Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-27
BLANKENBURG CERTAIN
REFORM MAYOR CAN BE
SUCCESSOR OF SMITH
Defeat Last Fall, He Says, Was
Due to Injection of Re-
ligion Into Politics
BRUMBAUGH DONE BROWN

Former Mayor Blankenburg is confident
that reform in Philadelphia is not dead and
Is certain that 1t will be possible to elect
another reform Mayor to succeed Thomas
B. Smith. according to an interview quoted
In dspa tches from New York today. where
the former chief magistrate is spending a
few days following his return from
California
The defeat of the reform movement last
fall and the election of an organization
Mayor Mr.. Blankenburg attributed to the
injection Of religion into politics. The out
come OF the election, he said, was largely
due to the religious questions and the Stone
mems movement.
"t have always been friendly to my
Catholic brethren" said Mr.. Blankenburg,
"and they to me, but / think the reform
ticket lost the whole Catholic vote owing
to the activity of the Stonemen. There are
probably $4,000 Catholic voters in Philadel
pha, and between 10000 and so. 900 would
have voted for the reform ticket but for the
Stonemen. 1t was unfortunate. Religious
questions should never enter3municpal poll
tics"
While unwilling to discuss present politi-
cal conditions in this city and State, the
former Mayor declared that Governor
Brumbaugh has been done brown" He
added at the same time that he could see
no advantage or Improvement in McNichol
or Penrose over the Brumbaugh-Vare-
Smith entente.
"I ALWAYS WORKED m OPEN"
When asked to discuss the Brumbaugh
check incident Mr.. Blankenburg remarked:
II reiterate Brumbaugh has been done
Brown | accounted for every cent that
was contributed to my campaigns. / al
ways worked in the open and had nothing
to hide. and / always will be aboveboard"
Mr.. Blankenburg was asked about the
transit agitation and the effort to bob
q. Frn,. ,NlnNN fhn 1af tor
turned out finally" he replied, ''t shows
that the plans conceived and matured un-
der the Blankenburg administration were
commendabe in every way. We prepared
the way, and the plans were approved by
the people. We also got the agreement
for the abilition of grade crossings after
30 years of strife, and for the port devel-
opment plans. and all the others that are to
make Philadelphia the mighty city she
should be. Now. all that needs to be done
is to do the work honestly, efficiently and
economically, which 1 doubt will be the
case
VOTERS DON'T OWN THEMSELVES"
THE same holds good for everything in
the line of improvements that Councils
grudgingly approved under my administra-
ton. and would have prevented could they
have mustered sufficient strength against
public opinion. As for McNichol, Penrose
and Dave Lane opposing the loan bills,
| have nothing to say. II only shows that
many of our voters don't own themselves.
The saddest part is that 100. 900 voters did
not go to the polls when new city debt of
S115,OO0.0O0 was about to be created It's
the sad part of our electoral system. How
amend II? Why, educate the people more
on their civic responsibility"
Mr.. Blankenburg said that Intelligent
men from all sections he talked to are
betting that President Wilson will defeat
Colonel Roosevelt providing they are nom
mated for the Presidency by the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties.
AS for Wilson against Justice Hughes
in a presidential election. the unanimous
sentiment. he declared. is that Mr.. Wilson
will win hands down" Mr.. Blankenburg
said he was not expressing his own views.