The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-02-05
HERE'S PRATT
PLATFORM /:
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR
MAYOR FAvORS NONPARTL
SAN CITY GOVERNMENT AND
MAINTENANCE OF WAGE
SCALE, AMONG TIER
THINGS.

| III Tic ueHuOCTdtlC IlCkeI, uleQ To-
day, follows in.full:
AS candidate for mayor, l de-
sire to state that l favor the fol-
lowing statements of principle, and
If the opportunity is offered, will
use my best endeavor to carry
them into effect.
l favor nonpartisan municipal
| government, and to that end en-
dorse the proposition now pending
in the legislature Of the state of
Washington, looking to i non
partisan plan for election of mu-
nicipal officers.
l stand pledged to a strong bust
ness administration, and one that
shall recognize the overwhelming
popular sentiment that partisan
ship in municipal affairs is not con-
ducive to the best results, and to
that end l favor civil service in
every department possible, and
that ability, industry and integrity
should be the only test for all ap-
pointmentS to Office.
| believe it is material to the
welfare of this city and to the
country at large that we have no
class of underfed, underclothed and
undereducated people, and that
this condition may not necessarily
prevail, and believing that the COM
mon laborer under present condi-
tons and prices. cannot support
and educate his family, even in the
most ordinary manner, upon less
wage than $2.75 per day, am un-
alterably opposed to any reduction
in the city wage scale as applied
to common labor.
l believe that all public works
should be done by day labor wher-
ever possible; that the laborer
should be citizen of Spokane, and
men with families should have the
preference, and l stand pledged to
the enforcement of rule that
shall reserve to citizens of Spo-
kane the privilege of employment
on all public works, whether done
by day labor or by contract.
I favor the building of system
of concrete bridges to accommo-
date the traffic of this city, and
favor the issuance of long time
bonds at a low rate of interest,
necessary to carry into effect this
proposition.
am heartily in favor of a
change in the present ordinances
and charter of the city, which will
reduce the number of petitioners
necessary for putting into effect
| the initiative and referendum to
not to exceed 20 per cent of the
legal voters of the city, and favor
! the adoption of a charter amend
ment, putting into effective use the
recall.
I am in hearty sympathy with
the effort of the public spirited citi-
zens and civic organizations who
are now engaged in the work OF
enlarging and Strengthening the
foundations of the future Greater
Spokane. l favor a park bond
issue of a million dollars at this
time, so that advantage may be
taken of the present condition OF
the real estate market and large
areas valuable for park purposes
secured before the great advance
in price, which must ensue with
the rapid development of the city
provided there may be had the
adoption of such plan in the con
struction Of boulevards and similar
undertakings as will appOrtion
just share of the cost of improve
ments of these classes upon con
tiguous lands specially benefited
by the improvement.
| believe that the social evil
should be so regulated and con
trolled that disorderly women
would be excluded from lodging
houses and hotels, and more. par
ticularly from resident districts. Tc
this end believe that police
should exercise such surveillance
of these individuals that undesir
able publicity and open vice shall
be limited so far as possible.
| believe that the regulation o.
the liquor traffic is matter q
paramount interest to the essentia
well-being of this city. there
fore stand pledged to the fearless
and unprejudiced enforcement p
the laws at present on our status
books.
believe that such liquor law
should be enacted as are in tn
highest interests of the people ant
have the strength of public senti
ment behind them.
believe that the number o
licenses should be fixed by popula
ton and that the principle OF on
license to one man would decreas'
the number of irresponsible sa
looms where crime and felony ar
fostered.
| believe that all public service
corporations, in consideration o
the use -of the streets and alley
| 1 -. a