The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-10


WHY WE ARE NOT FOR ziMMER-
MAN.
IL may seem unnecessary to many
people to explain why this paper is not
for DR.. w. w. Zimmerman for the
nomination for mayor, nor for him In
case he should, by the fortunes OF poll
tics, become the candidate OF the re-
publican party.
Let us state here and now that there
are no feelings OF personal malice,
spite, or Ill will. toward the doctor.
Even when we deal with things very
closely connected with his life, it is
simply because he has by his an
nouncement, laid his past record open
again to the consideration OF the citi-
Eeus OF Richmond. We shall (as far
rs Is possible) in the consideration OF
his character, avoid all mud-slinging
snd deal only with facts which the cit
items Of Richmond should consider
when thinking over the candidates.
II Is we'll to bear In mind that DR..
zimmerman has not been untried in
public office. Most of his life has
been spent, not In the service OF the
people, but in feeding out of the pub
lie crib. We are justified in saying
that in the almost ten years that Doc
tor Zimmerman has been an office
holder. there has not been one year
In which something suspicious has not
happened to cast a reflection on his
integrity. IT is said that II it were
not for the soutlawry Of years DR.. Zim-
norman could be convicted for Grim
inal practice. The fact is that his
character is not one in which the dis
elimination between right and wrong
play much part. The citizens Of this
town know his private life, his hab-
its aud his practices.
And yet. that is not the reason, pri-
MARTY. why We are against thinner
man. Granted that he has not had
his full share OF public office although
he has had more than most men in this
town; granted that his private life is
as pure as a lily: granted that he has
no bad habits; granted that he was
never engaged In cases which were in
simulated to be criminal-therc yet re-
mains the one real reason why we are
against him.
The citizens of Richmond will re-
member that it was largely due to
Mayor Zimmerman. while in office,
that We engaged in the building of
municipal light plant. He was mayor
at that time. It has been said that
there was graft in the erection OF the
plant: It has been said that the bonds
OF the light plant were turned over to
certain men who made considerable
amount OF money many thousand dol
lars) out of the deal which should
have gone into the city treasury. This
has never been denied. In fact. DR..
Zimmerman's friends said at the time
that the doctor had right to engineer
the deal as he pleased. and compli-
mented him for standing by his friends.
Now the point we make is this
something did happen at that time
which has never been denied. Mayor
Zimmerman was in control and was
morally responsible to the city Of
Richmond. This was either incompe-
tsnce Or something worse, and ne has
never explained It.
We offer as some small explanation
OF what did happen-that DR.. thinner
man was then in debt many thousands
OF dollars to his friends and that a
little later on his debts decreased. 1t
was only this spring that Zimmerman
told certain reputable persons in this
\ town that at one time he was over
twenty thousand dollars in debt and
that little later he had reduced this
to very much smaller amount The
public can draw an Inference il It
chooses. We have our opinion.
That is one reason why We, are not
impressed by the Willingness OF the
Doctor TO get up at all hours Of the
night and 90 in q hurry to the bedside
\ of the sick That Is one reason, why.
after he has run TO the sick bed We
do mot care 70 think him charitable
when he charges nothing for his serv-
icss. u our opinion that = the most
:ss