The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-04-29
Consents To Use Of His
Name as Candidate For
Council, But Will N 0 t
Make Campaign.
NOVEL DEPARTURE
FROM OLD CUSTOM
His Friends Say 1t Is a Case
of the Office Seeking the
Man, Not the Man Seeking
the Office.

In recent years there has been much
talk of reversing the ancient political
custom of the candidate seeking the
office to make the office seek the man
but this plan has not been expert
mented with to any great extent.
However, this new political theory
is to be given test by the voters OF
Richmond at the Progressive primary
election next JNne.
Prof Ebert Russell, head of the
Biblical department of Earlham col
1ege and one of the most prominent
members of the American Society OF
Friends, has, at the request of num-
ber of his friends, agreed to make the
race for councilman-at-large with the
understanding that he does not have
to make a canvass for votes. All the
work pertaining to his campaign for
nomination to this office is to be done
by his friends.
Supporters Statement.
Regarding this novel departure from
the established political order, Prof.
Russell's supporters issued the fol-
lowing statement today:
I'VE want you to permit the use
of your name as candidate for
councilman at large on the Pro
gressive ticket" This was the re-
quest made of Professor Elbert
Russell by a number of his friends,
who believe the office should seek
the man and not the man the
office The highest success of rep
resentative government demands
that candidates for office shall be
sought out by the people whom
they are to serve, and not that the
people shall wait for solicitation to
support some aspiring citizen. The
reluctance of many of those most
capable of filling local offices to
ask the support OF their neigh
bors deprives the city of much
valuable service, and too often
leaves the voter no opportunity
to express his real preference.
Professor Russell was assured that
all the details of the canvass for
the nomination and election would
be looked after by those making
the request to be permitted to
use his name. He was also as
sured that his consent to this
would be regarded as a favor from
him and a service in the cause of
good city government.
The appeal to his we'll known
interest in municipal good citizen
ship, and the sincerity of the de-
sire of his friends to have his
name brought forward, overcame
enter the field of local politics and
his consent was given as request
ed His candidacy will be an
nounced by his friends and the
canvass carried on solely by them.
Progressive voters of the city will
thus have the novel opportunity
of nominating to the city council
man who has not sought nor
even desired the place, but who is
eminently qualified for the duties.
involved.
Professor Russell has been a
keen student OF city government
and of city problems, and would
bring to the place breadth of
knowledge, a keenness of judg-
ment, and an ability to grasp the
important features of matters COM
ing before the city council that
would make him a valuable repre-
sentative of the people. His high
standing in the community will
insure his candidacy a wide sup
port and will enable his friends
to push the campaign for his
nomination with every confidence
of success.