The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-10-05
: JOHNSON IS FAVOR|TE
IN CLEVELAND SOCIETY
Home Papers Espouse His Cause
and Administer Rebuke to
Meddling.
Burton Admitted to be Good Man
in Congress, but johnson for
Mayor.

The municipal campaign in Cleve.
land is attracting national attention.
There are many reasons for this. In
the first place Cleveland is one Of the
best governed cities in America. Its
mayor, Tom L. Johnson. is one OF the
most progressive Of city executives.
He possesses both integrity and cour-
age, and these count for everything
nowa-dayR in combating the privi-
legged class, and securing for the peo-
pie good healthy government.
In the next place the press and peo-
pie Of Cleveland do not take very
kindly. to the meddiing Of President
Roosevelt in the internal affairs OF
their city, and they expect to admin
lister a fitting rebuke to the big
Stick" when election day rolls around.
One of the Ohio papers intimates
that the president is resorting to cheap
politics, and 1t says:
when we come to consider that Mr..
Burton stands In the way OF the presi-
dents plans for larger navy and for
parceling out government pap to pri-
vate ship owners we can get a better
understanding Of the presidents ready
advice to Mr.. Burton to make the
fight" for mayor Of Cleveland. For II
Mr.. Burton should win, It would take
him out Of congress and thereby re>
move one of the obstacles to "the
presidents policies" 1t should also be
taken into consideration that the chief
promoter Of the ship subsidy steal il
Harvey G. GOulder. former Repub-
Ncan candidate for mayor Of Cleveland,
who was defeated by Mayor Johnson.
Mr.. Burton might be surprised If he
could ferret out all the influences that
we're brought to bear to make him a.
candidate for mayor Of Cleveland at
the lnstigation Of the administration
at Washington. And his friends could
do him no better service than to de-
feat his candidacy for mayor"
Perhaps the strongest newspaper In
Cleveland is the Plaindealer, and in
language decidedly plain it says:
"Mr. Johnson has three times been
elected mayor by large majorities, and
has given the city three administra-
tions unequaled in efficiency, in integ-
rity, and In common sense business
principles. He has been tried and
most emphatically has not been found
wanting. Mr.. Burton has been out Of
touch with municipal administration
for many years. His work ~tn Wash
ington has been Of a nature to remove
him wholly from the important sphere
of city politics. II Mr.. john
son has been a BOSS" and he admits
that he has sought and secured con-
troll Of his own party, he has welded
his power invariably for the good Of
the city, and not to further any pri-
vate ends Of his own. The results ac-
complished during Mr.. Johnson's three
terms have been wholly satisfacto
and the Plaindealers believes that at
this time 1t would be extremely unwise
to make a change. Mr.. Burton's rec
ord in congress has been OF the best.
His repeated reelection has undoubt-
edly been for the benefit Of the city Of
Cleveland, and his services have been
such that at the present time he would
deserve reelection were he candi-
date: Instead, however, Of remaining
in a line Of work in which he has
proved his ability and usefulness, he
has been persuaded by politicians, at
the behest Of certain interests, to give
up the high honors that have come to
him, and to epdeavor to wrest the city
government from the best aCministra-
tion Cleveland has ever known, an ad-
ministration which ranks as the model
for other cities striving for clean and
efficient government. In yielding to
these demands Mr.. Burton has made a
serious mistake. BY devoting
his energies to securing the Cleveland
mayoralty for no other purpose than
to place Republican politicians, with
Interior motives. In control Of the city,
and to give to the national party a
certain amount Of prestige, Mr.. Bur-
ton has assumed an attitude unworthy
Of himself"