The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-23
Owens GOES AFTER
THOMPSON HARD IN
BIG MEETING
Opens Campaign With Speech Chock
Full of Ginger, Questioning Sim
cerity of Democratic Candidates
Public Ownership Declaration.
Proctor X. Makes Good Impression
and Crowd Isn't Stingy With Ap.
plause-Frsnk Lodge Speaks.

What Republican leaders pronounce
the most enthusiastic ward meeting
since the days of Pingree was the gath
ering arranged primarily for the bene
| fit OF Proctor X. Owens. Republican
mayoral nominee. In the Detroit Bowl
Thursday night. The meeting was
under the auspices of the Eighth Ward
Republican club. and the place was
packed TO the doors. The reception
accorded Mr.. Owens was in the nature
OF an ovation.
With a rafting good speech, Mr..
Owens struck the keynote OF his cam
paign. sQuarely stating his principles
and questioning the sincerity OF VIII
liam b. Thompson. the Democratic
| candidate for mayor. In declaring for
municipal ownership. He made point
OF the fact that Thompson's name Is
not among the 1879 signatures on the
| municipal ownership petition asking
for the submission OF the Moore plan.
Il regard that petition as roll OF
honor" said Owens, and am proud
TO find my name on the list. ! am also
proud to find 200 names OF electors
| who wanted TO sign II and who did
sign IL, because ! presented the pc
tition to them for their signatures.
When an effort was made 10 induce
the council TO give us an opportunity
10 vote on this question. Mr.. Thomp-
4 son was conspicuous by his absence.
He did nothing either by his presence
his voice, or hie pen TO aid us In that
struggle.
The best proposition IN the way OF
franchise that was ever offered to
any city was the George p. Codd fran
chise. and that was defeated through
| the gross INSTRUMENTATION OF VII
| liam B. Thompson. He promised you
that II you would turn down that prop
osition and elect him mayor. that In
| less than six months he would give
you three-cent fares and universal
transfers, Or ever-ask' your support
for public Office again.
II charge William B. Thompson as
the one man who made II possible for
the D. u. r. to take from the people
Of Detroit over one million dollars,
II you will figure for yourselves the
difference between the fare to be
charged by the Codd franchise and
what yOu Pat nOWt yOu VIII oCC thaN
/ am correct He promised you three
cent fares you still pay five cents and
hang On to -strap.-Whom- wi!l-the
d. U. II. support In this campaign
Mr. Thompson, who helped them make
one million dollars, or the man whose
pants bag at the knees?
Mr.. owens vigorously assailed the
! newspapers that have been holding
him up to ridicule, and termed them
franchise organs. The coming con-
test, he said, is between the ID. U.
r., supported by the grafters and the
tax dodgers with their millions be-
hind them ON the one side, and the
people of Detroit, regardless OF party.
on the other; and think the people
Of this city are going 10 win, not
| withstanding all the money and all
the influence and all the trickery of
the ID. u. R. and all the abuse that
! the street railway organs and the
Tammany gang can heap upon your
| candidate for mayor"
The speaker made pointed refer.
ence to the fact that Judge Connolly
Boss" Connolly he was called, close
| friend and manager for Thompson
came out In a public statement some
time ago. In which he assailed NUM-
cipal ownership as undemocratic and
expressed himself as opposed to 1t.
With reference to the published
statements relative to his lack OF edu
cation, Mr.. Owens said:
81 confess that I have had to work
ever since | was old enough to earn
my own living, and SO far have sue
| ceeded, but I do not see why that
should necessarily bar me from hold
| ing public office. II railsplitter
was good enough for president OF the
United States, is not a plow boy good
enough for mayor Of Detroit?"
He declared for lower taxes and told
| how, II elected mayor, he would Sc
cure them by insisting on more equit
able assessments. Most Of the large
tracts OF vacant property that are be
| ing held for speculation are not taxed
for more than one-third of their value
he said.
Owens talk was frequently inter
rupted by applause. II was evider
that he made a very favorable impress
sion Contrary to his custom. he pre-.
pared his speech In advance and read
IL. explaining that he took this means
OF preventing his remarks from being
garbled by certain Of the local news
papers.
Following Owens, Attorney Frank
T. Lodge put in a good word for the
candidate.
Senator John n. Anhut. candidate
for reelection In the Fourth district
made a brief address. The notoriety
he has received In connection with a
suit started recently in the circuit
court has had It's effect on his re-
ception and one or two went so far
as TO hiss him. He was given good
hand at the conclusion Of his talk,
however.
Prosecuting Attorney Van Zlle
closed the meeting with a brief adj
dress