St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-30

Thursday evening, May /, at Fairyiew
hall. corner of Burr and Case streets,
and there state their views, whether If
elected mayor of st. Paul the laws and
ordinances of our city will be enforced.
Yours respectfully,
GEORGE f. WoOLSEY.
''Bill'' Erwin will write Col. kiefer's
letters 9orevious to the election: Mr..
Dienstag thinks he will do the same
afterwards. But will hep
The Pioneer Press scheme of trading
Kiefer, Miller. Nichols, Fisher and Bry-
ant III return for votes for Keller,
Michaud, Wilder and Quehl does not
appear to be taking well among the Re
publicans, aud it is freely predicted
that the four P. P. ''pets" will be badly
cut by the Republicans.
Whatever influence might have been
possessed by the Workingmen'S Mu-
nicipal Reform association as an Organl-
cation has been diSsipated by the bolt OF
Monday night. A crowd of hiefer
ciaqueurs had evidently intended to cap
ture the association, and when they
found the friends of Mayor Smith out
numbered them there, as they do every
where, they incontinently bolted. The
organization-in-fact Endorsed Mayor
Smith, and the boiling wing is now lost
in the shuttle. The manly letter from
Mayor Smith was widely canyassed i'll
labor circles yesterday, and received
unqualified approval. He said
A short time since the Workingmen's Mu-
nicipal Reform Association platform was
submitted to me by one of your members for
my approval, and l deemed it advisable to
address a communication 10 you as president
of the association. defining my position
briefly on the question indicated in the plat
form. | can heartily subscribe to the first
and third conditions named i'll the platform,
and TO the second, as far as practicable. The
city employs 500 or 600 laboreIs Tor street
cleaning sweeping, etc. This kind OF labpI
is paid out of the general fund and works no
hardship to the general public. The water
board also lays all water pipes by day LABOR,
and it is regarded by The board as the most
economical mode of doing this class OF work.
Bridges and all public buildings should be.
as now. by contract, if we consult the best
interest of all classes of taxpayers; for you
must bear III mind that thisis city of house
holders, and all alike Interested IN an
economical administration of the affairs OF
the city.
The fourth plank. in relation to the pur-
chase by the city of the street car franchise,
am unqualitiedly opposed to: its adoption
by the people would result in financial rum,
destroy our credit, and drive capital from the
city. 1t seems to me if the labor organlza-
tons had given this subject careful con
sideration, they would not have adopted this
PLANK; for the reason that the old horse-car
lin efranchise to which they refer, has been
practically abandoned anu new 1ranenlseS
given to the St. Paul Railway company, and by
them acce pted-giving to our people Within
a very short time all the railway facilities
they can reasonably demand, and limiting
their charter to fifty years. This desirable
result was accomplished by committee or
our leading citizens, together with a commit
tee Of the common council, which resulted
in the passage by the council. unanimously,
of Ordinance No. 1927, which | transmit
herewith and ask to be read by the assembly
in connection with and as part OF this COM
municatiOn.
The first and third propositions in your
platform are very properly presented for the
approval of the municipal candidates; the
second and fourth planks in your platform
are for legislative candidates toeonslder, and
it is not in the power of municipal authori-
ties to accomplish any of the results asked
for, but simply an expression of individual
opinion. l regret exceedingly to disagree
with you, gentlemen, in opinion as to the
best policy in the conduct of municipal al
fairs, bull am honest in my CONVICTIONS as TO
the best policy for all classes of our citizens
in the infringement of municipal govern
ment. and could not change my convictions
to be mayor of this city. Very respectfully,
your obedient servant, ROBERT A. SMITH.
Col. Klefer took the platform straight,
as did also Fred W. Bott, Maj. Newson,
Herman BieIenberg, Henry Hinkens,
W. A. Van Slyke, Paul Quehl, r. s.
McNamee, William Banholzer and Chris
Gaefke. A number of candidates,
among them Charles E. Keller and A.
+. Gauger. partially Endorsed the plat
form, while several others paid nc
attention whatayer tO if