The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-02-17
SEES GREAT VALUE in UNION
Speaking Before Men Club of Baptist
Church Second Ward Alderman Says
Highest Duty of Christian Man Is to
Be Good Citizen and Defend Right.

Speaking before the Mems club of
the First Baptist church on Tuesday
evening, Alderman Conrad Shearer
made strong plea to hundred men
to take a greater interest in the poll
teal life of the city. He declared that
the control of the political interests
of the city could be largely centered
in just such organizations if they
were united to make Kenosha better
city and a more clearly governed city.
Mr.. Shearer said in part:
GA city official is one of three
things: Constructive, destructive or
neutral. Will you club members inter-
est yourselves sufficiently at this time
to look up the record of your alder
men and school commissioners and as
sign them to their class. Will you go
to the constructive officials and urge
them to stand as candidates for re-
election2 Will you tell them that at
this critical period the city needs their
services? Some who have done moth
Of the city will stand for reelection.
There is no reason to believe that the
future will find them improved. AS
good citizens and voters, it is your
duty to sea to it that they are not re-
turned to office. You may under
estimate the strength Of your club and
its power to accomplish results along
the course / have outlined. Let me
say that the effect Of even ten of your
number urging an official to stand for
reelection may win his consent.
The government of city like ours
is not confined to the rule of its of
fcials. Every real progressive NUM-
cipality has an active Chamber of
Commerce which has in reality more
to do with shaping IT'S destinies than
the actual city government. 1t has
been truly said that in some cities it
is a greater honor for man to head
the Chamber Of Commerce than to
be mayor.
One marked criticism on our voting
population is the lack of interest
which they manifest in those whom
they put into Office. Every city cleo
tion brings it's ward contests, which
are often attended with bitter strife.
Candidates are ready to promise any
thing to the voter in order to gain his
support. How soon after election are
all those promises forgottenl Beware
Of the candidate who rides into office
over bridge of pledges.
If our city government to be e1e-
waited to higher plane, it must be ac-
complished through the united efforts
of clean citizens. For this action we
look. to the Mems clubs Of all our
churches. Government Of cities must
be taken out Of politics. What we
need is a business administration. Sc
lect as your city officials men who have
made records as managers. The most
successful business man in Kenosha is
needed for the mayor chair.
/ am decidedly optimistic as to the
future Kenosha government. The best
Of our citizenship is awake to the fact
that it takes live clean progressive of
fcials to make a progressive city The
day is at hand when honesty, ability
and service go to make up the quail
fcations for city office. Voters can no
longer be herded in masses and doled
out by the hundreds to the unscrupul-
Gus politician. This change has been
brought about partly by just such or
CARNATIONS as the one you have here.
Kenosha sees the dawn of better day
and it stands to reason that incompet-
ency, graft and corruption will not be
tolerated. Nor shall the money power
within or without our city play a part
in its municipal elections. Taxpayers
cannot afford to permit such things
and I have every confidence to believe
they will stop it.
VITAL .Ia,,+- of xra+ar 49,. I .