The Lake County times., 1909-10-28
no TIE BUSINESS MEN.

III Tie 6U0lNE0O EAElN
There is no better time than the present to place be-
fore the people of Hammond especially the business and
professional men the needs of the hour 1t is of vital
terest to Hammond if it is to go ahead instead of stand
ing still during the next four years to elect for
mayor who viii make it go ahead instead of letting It'll
stand still
What has Mayor Becker done for Hammond that
any seventeen year old boy could not have done2 The
taxpayers of Hammond deserve the credit not Becker
Becers chief claim for is that he has paid off lot
of debts and screwed down the tax levy Bosh Becker
has had the handling Of over million dollars OF money
while he been mayor There has been lot of senseess
prattle about this debt business.
What earthly credit does he deserve for paying debts
when has money galore to pay them with AS far the
levy is concerned there were two years of his admin
straion when the tax levy higher than has ever
been before Does Becker deserve any credit for that
What has he done to make Hammond go forward? What
has he done to make Hammond wideawake city?
The business should consider one thing above all
others that Becker has spent the bulk of his time playing
politics from time dsannexed the big slice of the
Fourth Ward because it contained republican voters up
to the time when he went to INDIANAPOLIS ignored the
court fight in which Hammond concerned with ven
geance refused to help Representative Ed. Simon and got
a bill through enabling him to run again for mayor and
give himself thirteen years of Office in Hammond The
business should remember that they overlook
ing the best interests Of this city Of by rejecting
to Office who dreams of nothing else but building
political machines and playing peanut politics.
The business should remember that Becker has
proved that he for Becker first and Hammond any old
time after that suits his selfish convenience What
sort of platform is Becker running on? Who knows
Where is his platform? What definite object has he in
view for Hammond if he elected? Absolutely none.
1t plain business proposition, Mr.. Business Man If
you put charge of your business for six years,
would you not expect to have him make it grow, bring
customers etc? Would YOU have him running around
the country boosting HIS business? Would you keep
deadwood in your store?
Do you think factories, people and enter
prses have been brought to Hammond? Is that the kind
Who heard of Mayor Becker going anywhere on a
mission to boost Hammond, to advertise the city? You
have heard of his going several places missions to
boost Lawrence Becker, haven't you?
Honestly Mr.. Business Man, tell us what Becker
has done to advertise and boost Hammond? Hammond
must have with vitality snap energy enterprise
aggesveness ginger and business for its mayor
of these qualities.
1t is these qualities which are going to bring new en-
terprses to Hammond We can't wait until some of these
good things get lost and wander into Hammond by acc
dent and then grab and locate them We must 90 anC
look for them Mr. Business Man. Just as you go after new
and its people anxious to welcome newcomers
1t the mayor who is to be at the head of an enerprs
of this kind.
It is high time that the business men and taxpayer
OF Hammond put live wire at the head Of a moyemen
of this kind 1t is high time that peanut politics. ma
chine building job finding, nestfeathering interested
tering and deagogy be eliminated from the admnistra
tion of civic affairs in Hammond gentlemen that's al
there is to it, Becker is tied hand and foot to that sor
of pOlcv, he has proved it in hundred Ways His
an administration for the pampered few-not for tn
whole people IL Hammond is to take its place anon
1.-The cities OF the country it is necessary first to 90 out an
beat Beckerism to a frazzle, next Tuesday