Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-03-28
ARNoRY AND POLITICS.

n /
II wouId be indeed unfortunate for
the armory project were lts irlehus
and promoters to attempt to inject II
into city politics, or permit the saihe
10 be done by others. From some
source the information is belng
,,assed out that the only way to Sc
cure an armory for Dallas IS 10 con-
tinue the present city administrator
and that the election of the opposihs
ticket would mean the defeat OF the
i,nnrovement. Whoever is responsible
for the attempt to create this impress
sion is guilty Of a bad break, to say
the least.
AS it's readers well know, the OD-
server has favored the armory project
from the time the movement was hrSe
launched by the officers and men oi
Company II. 1t has advocated the
eractIon of such building because
tb.. improvement would mean per-
manent home for the soldier boys ana
another creditable building Tor Dal-
las and Polk County at low cost 10
the taxpayers. But as a friend OF the
accept the argument now belns put
forth that the only way to secure an
armorv is to continue the present city
council. or the supporters OF the
nresent administration, in ofhce.
The Observer Is friendly to the arm
ory movement, and would ike TO see
sucb a building erected in this CITY
Put it desires to say, here and now
that il does not indorse the present
city council. on the contrary De
lieyes that the best interest OF DallaS
demands the election of every cahdl-
date on the opposition ticket Inc
naper desires to make its posltloil
nlain. lest some reader may be mlsleu
into thinking that because 1t adVo-
cates the building of an armory, II
aIso desires a continuation of the
nresent city administration. The OBJ
server is not going to permit itseil 10
be drawn into any false position OF
made to appear as favoring the pres
ant scouncil. merely because that body
saw fit to pass a resolution placlhs
the armory question before the people
for acceptance or rejection. rms pa
per favors the building of an armory'
lint Il hopes for the defeat by the
people of every candidate who IN
dorses the present city administrator
Let this position be clearly uhuer-
stood by every voter.
The fact is, the 9rmory project VIII
be In no way affected by the result oil
the election for city officers next Mon
day. The success or failure OF tha'
project will be determined solely py
the vote on the question itself ii the
= neople decide that they want an arm
orv and vote to instruct the council
to make the appropriation, the appro-
priation will be made. III, on the
other hand. the vote should be unfa-
yorable and the instruction should pe
against the appropriation, no oileer
or set of officers, would have th'
temerity to undertake TO force th'
building upon an unwilling public
The people are supreme i'm this mat
ter, and whatever they instruct th'
council TO do will be done.
Any claim by designing friends o
the administration to the enect ina
the present councilmen are the onl!
real friends Of the armory moVemeh
is as preposterous as it is untrue, an'
no voter should be deceived by H. IN
editor Of this paper, for instance j
friendly to the soldier boys, and ha
given column after column Of valua
bile space in support Of the armor
movement on the other hand n
desires 20 see a complete change II
the present council. believing that IN
best interest OF the city demands
new administration II compelled 1
choose between an armory and ne'
set OF officers. he would sacrifice IN
armory-not because the city does nc
need such a building. but because h
believes a change Of administration
more vital TO the welfare OF Dana
lust at this time. This Is the posiuo
In which hundreds Of the voters q
the city find themselves today. The
do not wish 70 be forced TO make sue
a choice-a choice which viii not b
at an necessary. unless the friends +,
the armory project who are also SUI
porting the present administrauo
force the question in this manner
the annual election.
No officer or private Of Company
should permit the supporters Of n
present administration 90 influence h
vote Monday by any representatio
20 the effect that the only way
secure an armory Is 20 elect the me
now IN once. or their fricndA II
soldiers must bear IN mind that q
armory has many loyal and enthus
asiic supporters among those vote
who do not indorse the present CT
council. The oiicers and men
Company n can WELD heavy innl
ence for a favorable vote on the arm
ory BIZ demanding that the questi'
he kept out OF politics. and by refu
ing 70 permit themselves 20 heeou
catspaus - the hands of desiEnii
political leaders what they shuu
work for IL q favorable vote on q
armury question. n they Eet thi
the appropriation wm be made. !
matter uhich 81 OF candidates u
he chosen by the people.
- -. 60 49,