The Detroit times., 1908-09-19
Dust Versatile On
the Stump; Has No
Canned Speeches

addresses OF VIM. II. Dust which he
Is making night after night to the
Republicans Of the city who will have
the nomination OF a mayor next week.
Every audience hears a somewhat
different talk, although the main ele.
ments are generally the same.
Dust has never fallen into the habit
OF learning a lecture by heart and de-
livering it to the people everywhere.
He does not claim to De the best
mixer that ever went on the stump,
but he depends for success on ap ap-
peal to the reason of his hearers and
they listen to him more attentively
or precedes him.
He does not tire. either. His best
speech Friday night was the last one,
made along about IL o'clock. Here is
summary of an evenings tour with
the Dust caravan:
He started Friday evening with a
house meeting on Beecher-st. There
was a good crowd of earnest citi-
zens present, and he talked to them
about the street railway question.
Three cents Is the limit Of the
fare that you are willing TO pay" he
said. You decided that when you
voted two years ago on franchise
offer that proposed other conditions.
My platform calls for five tickets for
10. cents and a five-cent single fare II
would be impossible to make change
is straight three-cent fare were
charged. The company could not col
lect it's fares and 1t has rights which
We must respect.
Il do not believe In a franchise of
more than 10 years, and a shorter
term would be better With short
term franchise we would get the
benefit of new inventions. IL elected
I will submit two propositions to the
people next April. IL the company
will not accept reasonable franchise
| favor municipal ownership"
In the Iroquois (colored) club he re-
ferred to stories that have been circu-
lated to the effect that he discrim-
mated against colored men. "If / am
elected mayor, a mans color, creed,
or position in life will
make no difference to me-" he de-
clared. "All will get fair hearing
and equal consideration.
Il make politics a side line" he
said later. IL do not hays-te make a
living from It."
In saloon meeting on Mack-ave.
near Townsend-ave. he talked on the
subject of business men In politics.
at has been said that this is a good
year to elect a business man and not
a politician" he declared. IF man
Is a good. square, honest man, and
Is a politician, too, he may be better
qualified than business man who has
had no experience in public matters.
A manufacturer looking for fore
man would not 60 outside and pick
up man with no experience. The
city OF Detroit Is entitled to the best
service.
1T happens that l am business
man as well as having held Office.
have had to work for all got. did
not inherit business like some bust
ness men.
do not need the mayors salary, but
l would like to give the city an adj
ministration that could always be
proud Of"
At an open air meeting on Fred
erick.st., near Moran. Dust talked
about his early struggles to make his
way In the world. He made hit by
replying In Platt-deutsch to a Neck
lenburger who spoke to him from the
audience. He toldA OF his record In
taxation matters and especially OF the
time when the railroads tried to get
him to sign an affidavit on which to
base suit against the state, he re-
f,ising.
Here he met q man OF the name OF
Dosst, who had been befriended by
Dusts father years ago when the two
were poor immigrants new to Detroit
In the meeting OF the Metal Polish
-ers- In Mechanics hal, -Dust-tofd ri
his labor record and the many bills he
had advocated In the legislature for
the benefit of workingmen.
In meeting in hall over a sa-
loon at JOS. Campau-ave. and Maple
ST.. Dust talked mostly OF taxation
He described the fight he had to fair.
ly assess the Hamtramck property
when II was annexed to the city. The
old race track plot OF 429 acres was
assessed at only $4,000. or a valua-
ton OF s125 per acre He found that
lots adjoining IL were assessed at
81, 900 per acre. and battled for an
equitable assessment. His figures OF
S1.112,O0O was cut by the council 10
a round million Of dollars. but the net
gain to the taxpayers In a lower tax
rate was large.
Herbert Bush spoke In behalf OF