The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-06-12
GODFREY MADE AN
ABLE ADDRESS
Says He Possesses Qualifications
To Fill Office and Believes He
Will Be Elected

Mr.. ]. II. Godfrey. city clerk and
candidate for mayor, spoke as follows
last night, In addressing the meeting
at the court house:
Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Citizens:
TEo night is warm and the room is
detain you long. II am not :going to
make any attempt 1T oratofy. All 1
wish to do is to outline briefly the is-
suee Of the campaign as l eythem'
and to state my positlohs on them:
Befbrc entering upon the: discussions
however. want to Estate that have
conducted my campaign for the Office
Of mayor upon high plane, and have
conducted 1t without dealing in per
sonhlities. Each OF the other tliiee
candidates for mayor Is my friend. and
have nothing but the highest regards
and esteem for all Of them.
The position OF mayor OF the city Of
Anderson Is an important one, and
upon his shoulders largely rests the
future Of the city; his acts can put
building Of the town. and his acts
can help to tear down that which Is al
ready built. II 1 am elected mayor.
intend to do everything possible for
the uplift OF the city. / will be pro-
gressive, and at the end of my term
/ expect to warrant the congratula-
tions OF my fellow citizens.
Some persons have asked why
should quit job paying $1,600 year
to accept one paying $1,000. To this
question l reply that I, am ambitious;
/ want to be promoted to the office
which carries the most authority and
honor and one which will enable me
to put into effect .some things and
some ideas which will, in my opinion,
be for the good of the city. The Office
of the city clerk and treasurer, where
l have served for the past six years.
has no future in store for the person
holding the position. It is the same
thing over and over as each year
passes by. The position Of mayor is
different; the possibilities OF promo
tion are greater. and + want to go up
the ladder. l have filled the position
OF city clerk and treasurer to the sat-
isfaction of three councils for six
years, and I contend that my expe-
rience there, and the chances I had
to study and learn the affairs Of the
city. have fitted me for the position of
mayor. l contend that I know prob
ably more about the inside workings
and the outside affairs Of the city than
any other person. have been located
where ! could learn them. and have
not been asleep on the job.
My platform has been published In
the daily newspapers Of the city and
It has been read by all of you no
doubt. l wish to refresh your memo
RIGS by reciting what was contained
nit. .a
Flrst-I favor al reduction in the
amount of street tax from 50 to 81.
The 50 amount is' not a. Hardship; on
many; 7, butte, but to mechanics fpd lnpoFers
$econd-1 am opposed to the sani-
tary tax Of 50 or 3 sanitary tax for
any amount on the ground that 1t ie
equivalent to double taxation, The
person who has the surface closet and
pays the sanitary tax also pays his
pro rata share of the tax money which
goes to pay the interest on the sewer
bonds, and derives no benefit there
from, whereas the man who has sewer
age In his house pays the one tax, his
pro rata share of the sewer bond inter-
esf, and gets the sewer service. the
greatest OF all conveniences In the
city.
Third-The collection of city taxes
during the month of March works q
hardship upon the mechanics. masons
and iaboring men who work out in the
open. The weather preceding the
month of March Is usually such that
very little work is done and money
with these tax payers Is scarce. Re-
alizing this. and appreciating the fact
that change in the system OF COL
lecting taxes would be of great bene-
fit and convenience ito the poor people
OF the city. propose to do. my part
in changing the SYSTEM of collecting
taxes so that onejhalf OF the taxes
can be paid in the spring, and Nahe
other half in the :fall. Before this
system can be put In effect It Will be
necessary to placei the city more on
a each basis, and intend to work to-
wards this end. .t.
Fourth-In order to keep in close
touch with the affairs OF the city. the
mayor should keep In almost con-
stant touch with the Office OF the city
partments Is kept by the city clerk and
treasurer. He. prepares the reports
for nearly all the heads OF the va
rioAs departments.> He checks all the
bilfE and he knows what all tho ma
teisls and supplies cost. He knows
where the materials and supplies are
uged. and no knows.when there Is any
change In the prices of supplies.
Complaints and requests for relief
from the citizens come to this Office
Asa matter OF fact the affairs OF the
city, clear or 60 through the Office OF
thesclty clerk. ThiE being the case. 4
propose t. move my Office into the Of
fic&yith the city clerk II am elected
m4a@.. will then be In bettor posi-
tioH 10 know your .waptsi anthAo 'telp
YOU get tho desired relief. will be