Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events, 1880s-1930s

Chapter 91: 1913

HE indefatigable James G. Woodward again entered the lists for mayor 'in the primary of October 2, 1912, to serve the city during 1913 and 1914. This time he had three opponents, Aldine Chambers, an attorney; Dr. George Brown, and Steve R. Johnston, a real estate man. Woodward and Chambers were generally conceded to be the strongest candidates, though the local press was quite vehement against Woodward, claiming that he had not reformed since the indescretions that led to his defeat in 1908 and again in 1910. The Journal editorialized to the effect that public decency demanded Woodward's defeat. A majority of the voters did not agree. When the votes were counted, Woodward led the field, but lacked 386 of a required majority. October 15th was fixed as the date for a runover between the veteran city official and Aldine Chambers, runner-up.1 In the runover Woodward won a third, though not consecutive term as Atlanta's chief executive. His majority over Chambers was 770, the vote being 5,367 to 4,597. Chambers carried the Fourth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth wards, Woodward all of the others.2 Commented the Journal on October 16th: "Mr. Woodward's victory has a double significance. First, the main plank in his platform was that he would correct what he termed the 'waste and incompetence ' of the city government. Second, he was opposed by the evangelical ministers of the city and by the executive committee of the Men and Religion Forward Movement. They made Chief Beavers' action, in closing the 'houses in our midst,' the main issue of the campaign, and Mr. Woodward declared himself in favor of a segregated [red light] district." Maybe Mr. Woodward had more wisdom in connection with this subject than he was given credit for. New members of council for 1913 were: alderman, James H. Harwell, First Ward; and the following councilmen: First Ward, no change from 1912. Second ward, Thomas I. Lynch, general insurance. Third Ward, Samuel S. Shepard, president, S. S. Shepard Plumbing Company. Fourth Ward, Claude L. Ashley, engineer, Atlanta Brewing & Ice Company. Fifth Ward, no change from 1912. Sixth Ward, Jesse M. Wood, lawyer. Seventh Ward, A. Reppard Colcord, president, Colcord Lumber Company. Eighth Ward, William G. Humphrey, vice-president, Robinson-Humphrey Company, bonds. Ninth Ward, Warren D. White, real estate. Tenth Ward, John T. Kimbrough, real estate.3 The city's ministerial officers remained the same as in 1912.4 W. Tom Winn succeeded Howard E. W. Palmer as a member of the Fulton County Commission.5 A national Democratic administration, headed by erstwhile Atlanta lawyer Woodrow Wilson, having taken office in March, 1913, a Democrat succeeded T CHAPTER 91 1913 602 ATLANTA AND ITS ENVIRONS to the local postmastership that year. He was Boiling H. Jones, secretarytreasurer , Atlanta Stove Works, who replaced Hugh L. McKee on August 27th.6 The City of Atlanta through the years had derived its basic corporate powers from the original charter of 1847. However, the changes effected by the revisions and additions of 1874 and 1913 were so broad that these documents have generally been referred to as new charters. Between 1874 and 1913 some 60 amendments were added to the charter. Some were discarded after having served a temporary need, but most were retained. The result was such a patchwork that it was often difficult to ascertain just what the law was. A new charter, providing for a commission form of government, was proposed in 19II,7 but it was rejected by the voters as representing too radical a change in the form of administration. The charter of 1913,8 which passed muster with the voters, was itself a sweeping revision of the 1874 charter. But while it made no striking departure from traditional form, it introduced numerous specific changes. The most fundamental change was a further decentralization of administrative power through the creation of more city departments. Direct control over these departments was vested in charter boards, which were composed of one member from each city ward appointed by the mayor and general council. Each board appointed a chief over its department, who in turn nominated all subordinate officers and working forces, subject to the confirmation of the board. While the duties of these boards were regulated by ordinance and each was given full authority over its department, the final responsibility still rested with the mayor and council through appointive and supervisory powers. The mayor and chairman of the council committee corresponding to the department...