "e,u j V" th(f lnterests of the termined to give the whole matter a ment proposed by the new charter uaa uecu u ieu turn iuuuu iu num. and sys- by far the most business-like of them tem. Its faults do not lay so much all. and, therefore, I am very heartily in the nlen selected as aldermen as in the system itself. The foremost charter. A committee of earnest and patriotic citizens, as a labor of love, and looking only to .the good of . all, has drafted this instrument. They sought to get the views of every citizen that had any opinion to When I was placed on the charter offer' and aie charter which they committee I was not in favor of the submit should receive our hearty city manager plan, but I was de- endorsement. This plan of govern- REV. LEYBURN. for many years in this city, as well as in three other cities in which I have lived, and have long since come work. to the conclusion that no adequate business system can be evolved un iness methods, in promoting the ma terial growth of the city, and in dis tributing more wisely and more equit- nhlv ll or rpl'onnpa T iwxt indnmn, these ideas can be mnrp siioee.fnllv arise, useless expenditures of funds th thorough study. u,. a..u uwv different plans of city government, as ut.ve work that was done for the th0TmgUy as p0ssible x was con. All of us realize the weakness fit of the schools, it is not dif- city manager p,an .g inadequacy of the aldermanic school, and suppose this were exec benefit ficult to see that inequalities might applied by adopting the proposed charter than by continuing ""the prcs- pnt ohsolptp nlan nf ritv envprninpnt Many a progressive, public spirited vv. . Q n,p. mmna. citizen has been induced to become der the old plan of running the affairs an alderman.- neither for the money of this city, nor do I believe that any nor for the honor, but with the genu? corporation or business firm could long ine and sincere hope of doing some survive if run as our city affairs have thing for the good of the town. But. been run. as a rule, such have soon seen the 1 have no criticism to make of any hopelessness of the task and have aldermanic board, or rather of the been not only willing but anxious to city. Every incoming board has been retire. run about like the one that preceded I sincerely believe the plan of hav It, and if the present system is con- "ing a city manager will go a long tinued those to serve in the future will way toward removing much of this be like those which have preceded it. delay and inefficiency. We cannot do worse than we have This . new charter creates no new done, so why not try something else? powers, but it simply collects and If the new charter is not exactly like concentrates a good many that lie each one would like to have, let's scattered and diffused, makes them all vote for it, and then change it capable of being applied so they can from time to time as conditions may be made to do actual work, require until we get it perfect. Our great rivers that run down from This is strictly a business Dropo- the mountains to the sea have recent- more responsible board of aldermen, and under the advice and control of tin's board a capable business man ager, whose entire time and thought should be given to the best interest of the city, and who should be responsi ble to this board for his acts of either commission or omission. J. M. MANNING. might result from ignorance of the real needs of the school, and ineffi cient teachers might be employed. The board alone is not the best judge of the qualifications of a teacher. It meets monthly to consider the needs of the school, but the real executive in favor of this plan for Durham. REV. E. R. LEYBURN T. B. 1ALLY. objection to the - present plan is its lack of business methods and divis ion of authority. The new charter I am in favor of the proposed char- proposes ' to place the management work is placed in the hands of one ter because I believe it offers the best or the cjty-s affairs on some such T. B. TALLY. sition, and should be so treated. Respectfully, C. A. JOR.DAN. ly acquired no new powers: but skill ed engineers have recently caught . .r , , . adopt the proposed new charter, be scattered and wasted and have made . Z . ( FORMER RECORDER. We ought not to object to the pro posed new city charter simply because it is new, as Durham itself is rather a new community; our splendid office and bank buildings are new; the Pres byterian structure is going to be new and modern; many of our most sub stantial citizens are new in the com munity, and even the sacred book says, "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The voters of Durham ought 'to competent man, and he is made re- method of applying economy and effl sponsible for the success of the ciency to the business of the city's school. The board, however, is the affairs. legislative body that passes on his recommendations and serves as a check to autocratic rule, and in this way a great school system is wisely conducted. Similar results may be obtained in the citv government. A wise execu- CAPTAIN PARRISH. business basis as that upon which a great factory or railroad is operat ed. One man will give his entire time, thought and efforts to the work of the city. The board of" al dermen remain as the law-making To have others think well of our D0dy and RS a COUrt of appeal from city we must think wen ot it our PRESIDENT MERCHANTS' ASSO CIATION. Recently I have given the new c-har- them applicable and workable in dis tant cities. But we are told that the concentra- cause we need some improvement in our city government, and this plan has given the greatest satisfaction in many rvttipr fnmmnnitipe T f 4n it ter that was drawn by fifteen of our tion of power in the hands of one man sef flt ,eaRt keep- ,.,th'the' best citizens much consideration. I is a dangerous thing; and so ,t Is. Any am convinced n every particular that concentration of power so as to put ,.,,. 