The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-04
JOE CANNON TACTICS.

There is evidently something wrong
somewhere, when member of the
board of public service is absolutely
denied the right to make a statement
in open meeting, concerning propo-
sition upon which he is called to vote.
At last nights meeting OF the local
board, ]. c. Anthony, the only Demo-
crat on the board, attempted to gain
the floor to register kick on stipu-
lating that Cleveland sandstone shall
be used in the construction of side
walks in Marion. Mr.. Anthony main
tains that a stone which is equally as
good and which can be procured for
one cent per square foot less than
the stone which is stipulated is OBJ
tainable, and he is in favor of saving
that amount for the property holders
who pay for these special improve
ments. The right to make any state
ment whatever was denied Mr.. An
thony by the president OF the service
board and he was compelled to taken
his seat and see the resolution put
through without his vote.
For some time there has been a
fight on between certain members of
the service board, over the Mckinley
lake proposition. Mr.. Anthony has
been on one side of the proposition
and the president of the board on the
other. Seemingly this has been a
senseless fight, but it has been prose-
cuted as vigorously as though 1t were
a matter OF vital Importance to the
city. 1t is barely possible that the
action of the president In not permit
ting Mr.. Anthony to say his say on the
sidewalk proposition, was merely a
continuation Of that fight We will
give him the benefit OF the doubt and
say that this Is all there was to it.
But it is maintained that this is carry
ing the joke little too far.
Mr.. Anthony is a member of the
service board, just as much a member
as the president, and he has the same
right to voice his views and vote as
he sees fit. II Mr.. Anthony has a
proposition which will save the
property holders on any street some
money in the construction OF side
walks, he has right to present II to
the board and the board is by duty
bound to hear him and give his prop.
osition due consideration. He cannot
and SHOULD not be railroaded from the
floor and made to sit in silence while
legislation which he opposes is showed
through.
For number of years Marion has
been building stone sidewalks, using
a particular kind of stone. Other COM
panies have been trying to gain an
entrance TO the city with their pro-
ducts, Offering inducements for trial
but in nearly all instances, the doors
have been closed. We do not profess
to know anything OF the merits or
demerits OF any grade of stone, but
We do maintain that II as good stone
can be secured for less money, the
city officials are by duty bound to
give the proposition consideration. At
least the service board could with pro-
priety listen to the objections and the
arguments OF one of its members.
Joe Cannon has for years ruled the
house Of representatives with an iron
rod, allowing only those 10 speak
whom he knew and was certain would
say the right thing on the right side
OF the question and refusing to recog-
nize those who were opposed to his
policies. The people have grown tired
OF this sort OF thing and, here in Ma
rion, We do not want any Joe Cannon
tactics adopted in any department of
the city government.
, Speaker Payne claims the new tariff
bill makes very substantian reduc-