The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-24
John L. SuIIivan's Platform


Boston, Mass, Aug. zs-John L. Sullivan,
| whose candidacy for mayor Of Boston was
| announced few days ago, has estaohsned
| a press bureau and is conducting liter
| airy campaign. In his first Official state
| nent, John L., after noting the interest,"
| which his candidacy has evoked, says:
| Il suppose that no statesman III the
| United States is as well able as 1 am TO
| stand pat merely on his own record. !
| can draw crowd any day by merely put
| ting my face out OF door. and 1t is no
| display Of egotism If say that ! got tired
| long ago of having crowds run after me
1 and cheer me.
| BY that don't mean TO disparage the
| admiration of the American people. shali
| always appreciate that.
| But, as Mr. Quincy would say, II be-
| gins to pail on me, and 1 am blase. That
| last word is French. 1 learned IL while
! was training at Bouogne. II means that
| you have had enough Of thing
| Now. about being mayor. What are my
| qualifications? / shall try 10 make that
part short, for I think have friends enough
| to speak for me. But can truthfully say
| what follows, and not seem immodest, each
| word being we'll known 10 one and all
when I come TO making speeches III
| have no trouble in making myself heard
| I can talk TO 500 people out of one corner
| OF my mouth did il often in London
| and I never yet saw a crowd that MADE
II necessary for me TO use my whole voice
| Oratory is largely a matter of lung power
and I do not think my rivals would have
| any easy time.
What Is more when IL comes to speak
| ing III be saved the trouble Of Interrupt
| tons. I'll announce that after the speech
| I'll give private interview 10 all inter-
rupters. I'll impress my audience.
IF / am ever mayor of Boston, or any
other town, doesanybody think there would
be any bribery with my knowledge? NO
man ever said he could bride John L. Sui
Ivan. and the alderman that tried 10 get
anything past me would be an ambulance
| case, no matter what dude critics might
| say.
81 would make evil doing in office real
| terror l would put in the best men
could find, and would select men with a rec
| ord for honesty and brains. l could size
up applicants for Office pretty easily, too.
IF ask man if he is on the level, and
| look him straight in the eye, he IS pretty
| sure TO come out with the truth. would
have no class or race prejudice, except
| that I would bar dudes, Chinese, Dagoes
and all unfit men generally.
ST would hear everybody's complaint and
| do the best could TO set things right, but
I would discourage chronic kickers.
1T believe in one American citizen letting
another enjoy life in his own way, and I'd
have no use for the crank that won't let
| another man drink because he is not
thirsty. Liberty is my motto; each one
| to get his fun in his own way, without
| bothering others.
''Fll be marked exception, and not say
| anything about the silver question, and
| I'm sure the American people will thank
| me for that. However, let me mention that
| II any silver dollars come my way, I'll not
| turn 'em down. l have no race prejudice
| about dollars, either.
81 believe in the policemen doing their
| duty, and at the same time demanding
and getting the respect that Is due them.
| The police do not have as good time as
many people think. 1t is no fun handling
| all the drunks and thieves in Big city.
Every drunken man thinks he Is right,
and a policeman must be saint not to
lose his temper sometimes.
I'D pay the firemen better. I'd find
places for small children TO play. I'm no
socialist-Tve handled a million dollars in
my time-but it makes me tired TO see a
| city spending millions on paths for horse
back and bicycle riders and hollering an
archy if any man asks for land that chill
| dren can have fun on.
eff you want to stop the growth OF
thieves, treat poor little children right.
Make them think that somebody has an
| interest in them, and don't let them grow
I'D with a feeling that the world is down
on them.
ANY man that drives away a boy for
playing baseball on Sunday or any other
day, Ia just chase a block or two myself
to show him how it feels.
'Td try to do something for poor women
that have TO earn a living. For Instance
il man came to me for permission 10
build a street car line. I'd say to him:
''Win you give passes to poor washerwo-
men and sewing girls and all women that
can prove they are poor and live decent
ly?
IF he said yes. I'd let him build his road.
and I'd like TO see him get rich on it. If
he said no. Ia turn him down.
Everybody talks-especially ignorant
dudes afraid of the dark-about how 10
stop vice in big cities. The way to keep
women out of trouble is not TO drive them
to it, Any man who doubts that half
chance for an honest living would keep
our women straight has poor opinion OF
American girls, and he ought to be kicked
''If am ever mayor of Boston, my motto
will be: Treat the poor girl right. Give
the under dog a chance. Tax the man that
can afford 10 pay Help the poor women
and girls that will be mothers of the next
crop OF citizens. Scare the thieves. Do
everything in the open.
"A man chosen by his fellow-citizens 10
protect their interests ought TO be as proud
as the captain of snip in charge OF pas
con GERS and ought 10 ask for nothing but
the glory of it