4. , o v, k iv. if o furnish.ng the money, the faith and v la laic iCOb fVJ ,1 Ullldll. LllaL UU1 1 iw , i j i i ' 1 1 1. .niti f j 1 . Ul n 11.1 .1 a, .1 1 1 1 people can possibly adopt. L. B. MARKHAM. gerous thing. Any force so concen trated that it can do valuable work, can also be applied so as to do dam-1 age. So long as we keep forces so the grit to make these splendid in vestments and who are trying to make Durham a better place for business, for health and happiness. The new charter will, I verily be lieve, be the greatest actor in accom- PATTERSON BROS. CO The new charter has my approval scattered that they can do no harm 1 , wl ...til ii-; , 1. VtA . M icf on lnnn. o .... , 1. rt .. . . .1 11,., iu, mm me (uupei man iu man- j" i n,ns 'c mc, su nuunru inoi relishing these things ago affairs, no doubt result in great they can do little good. . good to our city. Of course, a bad manager would be W. H. MUSH a bad thing a mighty bad thing, if ' we had one and had to keep him very EX-ALDERMAN FULLER. long. But with five good men to se- selves. We have many live, progress ive, by making a study of the needs ve men and what Durham neeus is of a town and spending the town's to get alJ ner men together with a money where the needs are greatest, conimon object of building up the city, could so direct the business affairs as The new charter submitted for our to unify all the departments of town approval is the result of the work and government, give a cleaner, a more wfsd0m of a committee by a mass attractive town, and a more efficient meeting of our progressive citizens of government. By constant watchful- every class. It was afterwards ap ness, he could protect the streets, and proved by a second mass- meeting. The in this way save his salary many charter was prepared Avithout reward times over, just as the city superin- or hope of reward, looking only to tendent does today by watching school what was thought would work for the property and having necessary re- best interest of our city. It may not pairs made at the time. He could be perfect, but it is the very best the study the markets and buy labor and committee could do, and I believe if supplies and materia. In fact, if a the voters will approve of it it will re smaller business organization thinks dound to the highest and best interest it pays to place a general superin- 0f our city. If it should be found not tendent over the business in order to f0 meet our expectation, we can economize the funds and secure the amend it, or even get a new charter at best results, certainly a much larger the next legislature. I am interested organization woiiljd profit from the jn the general prosperity of the city, selection of a competent man to su- t want to see the voters of Durham the actions of the ctiy manager. As far as it has .been disclosed, no city or town that has adopted this plan of city government has ever returned to the old system. This seems to me convincing proof that it is better and comes nearer being the ideal form of municipal government. Let us adopt the charter submitted and put Dur ham in the list of progressive cities not afraid of a new idea when its ben efits are so apparent. W. P. HENRY. AN OLD RESIDENT. R. II. SYKES. perintend the business of a town. I E. C. BROOKS. EX-ALDERMAN SEEMAN. The new proposed charter of the get together and vote unanimously for the charter submitted, believing it best for our interest. I want to see Durham lead the progressive cities ol the state, and we have to do something I believe that the new charter pro- leot him and to watch him and to dis posed for the city would give us miss him when be becomes bad, and prompter service in the administration w'th a good sized bond to protect the of affairs, and would be more efficient city against his badness, he ought to and economical in its workings than be at his worst a very short-lived the one under which we are now op- danger. eratmg. EX-ALDERMAN MOREHEAD. The day of the specialist, the ex f!K- Tw,fn o,,t!,n..;,i j. pert ana system nas come, aim mo more man we drawn by a special committee appoint- old ""P-shod. jack-of-all-trades meth- this. Let's adopt the charter and see ed hv mass mPPtinir nf tho rif.Vpna Od nas passed, f rom my exyencm wnai me resuu win c of Durham, whose report was later as an alderman, I am convinced that endorsed by said mass meeting, will, tDe onlv method of properly conduct to my mind, in the event of its pass- inS a citv's affairs is through a train- J . ...V.n ...,.,,1.1 n.N,1.A Knot. aee by nonular vote on March 1fi. "pen, uu.u uuuu E. J. PARRISH. EX-ALDERMAN WILY. T. But for the same reason that a bad pr(vl "onp of the most progressive ness methods. The present method 1 am heartily in favor of the new city charter, which is to be voted on On the 16th of this month there will be held the most important dec tion in Durham, I think, that va ever held in the city. It is admit ted by nearly all of our citizens that the present form of city government is a huge failure. The evidence of this is all around us. What have we got to show where the millions of dollars the people have paid in taxes during the past history of our town. Wo .have a fine school system which doing to do We re proud of' notnlnS else- We must have a change in our system of government if we keep up with the progress of other cities. No one claims that the people have re ceived more than fifty cents on the dollar for taxes paid. No graft by anybody. No system of business is the trouble and system is as neces- A. E. R 1'fIll'P ,,,, . tJ V. ..!,.. I..J .11.. ' .... . . J !.... ,V. H u- . laounbci i j 1 1 1 1 1 i it h (intuit uhii l ie. i . ... . -. , . . inrfinvn i .1 r k in k . si i in nun iiuuu&u . ... - lf" u 1 1 n piim vpi I ;i K M 1 1 nv fill r r i 7pnQnin lar . v r. . - - j . ;;.,,.... unrrh 1 it iq n - so a good manager would be a very Durham's advancement and progress, incompetency from lack of knowledge, ' opportunity for an advanced ' in city government as any other LLOYD. DOVverful and therpforp a misrhtv ennA . mciilts In riplava iinnpcpssarv ex- " ' . . . . hiisiness. This we Will never have r, . ..i. v. o . ri. r. . stuiAA. - - movement in the conduct ot munici- . . bi. vii me new cnarier anu finne. But. whereas, a bad manaeer the management of city government would be a thing of "but few days BAN K TASHIER Krl mv'niinrrJ vT l-UK-ht Z ,U" f tr0Ub,H" " "Kd manaBCr 1 of citv Jrora my point of view, it w.ll g,ve should be of long duration and "a joy rhartPr bPrauSp it nromises to eive to us a more economic city administra- forever." True, under . the present Zm a comport S "od torn tion. and mnrp urminnni , j ,j . . . i'uiiihih a t""iiai i ana niouern ionn . ........ pinii, a iiao aiaerman is 1101 very aan- inems. i neartuy indorse the move penses, and errors in Judgment, and should be abandoned. J. I MOREHEAD. pal affairs. under our present plan. JOHN F. WILY MERCHANT. In regard to the new plan of carry- The INSURANCE MAN movement for help carry it. The new charter after being care fully considered by a large commit tee of our best citizens was unani mously adopted by a large mass maugerial meeting of our citizens. Many of many of our best business men, many of our of i-!tv Linvprnmpnt with n rpRnnnfiihlp PrOHR ilist ac a pnnd nna S a 1 arirp! v .... .. - . .. , , i a. : i -:.. T ...ill .. , . . . ..i .. ment. and will use mv influence to nr,h: " ;.,. " ,,ea"' Al ,ne 15ame l,me "Ilal auulor- r i b i'h-- ab.j ollr argest taxpayers . . ..,......, ... a i r- niudiii , r,.i t v, nonn Tf will that am vprv mnpn in x vor or ine n tup hpransp I nm anvmiu in spe neipiess. J)p up fo the voterg to selprt five good city manager plan. It seems to me Durham in the forefront of progress most successful men today are ask- uiu in eery owier une 01 business. n,en. Tht-se men should be capable to be the proper way to operate ine jn this as in all other respects, con- jng tne .nr idnurj, me score, ine Dante as well of selecting a competent manager, business or tins large corporation, as in most public institutions, men and this manager should and will be. R- L BALDWIN A. E. LLOYD. people to vote for the EX-ALDERMAN HILL. As an alderman of this city, I am fctrongly in favor of the new charter. No set of men can handle the city's business successfully by giving five hours a month to same. Durham needs a man on bis job all the time. I. F. HILL ALDERMAN CRANFORD. It strikes me tjjat the two best fea tures of trie nexhartpr are the In crease in the length of ifrin for alder- are putting their power and their m!,n trained to handle city affairs in money under general managers, and the interest of the whole community, thus making it possible to achieve re- s. v. MINOR, suit with this money and this power that would be impossible so long as EX. ALDERMAN BROOKS, these forces are keDt scatterpd In- " f h ovj t .i.to -. . 1 i n r a i r a e r 1 1 i v.a new ndent the representative men w no charter. If we cant afford to fol have formulated the proposed charter ,ow. such men as these who are nay- GENERAL CARR. I commend most heartily the very fully vote for its' adoption. have done their work well, and from motives purely patriotic. I will cheer- comprehensive statement of the new city charter matter in the Sun yes terday afternoon by Mr. J. A. Giles. I J. H. SOUTHGATE. for this power to be abused and this money to be stolen. But in every thing else we guard aeainst what dan gers we can. and for the rest, we take the risk: and whilp here and there no men and the plan for a city manager. , lose, a little, as a rule the work To ee the advantages of this first i well done and we win. So in this provision is very easy. I the past, plan of city government we tan have cidenfally they are making it easier sons fr favoring the new charter and am thoroughly in sympathy with the tX-ALDERMAN HILL. especially that feature or It which proposition that we adopt the proposed I strongly iavor ine proposed new provides for a citv manager. The pres- new charter. I am free to confess' charter for the city of Durham. It is ent hoard of aldermen has been an that it does not quite embrace my a plain, simple plan for putting af- procrcssive and business-like as it is views, but I yield to the very capable Tairs of the city upon a more business- nossible for men to be whose regular and patriotic and intelligent commit- like basis. ' I was a member of the business i. not that of look'ng after tee. who. looking at the question from committee that drafted the charter, the affairs o the town. The member all sides, submitted their report which and I am thoroughly familiar with its meet repularlv twice a month. When I think Durham iuld make a great provisions. In my opinion.it contains ing most of the taxes and who have always been in the front ranksovhen the interest of our city is at slake, who can we follow Let's lay aside all the little objections that are be ing raised and vote unanimously for the new charter. During the next five years there will be spent more than two million dollars for taxes and bond issues. Can we afford to spend this amount of money as we have been doing? No! Then let us a a opt the new charter. A. K. UMSTEAD. A t ( i V !
The Herald-Sun (Durham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 11, 1915, edition 1
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