The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-23
OWENS GOES lFT[R|
THOMPSON HARD IN
Bis MEETING
Opens Campaign With Speech Check
Full of Ginger. ousstioains Sin
cerity of Democratic Candidates
Public Ownership Declaration.
Proctor K. Makes Good Imprsssisa
and Crowd Isn't stingy With Ap.
plause-Frank Lodge Speaks.

! What Republican leaders pronounco
the most enthusiastic ward meeting
since the days Of Pingree was the Rnth-
ering arranged primarily for the bene-
mt OF Proctor X. Owens, Republican
mayoral nominee, In the Detroit Bowl
Ing club, Trumbull-ave. and Ash-st..
Thursday night. The meeting vns
under the auspices of the Eighth Ward
Republican club, and the place vas
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 WI.
liam Is. Thompson, the Democrats
candidate for mayor, in declaring for
municipal ownership. He made q point.
OF the fact that Thompson's name r.
not among the 1879 signatures on the
municipal ownership petition asking
for the submission of the Moore plan.
Il regard that petition as a roll OF
honor" said Owens, land am proud
to find my name on the list am also
proud to find 200 names of electors
who wanted to sign It and who did
sign II, because / presented the Pc
tition to them for their signatures.
When an effort was made to induce
the council TO give us an opportunity
to vote on this question, Mr. Thomp-
son was conspicuous by his absence.
He did nothing either by his presence
his voice. or his pen to aid us in that
struggle.
| The best proposition In the way or
franchise that was ever offered to
any city was the George p Codd fran
chise. and that was defeated through
the gross Misrepresentation OF VIII
liam b. Thompson. He promised you
that IL 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 never ask your support
for public Office again.
II charge William b. Thompson al
the one man who made II possible for
the ID. 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 pay now, you will see that
I am correct. He promised you three
hang on to q strap. Whom will the
ID. u. X. support in this campaign?
Mr.. Thompson, who helped them make
one million dollars, or the man whose
pants bag at the kneeT"
Mr.. Owens vigorously assailed the
newspapers that have been holding
him up to ridicule, and termed them
J franchise organs The coming con-
test, he said, is between the d. 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 I think the people
of this city are going to 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 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:
Il confess that | have had to work
ever since I 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 evident
that he made very favorable impress
sion. Contrary to his custom, he pre-
pared his speech in advance and read
1t, explaining that he took this means
OF preventing his remarks from being
CARRIED by certain Of the local news
papers.
Following Owens, Aeprney Frank
T. Lodge put in a good word for the
candidate.
Senator John ~ Anhut. candidate
for reelection in the Fourth district.
made a brief address. The notorfety
he has received In connection with
suit started recently In the circuit
court has had its 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 zile
closed the meeting with a brief adj
dress