Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-18

When asked to define the platform on
which stand for the Office of mayor,
the first principle that crowds TO the
front is that threadbare truth.
The Office should seek the man, not
the man the Office"
This is a guiding principle for the
conscientious voter as well as the
conscientious candidate. Disregard OF
this principle by the voter is mainly
responsible for the disgraceful condi-
ton of our city during many years.
So long as voters fail to seek fitness
in a candidate and thoughtlessly pro
ant who asks it, who is in need of a
job, just so long will we be afflicted
with our present conditions.
Rather it is the duty of the voter to
regard the franchise as a sacred trust
to be bestowed only on can
didates whose character and abilities
are SO we'll defined that efficient and
conscientious service can be expected.
A candidates character and his
record should outweigh profuse and
ready promises. If he has held Of
fees the duties of which required him
to protect the public from vicious con
ditions. which are known to have pre-
vailed during his incumbency. the
promises made to entice future pre-
ferment should be disregarded.
Personally, | should prefer to be
elected on my character and record
as a lifelong citizen rather than on
any cheap promises I might make.
What my record is | should prefer 10
have told by others.
The oath each officer is required to
take is far more binding than any pro-
mise to enforce the laws. To make
promise to do what your oath re-
qUires is certainly stuitifying. If
character is not back of the candidate,
both the promise and the oath VIII be
disregarded
Personally. win say that I have
nothing 10 gain by being mayor and
can not therefore solicit votes as a
favor personal to myself. and l prefer
not to assume the burden of the Office
unless the citizens of Rock Island
can find in my character. my ability.
and my record, Justification for the
belief that if elected I would admins
ter the office lawfully, decently. con
scientiously, and untrammelled by
promises to special interests, aspir-
ants for jobs, and exploiters of the
city's vices.
l am certainly free from any such
influences, and if elected will endeav-
or to free the city from its shame and
administer all the laws fearlessly and
impartially. / will not owe my cleo
ton to any organization formed by the
bartering of city's jobs. However,
disclaim any implication that there
are not other candidates equally fitted
or untrammelled.
1t Will be my endeavor, If selected,
to have the various commissioner
ships so assigned that each shall be
filed by the man best adopted to the
duties: 10 establish such rules of pro-
ceedure that all city business shall be
transacted in the open. during bust
ness hours instead OF in secret places;
to provide for an auditing of the city's
finances and a system of accounting
recommended by experts; to conserve
the city's revenues and economic in
its expenditures, SO that the largest
net balance might be available to re
duce the city's Indebtedness which at
the first opportunity should be refund
ed on as favorable terms as possible
Citizens who are familiar with the
new law realize Sthat specific duties
are assigned TO the several commits
siOnerships, and that for the admins
tration OF each department the sew
eral commissioners are responsible.
subject only TO the control OF the en-.
tire commission. II would therefore
be futile in a candidate for mayor 10
make promises OF performance in de
partments assigned TO others. Such
ready promises would be evidence
either of deception or ignorance. I
would know how and would certainly