The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-29
MUD IS WEAKER
Opposition to NJ ayor Ross
Hearing From the Wards.
PRAYING FOR A BAD DAY
They Cling Desperately to the
Hope of a Light Vote.

A campaign Of mud-slinging has never
won in Wichita, and it will not win this
year Mayor Ross record as a mayor,
which only needed recounting TO make
every citizen remember it, has begun
crowding the opposition. The American
people from ocean to ocean stand by the
honest official, and the capable and profit
able one. The PopulLsts have been poll
ing the wards, and the results have put
them in panic. Part Of them have turn
ed again TO the use of ridicule and abuse,
thinking that may help out, but others are
begging the Young men to stay by them.
The Young men laughed. Young made a
wonderful race before. He was entitled
10 a denomination Had he been nomin-
ated Tapp would have run against him as
an independent candidate. Had James
Burton been nominated by the Democrats
Tapp would have run independent.
But some Populists are neither ridicul-
ing nor begging the Young men, for they
are busy praying for a bad day. "A small
per cent of the total registration voted
is the only thing that will save US" said
one of their leauers last night. IF next
Tuesday is a fine day we might as well
throw up the sponge at sun-up."
But the opposition will find that more
than sunlight is in favor Of Mayor Ross.
A good administration, full of profit and
improvement to the city and all its citi-
zens. viii get a fun vote out, rain or shine.
The people intend to vote. Mud and
abuse has not blinded them to the facts
as they stand. For the facts are there.
1t doesn't take large margin Of econo-
my on the various expenditures necessary
in the administration of the city govern
ment Of Wichita to result in a grand total
of thousands Of dollars, but It takes more
than ordinary business ability to venture
and handle the reduction. Most any man
of average success in business might cut
down any single item OF extravagant ex-
penditure which was clearly an abuse,
but to successfully reduce along all le-
climate lines the general expenses of the
city government and yet maintain It's
efficiency is accomplished only by the
systematic application of thorough and
capable business methods. Ffnlay Ross
has done this for Wichita. No business
man will deny it, no one who is acquaint-
ed with the facts can. There is not a
man or a woman who is a citizen Of this
city who has not felt secure in their own
personal interests and felt that the city's
interests would be handled ably since the
first week Of Ross administration That
feeling of security has grown every month
Of the last two years. It has spread and
increased with every dollar of the $1,000
saved on lighting the city. 1t has been
confirmed in the saving of the 81, 900 for
felt put UP by an eastern corporation IN
a transaction looking to the purchase of
refunding bonds, and in the saving Of
$1,000 IN the sale of Fefunding bonds. This
matter of reducing the citys interest
bearing debt at a greatly reduced rate of
interest and an increased premium was
accomplished through the persistent eff
forts Of Mayor Ross. He gave days and
weeks OF time TO investigate the matter,
negotiating the sale purely in the interests
Of the taxpayers of the city. Seven thou
sand dollars divided to the taxpayers
of the city would mean but little to each
individual, but seven thousand dollars
added TO all the other savings now mat
ter Of plain record at the city building,
means much in economy and means more
In promoting the city's interests, and it
takes a rare order OF ability and expert
ence to accomplish it. The citizens have
felt safe in the Ross administration This
feeling has been confirmed time and
again. It has grown to enthusiasm with
every mfe of new sidewalks and cleaner
streets and the addition Of general street
and park improvement. 1t has grown to
hopeful enthusiasm when a system Of
Improvements was inaugurated giving
employment TO hundreds of worllmen.
adding to the beauty and healthfulness
Of the city IN general The taxpayers
and business and laboring men are not
going TO exchange this feeling of safety
this campaign of improvement which fur
nishes employment TO laborers and in
creases values, for experiment A bust
ness man viii not forSake business meth
DDS through friendship. Business Is bust
ness, and success comes logically and GER
tainly through the application Of buines.
principles. Wichita Il, a business city, fun
OF business men a da.- laborer is no less /
& business man to the e--tent Of his capi-
tai than is the man who is worth a hun
Gred thousand dollars. No administration
has given more employment to labariny
men than the Ross administration. AIavor
ROSS has proved that he IS CAPABLE. The
records OF the city. the appearance Of the
city, prove it. He gives his time to the
city affairs as regularly, as faithfully and
as fully as the clerk who works at a
weekly salary. The people know Just
what to expect in re-electing him mayor.
They will nor ex-nrf-,o,s