Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-03-28

we find that from April, 1898, to th'
present time, practically full term
there have been 80 prosecutions ioI
the sale Of liquor and 81 arrests fol
drunkenness; less than one-fourth ths
number during RiCe's last term.
The writer Of this article is aware
that in the face Of Mr.. Rice's reputa,
ton and supposed efforts in behalf o.
claw and order" the foregoing sum-
mary OF police court proceedings is
all but incredible and the reader cam
not be more astonished'in reading the
record than was the writer in prepar-
ing it. But the records are there,
open to all, and the accuracy Of this
computation will not be disputed by
anyone after investigation.
When Rice ran for mayor the last
time he was defeated by 92 majority
in vote of 1858 votes and people
knew him then as well as they do
now. The time before that he was
defeated by PIG votes in a total Of
1O4S and people knew him then as
they do now. The last time he ran
for councilman (what perpetual
office-seeker he has beenD he was de-
feated by lO6 votes in the Second
ward and people knew him then as
well as they do now. In the last Re-
publican campaign he was defeated
for representative by l1S delegates to.
So and lost his own ward--and peo-
pie knew him then as well as they
know him now. Now he is trying to
defeat the Republican ticket-and 1t
will be the same old story.
t t
This city needs Arthur Elwick for
mayor, a man who is one of the city's
substantial young businessmen with
property interests that keep him in
close touch with the city's growth
and advancement.
Mr.. Rice in his letter to the public
says he can save on the expenses OF
the city. Mr.. Rice might take notice
that the expenses of the city we're in
creased $500 in 1905 and $1,000 in
1906 to pay up the gas bonds issued
during Mr.. Rice's administration.
The original bonds were voted but
we're clearly illegal. However, under
Mr.. Rice's administration they were
refunded into new bonds and the city
after spending $4,000 fighting them in
the courts paid $25OO in compromise
to get them out Of the way. This
amount has been paid in the past two
years, thus increasing the city's ex-
penses that much. Isn't it rather
nervy for Mr.. Rice to find fault with
the city expenses when so large
portion was made up Of paying bad
debts contracted 20 years ago by his
own administrations
An alleged Republican" in a letter
written in order to help defeat the
Republican ticket and published in
the Chronicle sneers at the Republi-
can city convention, saying only 80
were present. Well, they were
representative delegates selected by
the real Republicans of the city-and
there were just 80 more than brought
out A. W. Rice.
+ t
EDITOR REFLECTOR: Why don't
you say something about that mid
night meeting Of the council called by
Mr.. Rice when he was mayor at which
giving the property owners a
chance to protest or know what was
going on South Third street was va
Gated for the Santa Fe railroadP 1t
cost lot of people nearly all their
savings and we shall not forget it.
SOUTHsIDE.
t I
The year before Mr.. Rice was mayor
1t cost the city for expenses &,7lS.2S;
Tor the year after he went out Of
office, sc. Isl. 90, The average annual