The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-25
Will Not Be SubServient to
Any Individual i'm Perform
ing His Duties.
A REPLY TO ILIFF
If Humble Birth Is a Crime
He Says He Must Plead
Guilty to Charge.

following statement concerning his
candidacy in reply 10 statement re-
Gently issued by Edgar lin. chairman
OF the Republican city committee.
II is as follows:
To the Voters OF Richmond:
In a recent issue OF one of our local
papers there appeared a letter signed
by Mr.. Edgar Hin. Chairman of the
Republican City Committee. in which
he made certain statements concern
ing my ability TO take charge of the
affairs of the city as your mayor. and
which statements were based princi-
pally on the fact that the place of my
birth. my early boyhood days. and my
early manhood, had been in a cross
roads village, | acknowledge these
statements OF Mr.. lliff TO be true I
cannot deny them. nor do wish to do
SO. But If an humble birth in a place
where the necessities of life were gain
ed only by hard knocks. and IL an early
hardship and a simple method of liv-
ing in early life is criminal. then I
have previously erred.
But l cannot think that the citizens
OF Richmond will attempt TO measure
up man by this standard fully be-
lieve that the same impulse OF what Is
right and wrong throbs in the breasts
OF every citizen OF this city, whether
he be born within the confines of a
gilded castle or within the humble
cottage at its base
Cannot Lead Voters Astray.
/ cannot think that the people will
be led away from the main issues OF
this campaign TO that of a series of
personal attacks of one candidate
against another.
Therefore | will leave the state
ments of Mr.. Iliff in his letter with
you and ask that you carefully con-
slider their merits and demerits before
you cast your ballot.
But appended TO said letter and cast
out in bold type was a statement that
A vote for Zimmerman is
vote for all the people. A vote for
Robbins is vote for Rudolph
Leeds and a vote for millionaire
control"
In answer to the first part OF said
statement / will make no reply. That
Is an issue that should be determined
by the people of this city. and one
which they should carefully and con-
scientiously consider before they cast
their ballots.
He 10 Not Boss Controlled.
But to the rest of said statement
which implies that would be controll-
ed by Rudolph Leeds IN the event OF
my election, / wish TO brand as abso-
lutely false. and which was framed
only to detract the voters from the
main issues OF this campaign
l will not be subservient to the
wishes OF any individual. be IL Mr..
Leeds or any other citizen. in regard
TO my appointments. or In regard 10
the shaping of the policies Of my ad-
ministration. But, as ! said In my plat
form. which has appeared in both local
papers and which has been placed in
your homes by our local city commit
tee. | will be glad to advise with any
and all citizens at all times, be they
business men backed by thousands OF
dollars of our city's wealth. or be they
men from the humber walks OF life,
to which class, as Mr.. Hin in his arti-
Gle implies. belong. and on account
OF which he attributes my sole weak
ness as a candidate for mayor OF our
city.
improvements Can Be Made.
] have refrained from personalities
in this campaign and shall not indulge
in them now. / have nothing but the
kindliest feeling for my opponents as
citizens of this city. No one has ever
heard me say one word of criticism
against them personally nor will I do
so. II has been my motto. that IL / can
say no good of q man that | viii
speak no i'll of him, and ! shall contin-
ue said policy in this campaign.
would rather tell you OF few things
that ! propose TO do than to state
things in a negative manner as to
what / will not do. I would rather
state to you that feel there are Ger
tain improvements that can be made
for our city's good and for the good OF
all our people
/ feel that in my statements 10 you
in mS platform. which you no doubt
have read. that | have covered the
field in general way of certain things
that will be done If I should be elect
ed as the mayor of this city. / wish,
however. for the benefit of those who
have not come in touch with these
statements to give to them in a brief
manner the things for which / stand,
and for which will make fight, that
they may be embodied as a part of
this city's government.
What Robbins Stands For.
They are as follows:
A careful selection OF the heads OF
the various departments based only
upon their character and integrity as
men and upon their ability TO do their
duties az officials.
The giving of my entire time to the
duties of my office. and a requirement
of the same from all department
heads
Regular inspection and regular re-
ports from each department
Safeguarding of the peoples inter
ests in all matters that come up be-
fore the Public Utilities Commission
Granting franchises only with the
purchase clause, granting the city the
right to purchase at any time
Condemning as wrong the present
system of the payment of the lighting
of our streets by only the patrons OF
our City Light Plant, and pledging that
hereafter such practice shall not be