The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-09
Conlon Declared He Would Not OPP
pose the School Inspector, De-
clares Mr.. Osborn.

lon would run for the school Inspector
ship In case MI Burton did not do so.
I called on Mr.. Burton, who told me
that he would not care to run for
school inspector again. He stated
that Mr.. I. A. Conlon had been spok.
en- of, that he had talked with Mr..
Conlon, and that Mr.. Conlon had told
him that he would stand where he
himself did on the main issue-against
Mr.. Martindale's reelection. and he
advised me to see Mr.. Conlon.
called upon Mr.. Conlon and told
him I was q resident of the Second
ward and interested In the school
election. I believe | also told him
that I was q member Of the Municipal
league and was In close touch with
the women's organizations interested
| In the school board election. l told
him that had come In to Inquire how
he stood on school matters, especially
whether he would stand as an anti
Martindale candidate in case he did
run. He stated that he would not run
| IL Mr.. Burton ran, but In case he did
run he would not care to make any
statements or promises or pledges be-
fore election. I told him that l did
not think there would be any indie
pendent candidates in this election
that they had always turned out to be
Martindale men after election, and
that IL he did not declare himself he
would be rated Martindale candi-
date. We discussed this point at some
length. contended that the issue
was as clearly drawn on this question
In school board elections at present
I'm Detroit as Republication and Dem
ocracy or protection and free trade In
national elections, and even more so.
and that IL he should run for congress
he would have to declare his position
on party and other main issues, and
the people would insist upon knowing
where he stood on these points. He
did not agree with me that the cases
were similar.
cited the fact that Mr. Burton had
been elected on this issue three times
in the Second ward almost unanimous
ly; that the election two years ago
was clear-cut on this issue and had
resulted In majority In the city OF.
6 to 4. electing seven out OF eleven
inspectors against the machine In
spite Of the fact that the full force
of the great bipartisan political ma
chine was used to stem the tide; that
on the west side where there are few
er saloons, the "antf' majorities were
and to i. I stated that In these
elections the better element or the
city, including the churches, women's
organizations, etc., was on one side
and the saloons and politicians on the
other. Ct may have used the term
decent people" in some OF my state
ments for better element" as l
sometimes In conversation use these
words anonymously
During our conversation he mention
ed that he had been In school work
out In the state number OF years
ago. stated that might have met
him then; that his face looked famil-
lar to me. After some further CONVEX
sation I stated that possibly he might
change his mind on the point we had
discussed after thinking the matter
over, and, In case he did 80, within a
day or so should be glad to have
him write me to that effect, and
handed him my personal business card
as my address. My idea was to give
him every opportunity to state his
position as anti-Martindale, as Mr..
Burton had told me that he under
stood him that he would do 80.
In thinking over the matter the
next day recalled that Mr. Conlon
resembled gentleman had seen at
the First Congregational church about
a year ago, In charge Of the Mems
Glass, which I attended one Sunday
for the purpose Of hearing the super
intendent OF schools read paper be-
fore 1t. 7 Immediately made inquiry
and found out that Mr.. Conlon had
been the leader OF the Mems class OF
that church at that time. I recalled
that he had made a most fulsome
speech in praise of Mr.. Martindale at
that time, and I Immediately knew
upon recalling these facts that he was
q strong Martindale adherent The
language In commentator OF Mr.
Martindale was SO strong that II could
not be construed as mere compliment
saw Mr.. Burton and explained the
matter to him as related above He
was still unwilling to run and asked
me to find some one else, stating that
Mr.. Conlon would not do. told him
that he must run or Mr.. Conlon would
enter the race-that it would save q
great deal OF work IL he could thus
prevent a serious contest in the ward
l felt sure that this argument made
some impression on him, and that II
secured a strong petition for him he
could be induced to run.
secured the petition with the max
imum number OF names allowed by
law very readily, securing nearly all
of the names myself explained to
the signers that thought Mr.. Burton
could be induced to run by means of