Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-11-01
Election November 1. 1919


dunn and Gateway Amendment and
Municipal Ownership Of public ntiii
ties.
| also favor the revision Of cur
revenue or taxation laws, Such rev.
sion to be made in such manner rs to
place the burden q aNaUon fairlF
upon all property in this state.
favor a provision that compelS all
loans on real estate secured by trust
deeds to be taxed instead OF escaping
taxation, as they nov do,
am opposed to the proposed short
ballot for the reason that it would
concentrate too much power in the
hands of the governor instead OF leaN-
( ing it in the hand, of the people,
where il now is.
! ! favor the restriction of the Send-
/ tors and representatives from Cook
/ County - a number which shall never
exceed One-third OF the Total number
OF senator's and representatives in The
whole state. regardless Of how large
the population OF the city OF ChicaEo
may ever become.
The above are the main planhs ot
the platform upon which Mr., Stanley
and myself stand for election.
| have presented my views upon
these questions TO the voters of La
Sale County and gave my reasons
therefor in speeches which | made to
the voters in various parts OF this
county and also through the ncwspa'
perS. SO confident was that my po-
sition was right that in each and
n bnL rs,
through the newspapers. repeatedly
challenged my opponents. Charles +.
Woodward and William NJ Seaman. or
either of them. to publicly debate with
me these questions in the city OF OF
tawa, La Sale or Strcator. or any one
of said cities Now Mr. Woodward
and Mr. Seaman hold opposite views
to me on all OF these questions, with
the possible exception OF Cook
County's representation. They have
persistently refused to pledge them
selves 10 vote in favor of these que
/ tons OF public policy. If they are
elected, even though they are in.
structed to do so by the votes of tho
majority of the voters voting al the
election on November t. 1919 1t
{
argument in favor OF the Initiative
and Referendum than the attitude OF
Mr. Woodward and Mr.. Seaman
makes for them They simply tell the
people that If they are elected they
will vote in the Constitutional COnven-
ton In such manner and for such
things as they see fit whether it suits
the people or not. They refuse to
go uDon the platform either with or
withOu. their opponents CT in the
public press and tell the people what
they stand for and what they will
vote for if elected. While opposing
the above questions OF public policy
favored and advocated by Mr.. Shan
ley and myself they refuse to pub
licly debate with me the merits of
these questions. In thus refusing 10
debate these questions they show
good judgment, for they are not ques-
tions with two sides to them. They
are such questions that a school boy
arguing in their favor would readily
overcome all the wisdom and articles
of philosopher who opposed them.
Silence, therefore. and a gum shoe
method of campaigning, under such
circumstances. is the part Of wisdom,
and that plan has been adopted by
our Republican opponents.
But for fear | might do these gen
tlemen an injustice now call their
attention to the fact that on Sunday
afternoon at 2;30 o'clock in the Slo-
venian Hall in La Sale, Mr.. John II.
Walker, Mr.. duncan Mcdonald and
myself will speak to a large audience
Of the voters of this county on these
questions. We will probably speak
again on Sunday night in Streator.
am given to understand by those who
claim TO know that at the La Sale
meeting there will be the largest au.
dience ever assembled in any hall in
this county to hear a political ques-
ton discussed It will be a represen-
tative asSemblage of business men
working men and farmers. ] now re-
peat my challenge to Mr.. Woodward
and Mr.. seaman to meet me there ana
debate these questions of public pol
icy before that audience.
These gentlemen, believe In more
potent argument than discussing the
issues of a political campaign, An
argument IN the form of many streams
of gold ottimes has proven powerful.
This week the Republican County Cen.
trail Committee made an assessment
upon the Republican oificeholders OF
the county 10 aid in the election of
the Republican ticket. From that and
whatever other sources the streams Of
gold may he poured to aid in the cleo
ton Of the foes Of the Initiative AMI
referendum do not concern me. I
oelieve the day Is PAST when the aver
age American citizen. whether bust.
ncs man working man or farmer. Is
willing to sell his birthright for 4
mess of potagc Neither Mr.. ShanleY
nor myself have any source from
which to draw our campaign expenses,
nor any part thereof, but from our
own pockets This is one argument
we do not possess.
now desire 20 call attention to -
propaganda put forth in this city to-
have Democrats vote for myself and
Mr. Seaman The carrying into effect
of this propaganda would mean the
defeat OF myself just as well as NJ"
STANLEY, and was gotten up for that
DurnNsp II Would moan fhe giving Cf