South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-08-16
sELF-CoNvICTED.

If the citizens primary ON Aug. %
results i'm the nomination OF men for
mayor, clerk, judge and counciImen
believed by the Tribune To- be safe, /,
honest, desirable and efficient, il can
support them regardless OF their pol /
itics.-Sou;h Bend Tribune.
The News-Times has repeatedly !
charged that the purpose of the So
called citizens movement in South ,
Bend is 10 place the control Of the
city government in the hands OF
ring composed OF the South Bend
Tribune. William Happ and Fred w.
Keller.
The repetition Of these charges has
not been without its effect. Wide
spread distrust Of the movement has
been aroused until the Tribune has felt
impelled 10 write its own defence
IN that reply. which was written
and must be accepted as the Tribunes
platform in this campaign. the Trib-
ure arbitrarily asserts the right 10
dictate the nominations of the So
called citizens party. We quote from
the article itself Note the arrogance
and self-suficiency of the attitude as
sumed:
Whether or not it (the Tribune)
will support the citizens ticket de-
ponds altogether upon the men nom
mated in the citizens primary on Aug.
%. a newspaper that attends strictly
TO business frequently, generally, in
fact, possesses a knowledge OF men
who run for office not possessed by
individuals who do not have similar
opportunities to gain that knowledge"
And the public cannot be taken into
the Tribune's confidence. The people
must accept the dictum OF hat news
paper without question. Listen.
That information" again quoting
from the Tribune's editorial, lis not
always of a character that can be
given 10 the public. If It cannot be
impaired to the people because it is
so bad as TO be unfit To print or for
other reasons the paper can only re-
fuse to support a nominee of the
party or the movement whose cause
II espOuses and ask the people to ac-
cept its open opposition or quiet re-
fusal 10 support with faith in the
newspapers GOOD intentions and it's
honest desire TO do that which, under
the circumstances. it consclentiously
believes is for the best interests of
The people"
This is fair warning to the follow
ers Of the so-caned citizens move
ment that at the primary Aug. % they
must nominate candidates dictated by
the Tribune,-and ask no questions.
Is Fred w. Keller the Tribune's
candidate. The Tribune right along
has merely tolerated Mr.. Place and
Mr.. Swygart. In the Tribunes esti-
nation they are, presumably unfit for
the position because OF information
possessed exclusively by the Tribune
which is too bad" to appear in print
or is withheld for other reasons.
Now these men. Place and Swygart.
are citizens of good character and
reputation, SO that it is for other
reasons that the Tribune does not
favor the nomination Of either OF them
and. the unmistakable inference is.
Will not support either of them il
chosen at the primary on the 2Sd
The other reasons" may be easily
conjectUred. Place and Swygart. if
elected maor. would refuse 10 wear
the Tribune collar. Therefore they
get no support, even if nominated.
MoreOV er, Mr.. Place has said ne be-
lieves in dividing up the city print
ing, which wouldn't suit the Tribune
at al. The very fact that that news
paper felt compelled To make an elab-
crate explanation that il didn't care
about that $3.925 (estimated) an
nually confirms the impression in the
minds Of most people that this charge
against that paper is true
IL Keller is the Tribune candidate
IL IS because he has agreed 10 take
orders from that newspaper. Does
the citizens party want such a can
didate as its standard bearer2
Out OF its own mouth the Tribune
and IT'S fellow conspirators are con-
victed.