El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-04-07
O'KEEFFE INTERVIEWED.
WILL SERVE THE PEOPLE AND NOT
THE POLITICIANS.
ord Referred to to DisprOve
Campaign Falseheads.

This morning a HERALD reporter
called on Mr.. O'Keeffe the, republican
nominee for mayor, and asked him for q
statement of his views concerning GER
tain local issues which are likely to
present themselves in the next two
years. Mr.. O'keeffe replied as fO,-
lows:
"Well, of course there are many
things l have in my mind to accomplish
or inaugurate during my administra-
tion if the people of Ell Paso choose me
as the city's executive for the next two
years. The city is now paying out
yearly $500 rent for city hall that
does not meet the requirements. This
expenditure can be entirely cut off by
using the interest money collected in
the waterworks bonds for the construc-
tion of a suitable city building, one
that will meet all that will be required
of it by the city for some years to come.
L don't think aoy taxpayer could object
to such an excellent and judicious ex-
peuditure of this money now on hand.
Then too. the people of the second
der the present arrangement the chill
dren have far to go and parents do not
| care to have their children cross rail-
roads and be in danger of accidents of
all kinds on the streets. AS has before
been suggested this school house can
be put up with money obtained from
the sale of the city property on Utah
street.
Again there is demand for con-
siderable street and sidewalk improve
mentS. And | think the current ex-
penses of the city can be N materially
reduced in several departments. The
police force should be composed of the
very best men that can be secured for
the service, and in the interest of econ
: hon Id SiStn of foyr = ho
city can possibly get along with. 1t
will be my aim to make my admi uistra
tlOn clean and progressive in every re-
spe ct and the people can rest assured
that | will not be controlled by any
man or clique of men, but will be gov
erned exclusively by what 7 consider
the best interests of the whole people.
L have no private ak or property inter-
ests to serve to the detrimeht of all.
''One of the policies that will be as
siduously pursued by me will be to ad
vance our city scrip to cash basis at
the earliest possible date, and every
thing that can be done to that end con-
sistent with proper attention to public
improvements. will be done.'
When asked as to the report spread
by certain parties that his candidacy
was contracted by and was effected in
the interest of Mr.. c.. r. Morehead and
that in the event of his elections his
actions would be largely controlled by
that gentleman he said: Il wish to
STATE most emphat'cally and unequivo-
cally that l am and shall continue to be
mas er of my own actions, and will be
influenced DO more by G. r Morehead
than the humbleSt citizen of Ell Paso,
in the discharge of the duties of mayor
should be selected to fill that honor
able and important position. He had
nothing to do with the action of the
republican primari-s, and in no other
manner has he assisted my candidacy.
Il am young man just entering
politics, and have reputation to make
or mar; therefore 1 could not afford to
betray the confidence reposed in me by
my friends even though / were ba-e
enough to consider such a thing L
will refer those who may have a doubt
on this matter to my course in the city
council, and ask them if they can point
to a single ipstar ce other than where |
acted on my own judgment aud re-
possibility.
II desire to repeat that should 1 be
called to serve the people as mayor, l
shall do whatever l think best for Ell
PaSO, regardless of the wishes of @. r
Morehead or any other politician. My
best endeavOrs v i'll be in the interest
| Of the people as a whole, and not
politicians. cliques or rings
''Mr. 0 'Keetfe, how do you stand on
the question of confning the railroads
to 9th street and further south?"
| 81 will say in answer to that question
that [ am in thorough sympathy with
| the resolutions presented to the coun-
Gil by the tax PAYERS committee and
read by Mr.. Newman at the council
meeting of March 18th. If am elect
ed | pledge myself to use nv whole
influence. and veto power if necessary,
to carry out the spirit of those resolu-
| tions in good faith