South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-04

on the structure
In all the eight years OF his service
in the council. not a measure did Mr..
cast that will not bear inspection by
the most earnest lover of clean. up
right. honest government. Every item
of his record points like an index fin
ger TO the integrity. public spirit and
capacity OF the man. He brought
this capacity for thorough work. and
high sense OF loyalty 10 his trust to
the office OF city comptroller. He has
held the purse strings with a fidelity
and inficxibility that no appeal. could
shake. This accounts for the low tax
levy. for the provision of funds with
which 20 carry forward new and use
ful projects for the excellent condf-
ton OF the finances. Because he
knows in every detail the needs of the
city and its resources. he with conf
dence pledges himself TO a reduction
OF taxes without impairment OF eff
cheney in any department. He does
this because he knows precisely how
il can be done.
That Mr.. Joyce separated from the
liquor business some years ago is "A
grievance 10 his opponents, which il
appears difficult for them to forgive.
That he has ever been faithless in a
public trust, not a man IL this cam
Z.
TO his friends. He a. the affectionate
support of his aged mother and his
motherleSs daughter. he is frank
cordial and agreeable in his inter
course with men. He is always cOuT-
teous and painstaking in mis- official
relations with the citizen. Above all,
he combines fidelity and efficiency
the highest and best test of fitness for
public position.
Good Faith Criticism,
L do not object TO common: or crit
icism of public men and measures
Good faith criticism is in Itself a use
full agency Of government. But some
weeks ago a correspondent of a news
paper down the state Visited our city,
spent much time looking the city over,
10 a large number of reputable citi-
zens pronounced South Bend one Of
the cleaneSt, most progressive and
best governed municipalities he had
ever visited. and then sent to his pa
per columns of pure fabrication and
unmixed vituperation and SANDER of
the city. This was the experience Of
every other city in the state that later
developed a sO-called citizens political
movement. The work of moral SsSas-
sination preceded the movement
The movement is not local to South
Bend. 1t is a concerted effort at grab
Of power extending to Fort Wayne,
Huntington. Muncie, Indianapolis, Ev-
ansville. Terre Haute, Charlottesville.
and several other cities of the state.
It's catch phrases, it's slogans, tts
shibboleths. it's phariSaicai scream OF
holy resolve. its loud roar of foaming
calumony, it's whispering campaign of
detraction, and its occupancy OF every
sign in the zodiac in its scramble for
votes are the same IN all these cities,
only varying and adjusting the eXtraV-
agance of its mendacity to the decree
Of Credulity and ignorance TO which II
add esses its appeal.
Tie movement is mirage over the
city which at sunset this evening will
Join the comet where the comet has
gone. Should such movement by any
remote possibility succeed. the mirage
will disappear just the same, leaving
the few benefciaries free 10 exploit
the city. responsible TO no organiZa-
tor and answerable 10 no stable CO.
herent public opinion.
Pres. Wilson is taking the whole
people into his confidence as few Of
his predecessors have done. All dem
Ocrats, and millions of republicans
and progressives approve his policies
other millions who may not agree
with all his policies, approve his
steadfastness, his courage, his high
and infiexible ideals OF public duty.
and his unfaltering determination to
bring the government of the people
close to the people.
The men who, in the background,
are directing this so-called citizens
movement in the various cities OF In
diana would scOrn the contention that
it's success is only of local significance.
Besides the forces or baffied avarice
throughout the country, smarting un
der the loss OF their special privileges
in the tariff, would instantly hail and
proclaim from oceOn to ocean such
election results in the industrial cen
ters of Indiana as a rebuff. rejection
and population OF Pres Wilson's adj
ministratiOn and the policies for
which he has so courageOusly con-
tended The voices of chagrined and
protesting democrats who had con-
tributed to the result would be drown
ed I'm the triumphant clamOr and they
would be left only to regret the folly
that possessed them This is why
Simple Simon fishing for whales in his
grandmother rainwater barrel was
a marvel of Sagacitv and wisdom
compared with the democrat who is
now deluded and seduced by the
cunning strategdy sought to be prac-
ticed upon him.