South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-16
LANDON RIDDLES
FUSION PLATFORM
IN HOT STATEMENT
Progressive Candidate For
Mayor Declares That Demo-
cratic Opposition Must Have
Specific Program.

Attacking the so-called citizens
movement in South Bend as a plot
of politicians to divide the "spoils" of
municipal government Lewis c. Lam
don. progressive candidate for mayor
Thursday issued a statement calling
on all real progressives to shun the
fusion" ticket.
Landon pointed out the great dan
ger of the citizens movement TO be
its lack of cohesion to any settled con-
structive policy, lack of loyalty and
unrespOnsiveness to the will of the
people
on Hhis point Landon said:
Fusion" of the present sOrt-an
arrangement under which the leaders
or representatives of the republican
, and progressive parties would get to-
gether with a few democrats of the
independent variety, parcel out the
offices, patch up a platform TO get
in on, act together under a sort of
armed truce until the votes are count
ed, and then each 60 their own way
with the allotted share of the spoils
Experience with that sort of fusion"
has almost always been unsatisfac-
tory. There is no adhesion to definite
policies, no loyalty to a common
cause. Instead Of a plain program of
well-considered proposals, TO which
each candidate has been pledged by
the unified group which nominated
and elected him, municipal reform
becomes a batch of bungling expe-
dents, born of the casual impressions
of individual office holders, and
''jOckeyed" through the legislative
board of the city by 'log-rolling"
methods which suggest the old order
than the new.
Not Mere OnnoSition
This campaign must represent far
more than mere opposition TO the
present rule, far more than the prop
OsitiOn that virtue is better than vice,
honesty better than graft and econ
omy better than extravaganza. Can
didates and platform makers are will
ing to denounce democratic rule as a
convenient slogan for putting the
democratic party out of power and a
fusion" administration in; but these
critics are unwilling to propose or
pledge anything which would end the
conditions which they attacked during
the campaigns.
"Out of office, they are loud in de-
nOuEcing the democratic system: in
office, they would be bound by no
pledges to build anything better, and
this sort of fusion" naturally fell
apart. either just before or just after
the votes were counted. In the year
1913 there is no use trying to bring
about that kind Of fusion in this
town.
THE progressive party cannot af-
ford, even temporarily, to make peace
with any element or any leader with
whom they are irreconcilably at war.
The time for tissuepaper platforms is /
past. the people want pledges and not
platitudeS. To be attractive to the
rank and file of the progressive party. !
if we correctly interpret their views
l,,A,-
tives on the platform committee, the
anti-democratic fight of 1913, must
represent more than a mere effort to |
continue som- individuals in office and !
supplant some others bv candidates /
nominated under anti democratic aus
piceS.
That kind Of campaign could hard !
ly succeed in 1913, and could not be
expected TO accomplish much, even If |
successful at the polls. ProgressiVes /
believe in dealing with conditions, |
rather than the fortunes of individual /
candidates. To these ends, and from /
this point OF view we submit to the I
citizens of South Bend a concrete |
platform of constructive reform. and \
will recommend that no candidates I
be elected upon the progressive city I
ticket who will not specially sub I
scribe TO the pledges of that platform. /
The Progressive Platform.
1.-The splendid work, just begun. in |
disrupting the relation between COM I
mercialiZed crime and cOmmercialiZed .
politics. must be extended to every /
nook and Granny where the System
still turks.
THE people should be given the |
right TO invoke the referendum upon /
important franchise matters and con- !
tracts involving the private operation /
of public utilities. Perpetual fran /
chises should be actively fought with |
every resource at the command of the I
city Every public utility should be /
the city. by regulation and super /
vision. if possible, but by public own /
erShip and operation, II need be.
Immediate action should be taken 1
for the protection and development /
of the commercial and industrial su- !
premacy of South Bend. The activ- /
tiles OF the city. along linees formerly |
left exclusively TO private enterprise. 4
should. SO far as possible, be placed \
on a Self-Sustaining basis. 10 the end
that they may pay their own way f
and be at no time a burden 20 tax /
payers. Immediate action should be
taken 20 lower the cost and extend the 4
service Of such public utilities as cleo /
trio lighting and gas
Transit facilities in many portions
of the city should be substantially i'm (
proved, and the powers OF the city 4
ought 10 be actively employed TO that \
end. II need be. In every way with /
in the proper scope Of municipal ac- I
ton. the powers of the city must be !
progressively put forth for the relief /
OF the economic and social conditions I
which harass and Oppress its people. /
The city must do its part in restoring /
an economic freedom. in establishing |
an equality OF commercial opportu- /
nifty. and in making government min
lister TO the welfare of its citizens. |
These issues should stand out clearly" /
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS T. Stewart /