Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-31
OSBORNE COMES
OUT IN SUPPORT
OF FLANAGAN
Progressive Leader Tells Why
He Favors Democrat for
I Montclair Mayoralty.

Edmund 3. Osborne. OF Montclair
who was defeated last year for the
Progressive nomination for governor
in a statement issued today gives
reasons why he favors the election
of Dallas Flanagan, Democrat fol
mayor of Montclair, over Edwin M
Harrison, Republican. The statement
In part follows:
1.-The independent voters of Mont
clair find it hard to beside how to vote
ON the Inayoralty. The average mar
has not the time or the facilities to
investigate the candidates for him.
self. He is puzzled by the conflicting
claims of the rivals and their friends
] have not been willing to rest my de
cision on hearsay evidence, and nave
carefully investigated the mayoralty
candidates and the issues involved fol-
myself, 1t occurs to me that my con-
illusions may interest other indie
pendent voters and help them to de-
eide whether they prefer Mr.. Flan-
: nagan of Mr. Harrison for mayor Of
Montclair.
IT think the majority of Montclair
voters, regardless of what party they
belong to- believe that politics have
no place in town government. They
know that the duties of town officials
have nothing to do with national
party issues. They don't care what
party our town officials belong to-
they want the best man for each Of
flee and every office free from party
control or influence.
Interviewed Both Candidates.
~ am not personally interested in
either of the candidates for mayor.
J was only slightly acquainted with
Mr. Harrison before he was nomi-
mated. really knew nothing about
him. and l had never met Mr.. Elan
nagan. Before deciding which to vote
for, ] have carefully inquired about
both candidates. and, during the last
week, have interviewed both Mr..
Flanagan and Mr.. Harrison in order
to ask certain definite questions and
get my own first hand impressions OF
each man.
II believe both candidates are men
of good character and personally
honest; that neither of them will be
corrupt or knowingly permit corrup-
ton in his administration.
Both candidates claim they will
give the town a partisan admin
istrati,stn. That does not mean much
unless yfou know what q man means
when fAe says 1t. The Independent
voters are particularly concerned on
this point because they don't want tn
see MONTE lair get into the grip of a
political m machine. | wanted to know
exactly w hat each man meant by
non partSa an and asked them defin-
lite kuestiofls which they were free to
answer or hot, as they chose.
Mr.. Flaannagan's answers con-
vinced me 4 hat he intends to abso-
hitely ignore all parties In the maxi
ing of appoif ltments and in the con-
duct of town business. Mr.. Harri-
sons answers convinced me that he
has a differeri t idea of non parti-
SAN admins tn ltion, and that he does
not intend to q completely ignore party
consideration i'm the making of APP
pointments ami in conducting the
business OF the town. To Mr.. Harri-
sons credit ii q hould be said that he
insists he will make all appointments
on merit, but vi r. Flannagan's state
ment about his non-partisan inten-
lions was more convincing and sat-
isfactory than Mr.. Harrison's.
Wants Frsction TO Cease.
with his partii,an Affiliations l do
not see how il is possible for Mr.. Har-
1ison to conduct a really non-partisan
administration. | am convinced that
his election would mean the triumph
of the Montclair section OF partisan
county machine. which / and hum
dreds of other indep endents in Mont
clair have been fighting for years.
If Mr.. Harrison is elected Montclair
will be thoroughly under the control
of the Republican organization.
II think all good citizens deplore
the differences in the Town Council
between the supporters of the pres
ent mayor and his opponents. There
is O. general impression that some
members of the Council have con-
tracted the habit of voting with the
mayor and others the habit of vot-
ing against the mayor almost re-
CARELESS of the merits of the case.
"Whatever we may think of the
mayor and his policies we are pretty
much agreed that this situation has
been unfortunate for the town, and
that the "Hinck and anti-Hinck" di-
vision in the Town Council ought tc
be ended as quickly as possible. MANY
people are concerned to know wheth.
err that result is more likely to BIO &C.
eomplished with Mr.. Flanagan OF
Mr.. Harrison as mayor. That is moi
q very difficult problem.
IF Mr.. Harrison is mayor we will
simply reverse the present situation
Now the Hinck men have the mayors
chair and majority of the council
the anti-Hinck men have a strong
minority of the council. If Mr.. Har,
rison is mayor the anti IIinck mer
will have the mayors chair and 9
majority of the council. and the
IIinck men will have a strong min,
GRITTY of the council. Is IL likely thai
the Hinck minority in the council
will be any more inclined TOWARD
harmony with Mr. Harrison than tn,
present minority is inclined TOWARD
harmony with Mr. Hinck."