The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-05
HARD.PRESSED FOR
A'I.Nl N ISSUE
FOLLOWERS OF DR.. WILLIAMS
SEEK CAMPAIGN THUNDER.
At Two Meetings the Spellbinders Tie
Themselves Up in Tangle of Con-
Trajectory Statements and Founder
About in the Meshes, Never Meeting
Law Enforcement Issue.

That the u q. Williams campaign
seeking to overthrow the administra-
tion Of Mayor Jones is hard pressed
for some. issue, anything that will do
as campaign material, is demonstrated
at every meeting where the Williams
cause IS advocated to any extent. The
issue Of strict law enforcement laid
never squarely and directly met. The
result is a mass Of contradictions.
mat this is true was demonstrated
at Two @me ceilings last, night, one in the
eighth ward and one in the thirteenth
ward, and by two speakers, Paul Fon-
tame and DR.. T. J. Reid. DR.. Reid,
Who IS candidate for the legislature
IN the forty-fonrth district, spoke in
the eighth ward meeting at 1850 Nicol-
both the eighth ward gathering and
the thirteenth ward meeting at Nicol-
let and F,orty-third street. -.
49,. Attack Civil Service.
charges against the mayor. First he at
tacks the civil service policy o fthe
mayor. "1t is a known fact,' said
Or: Reid, that Mr.. Jones turns his
back on nobody but his friends. Think
what that means. He says he has ap-
ment. That may be good thing: It
means putting democrats on equal foot
ing with republicans when he has favors
to distribute. This feature of failing
to live up to the old victoria d-spoils
system Of politics was expatiated on
to some length. Another charge
brought by the same speaker was fail
ure to be led by the nose at the die
tates Of political bosses and refusal to
stand for and support a man he be-
ieved unfit.
DR.. Reid went on to assert that the
saloon policy of the mayor has cut off
q valuable source of information for
the police. "The policy of the mayor,
am told, has alienated the saloon men,
who no longer assist the police depart
ment in the detection of criminals. It
IS Well-known fact that on every po-
ice force certain number Of the de-
tect1ves must live with and be close to
the lower elements where crime seeks to
Pol1cy has cut these people off and
they no longer give any assistance y
dho the speaker had continually re-
TERED to the promise of his candidate
fora clean administration and law en-
forcement, he minated that all this
would be different with Mayor Jones
opposed, and the friendly interest of the
u1Ve AetpefS CULTIVATED.
1"Do What Is Best !
tanned are not desirable or BEST, said
the speaker. cit, is the function Of
Mayor Jones to do what is best. That
is the function of any executive serv-
ing the public. That is what DR.. Will
liams has said he will do. What more
is necessary, to prove this9''
The speaker paid a glowing tribute
to Dr.. Williams, extolling him as man
and as an official. Mr.. Jones was
painted as man wi. thout friends, one
who has no polfrt6al streh 9Th and could
have Q strength If Nominated. In
one breath the Speaker announced that
all the Williams supporters will sup
port Jones if Jones is nominated In
the next breath he prophecied Jones
utter defeat at tn polls against. the
democratic candidate because he would
not have tn g party support altho this
is a r epublican city. An effort was
made to make much Of an unproven
statement that the labor vote of the
city will not support Mr.. Jones land
t: hat it is in body behind Dr. Will
This statement was "ccalled. ',esff T
the audience by G. H. Axelson, a team
ster.. # Dr.: Williams has the labor
w ootAo oSnAuu u11H, Why lis LII GliG
labor is supporting a candidate Of its
own on the democratic ticket?" asked
the questioner. "There is candidate,
W: Il. Williams, state labor commits.
sioner, who is running for mayor on
the other ticket and has the support Of
labor, both organized and unorga-
nized:' DR.. Reid made an attempt to
evade the question at first, but finally
made, q loophole by saying that he
meant the labor vote affiliated with the
republican, party. a1 Another, Williams
supporter attempted to take up the
argument outside and declared DR.. Will
hams has the Endorsement of labor and
the solid labor vote. When pushed to
prove up on his statement he retired
inside the hall.
Mr.. Fontaine covered wide field in
his. remarks, but succeeded in contra
dieting himself rather than. proving
anything. He also brought up the inn
portance of close relationship with the
underworld for bringing about the de-
lection of criminals. At one moment. he
announced that he and his candidate
favored closing the saloons and would
close them, and the next moment he
said they must be giyen more latitude