The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-06
MAYOR REFUSES
TO MEET HENRY
IN JOINT DEBATE
Tells Candidate That He Will
Have Nothing to Do
with Him.

Mayor Jacob Haussling sent a letter
of the Real Democracy" for mayor
and indorsed by a party called the In
dependents. Here is a copy Of the let
ter:
II am in receipt of your invitation
to engage in a debate between what
you characterize as the three principal
candidates for the mayoralty.' 1 must
decline to do so. My record as mayor
of this city is familiar to most of the
voters thereof, and furnishes the best
argument for my reelection or defeat
that could be obtained. Furthermore, I
do not consider such a discussion as
you propose satisfactory under the best
of conditions, and personally 1t is not
agreeable to my i%nclinations. 1 may
remark, that 1t strikes me as peculiar
that such an invitation should come
from you to me. If you are correctly
reported, you nave charged me with
the violation of my solemn oath Of
Office and other grave. offenses. If these
charges be true, or even If you believe
them to be true, and you are an honest
man, you should decline to have with
me even, that slight association which a
joint debate would afford.
Canvass "Founded On SIander.o
"Ther is an additional reason why I
would decline your proposition, were
everything else agreeable. You have
already resorted, if the, newspaper re-
ports be correct, to gross and deliberate
falsehood. 1 feel that it would be I'M
just, not only to myself, but to the peo-
pie of Newark who have honored me
with their confidence. to lend n
weight to a canvass which is founded
on SANDER and Misrepresentation. and
which has for its ultimate hope nothing
more than individual notoriety. Lest,
however, 0 may have the excuse of
saying that l have avoided n of the
questions which you lave submitted to
me, l shall proceed to reply to them
seriatim, as follows.
81. Should machine rule be recog-
nized in the government Of a city?'
No.
"2. Would it not be better to separate
municipal government completely and
absolutely from partisan politics. Yes.
":3. Ought the mayor of Newark to
make all his own appointments or
delegate the authority to a party boss?
He should make all his own appoint
ments unquestionably.
"r4. When city officials are indicted
should they not be suspended prior to
their trial and conviction?' Yes, when
there is "a reasonable hope that their
trial nay be speedily arranged for, and
! that tHAtr .,,cnnnc;oD V,1axr not xrrArly
more of an injury than a good to the
public service.
"t5.- Is it proper to receivce campaign
contributions from Notwithstanding
corporations or other persons whose
business is subject to the control or
regulation OF, the municipal govern
ment?'
As to Contributions.
1T is absolutely improper in my opin-
ion to receive campaign contributions
from Notwithstanding corporations or
persons connected herewith. AS all
persons doing business in the city are
subject in some degree to regulation or
control by the. city government, 1t
would probably be impossible and un-
just to forbid all such to make cam
paign contributions. I will say, how
ever, hat broadly speaking, it is my
opinion that where the formal consent
of a municipality is a prerequisite to
the engaging in business of certain
classes of persons, no campaign con
tributions should be accepted from
those persons.
I'm conclusion permit me to advise
ytu that 1 desire no further communi-
ca.icn with you on any subject. and
shall take no further notice of any
thing you may say Or do In the course
Of your. campaign"