Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-12-01
ROBERT SMITH APPLIES
Lash TO LAW BREAKERS

down, which greeted Attorney Robert
G. Smith last night when he spoke In
the opera house In favor Of his can
didacy for mayor OF Grants Pass, and
II can be said In strict truth that he
was given intense attention and at in
teryals applause was vociferous.
Mr.. Smith prefaced his speech by
dwelling for time upon his career
and experiences as member of the
Oregon legislature. He declared that
he fought for the rights of the people
In the house at Salem controlled by
railroad corporations, that five times
he drove bills through the house only
to have them killed In the senate.
Among these measures was one call
Ing for less exhorbitart freight rates
and one corrupt practice act, "but"
said the speaker, "in Mess than
two years had the pleasure OF see
ing these efforts OF mine bear fruit
by these same measures becoming
laws"
The speaker reminded the laboring
men OF Grants Pass that he had
fought for their cause, and had been
Jealous worker for their better
ment. Coming to the matter of may
orally of Grants Pass the attorney
was severe In his arraignments of the
violations OF the liquor law, explained
his services as attorney for the liquor
interests, said they had gotten value
received for their money paid him,
but now | am done with them for
ever" He spoke In part as follows:
Il do not banker % be mayor OF
Grants Pass; there is hard work to
do here, so pardon my egotism when |
declare to you that believe | am the
best man In town to do that work.
The socialists refuse to come to
my meeting here tonight. UNDER
stand they agreed to keep away. That
does not hurt me, however. Why 1t
was r. d, Cole (who Is socialist)
who suggested to me that l run for
mayor He said to me, you can make
good town Of this Later the
socialists solicited me to become their
city attorney Gas they had no lawyers
In their ranks inside the city limits)
provided they were successful in the
election. l replied that / would
act In such capacity only on the
condition that | should have a chief
OF police and police judge to my
liking. And | told them / would
not accept the office or any office
under their system OF designations
In advance, signed an ddellvered In
to their hands; that that kind of busi-
ness was a political peonage. They ar
gued with me but | told them that
was contemplate form OF partisan
rule through party bosses. They
claim to proceed on the theory that
the officer is only to be removed In
aces he violates his pledges. But
the question Is who are to be the
judges? Why the little socialist club,
which like any other club IL
ruled by bosses. There are reg
lstered In Grants Pass 6S So
socialists. Some OF you are fright
ened, and some Of you men think
there are 5000 OF them, A few frogs
In pond can make a fearful noise.
And here you are trembling at this
formidable army OF 6S, when there
are 500 registered voters In this city.
The socialists are bosses, their plan
OF bossism Is the work OF bosses
theirs are the methods OF 100 years
ago, II one OF them votes for any
other than socialist no is thrown
out OF the party. to wander a political
exile. They go on the theory that
the Debs party Is the only one that
possesses virtue. and that all other
parties are rotten.
They talk about needed changes
In government; certainly there will
be changes there are mighty changes
to take place, The government will
take charge of some matters and con-
duct affairs FOR the benefit of all the
the people, such as lines OF ships |
through the Panama canal to check |
transportation trusts; but these acts
OF the government will not be by any
party as such, and especially not by
any helpless, blgoted party that wont
come and hear man talk who is run
ming for mayor OF a little town OF
5000 souls. Not one law has been
initiated by the socialists for the
benefit Of the people. Changes we
get are by the initiative and will con-
to be by the initiative. The people
can proposeand vote law. at any cleo
ton but although we have had the In
ltiatiyO In thla atata for seyeral wears