Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-07
Blankenburg Declares Real
Battle Is Against Po-
litical Contractors
FOR NEW CITY SLOGAN
Cries Out Against Corrupt and
Contented" Designation-As-
sails Harmony Slate of
Organization
Calling upon Phnadelphians not TO sur

.ollgarchy that has In the past made II
hyword of corn, shame and disgrace"
Mayor Biansenburg has opened the cam
peign OF the independents.
The real fEht this fall is against politl-
cal contractors he declared last night.
He nayed the Organization candidates and
repeated his Endorsement OF Director Por-
ter IN a statement that had all the vtgor
OF his own campaign for Mayor four
years ago.
The Mayor called particular attention
20 the way in which Thomas Il. Smith
was slated as the Organization mar
nnony', candidate for Mayor. He struck
the keynote OF political Independence by
giving the independent movement the
slogan. philadelphia ever TO the FORE
g. n substitute for philadelphia, cor
rhpt and contented."
The Mayor sent his address TO the peo-
pie OF Philadelphia from his summer
home In the Poconos II was made public
last night by the Committee OF One Hun
/ dred.
/, The Mayors statement follows:
! In full, the statement was as follows:
( After carefully anaiyzing the munich
pal situation and the election OF sue
cessor to the office with which I was
entrusted four years ago, submit to
my fellow citizens that contractor
fensive and engaging on the surface. even
, if he comes 20 US by the clrcuitous route
: OF the Maine woods and Harrisburg. must,
Of necessity. be under such obligations
( BY subscribing public interests TO the in
/ tcrests Of his barkers-the political con-
7: tractors.
Il can not imagine that the free men
Of Philadelphia again will surrender their
great cltv to the mercy OF an oligarchy
!; that has In the past made II n byword
F.. OF scorn, shame and disgrace: that they
will again place in the saddle a triumvir-
ate OF men who insolcntly partition pub
! lie Office among their tools, not to serve
+, the public. but to serve them. Remember
the candidates forced upon us In the
past by the boss contractors, who have
waxed rich on the favoritism of the Of
hcials they drove into public place. from
Mayor to Director and Inspector TO APP
praiser.- Register. Commissioner, Coroner.
In fact TO every Office that could be made
I 10 minister to their evil purposes.
And who are slated now?
SPECTACLE HUMILiATEs.
I We again zee the humliating spectacle
10 his sponsors as can only be cancelled
toned among the two city contracting
nrms. John, Bill and Bob are named OF.
BY and for Contractor McNichol; Harry,
! Jim and WIN Of by and for Contractor
Ware. while Tom Is proposed as COM
s IFoHliht cunuloule TOT Mayor TO be Clett
w twain. each contractor anxious to OBJ
tan the moro potent half. for they do not
trust each, other aud swould be at each
cther's thronts were II not for the power
Iatie allurefnent % the $l0o,O00.0O0 In city
Z contracts to be awarded during the next
four years.
"t.et our citizens reflect what It will
mean to place the government of our
municipality into the hands OF the de-
spoilers who have wasted our substance
. IN years past and who are hungry to
again open the vaults of the City Treasury
for their enrichment at the taxpayers
eoss.
CITIZENS SHOULD UNITE.
2 ITO avoid a catastrophe as outlined. all
eood citizens should unite In an aggres-
bive. uncompromising campaign for the
eiection OF Mayor and councilmen, as
well as county officers, who know and
.acknowledge no boss, but who own them
selves and whose sole aim shall be to
serve the people. and the people only.
nThe Public Service Committee of One
Hundred, an organization Of public-spir-
tied volunteers In the battle for honest
municipal government, has suggested the
names OF number OF candidates for
iMayor-all Of the highest standing In our
icomuaunity. While every voter has free
t,ehoice In the selection OF his favorte, Il
K may, 4 hope, not be considered out Of
place II urge the nomination of , can
,didate who TO mo seems the strongest
fsnd most likely to unite all parties ops
!, posed 10 contractor rule and who, I am
, eure. Will lead the combined reform forces
rto victory
INDoRsEs PORTER.
''When, In 1911 / selected the members
OF my officlai family. appointed, after
mature deliberation, George d. Porter 10
the important office OF Director of Public
Safety. Mr.. Porter had served five years
In Common Council and had credItably
scquitted himself; he never swerved from
the right path and left that position with
the esteem and good will OF all his coll
leagues, regardless Of party He was a
young man with good education and
business training. against whom not the
breath OF scandal could be raised. Hon
est, energetic untlring. with high ideals
be entered oftice,
And he has made good! -Four years
Of close association, almost daily contact
with him; observing his growth from day
70 day as difficult problems presented
themselves-all these combined have inn
pressed me 20 30 great an extent that
unhesitatingly recommended Mr.. Porter
~ most worthy candidate for my sue
eessor. Every member OF the present
administration today is far better fitted
NNI th' HNAApfNhaHte OF Ane duties pef-
tanning 70 the ofiice than they were four
years $50, and 70 throw away the ex-
pcrleDce thus gained would be wastefil
IN the extreme,
PORTER FITTED BY WORK.
Ar, Porter 10 not only thoroughly In
formed IN his own department, but he
has acquired valuable knowledge IN All
the other departments. The weekly eabl-
net mettingn. regularly attended bv ali
the Directors. have been a source OF
mutual help. probably never eauaIed be-
tors. aud have made All the Directors
f<nnifaf with the doings OF their col
.<4knos. Thus a mutually Of experienee
. d<<p insight In the working OF the Va t.
o1s dfpartmente has been acquired that
constitutes an Invaluable aid to the new
Taxing Il all IN AL do not THINK a
] 4ofe proinisins candidate could be nomi-
n4<<d than George ID. Porter ana i
r4comuend HIN 70 the suffrage OF nv
f<Ilo& oI,izens.
~ v my hope that the citizsns ~
FhIlad>Iphla will hold my views IN, ths-
e11l<et 70 be not without weight ana
that ~ Iheir Wisdom. Independent oreanI-
|<6lionn HIII place before fhe peonle !
Ticket that will deserve eulpersal COM
h,fnaaiion and lead 70 a Victory A M.
Io|I4 that viii forever silence the an.
rtiIaii<n fhiIadalphia. Corrupt and Con.
tented and replace II with the lllie
..I4I.I. me-. 49,. 60. 4I"