Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-14

ness with which ! state my position in
this campaign, Early in August. at
tho suggestion of leading Phiadel-
phians, | became candidate for the
Republican nomination for Mayor.
My declaration made Independently
of any Of the generally recognized Re
publican leaders and inviting the op-
position of some, involved the close
Of my congressional career and tho
burning of all political bridges in
Philadelphia behind me. My candi.
dacy was induced incidentally by
determination to overcome fartiOnal.
ism in the Republican party and 10
unite ii on a representative basis.
But the big idea was TO establish
national good Will toward the city OF
Philadelphia, and under the new city
charter TO work out to the satisfac.
tion Of majority Of the people the
big problems. constructive. civil and
moral. that fairly or unfairly. had
been charged up as dclinQucncics to
he present and past admnistra
tion.
Strong. Independent Men Needed
Il. knew that big. strong. indie
pendent men would be needed for this
work {; that new forces must be
brought into action along with the
faithful servants of the city. and that
momentarily perhaps existing politi-
cal methods would suffer temporary
shock. but did not believe then. and
do not believe now, that loyal mem
bers Of tho Republican party would
shy at any legitimate effort to bring
honor TO that party by improving the
municipal service.
II had not been known in politics
Arnf . =,
times unworthily appropriated and at
other times unjustly withheld from
men III public life who do their duty
conscicntiously. but my voluntary
and indicated candidacy was
promptly indorscd by the committee
of one hundred, the Republican ALI
ancc, the Town Meeting party and
other good citizens. some of them
regular Republicans. some lndppcnd-
cnts and some Democrats.
These organizations and indivi-
duals advocated the principles for
which | stood--a city free from con
tractor rule. the elimination Of police
men and tircmen from politics. the
suppression of graft in official life.
tn" reduction to n minimum of crime
and vice and the separation from the
pubic service of those encouraging
one or the other. and the ccntraliza-
tion of the city'S business. fnG ncial
and constructive activities at the City
Hall under the direction Of the Mayor,
reduced counclmunic body and Of
ticials competent and ready to dedi-
cate their services to the public well
fare as contemplated by existing law
and the provisions of the new city
charter.
NJ " nlnt fam, Il L., e, Al
elimination of the contractor As such,
the faithful contractor who lives up
to his agreement to do the work for
which he has fairly competed and
which he is willing to do without the
exercise of undue political influence
being necessary and commendable
servitor of the city nor did it call for
the severance from the public service
OF those employees who have been
faithful in the performance of their
duty and who as indicated through
out the campaign should be made to
feel that the city is willing to pay for
such service on terms at least equal TO
those paid for similar services
rendered to individuals. corporations
or private institutions
The Republican central campaign
ronmlttee. although it may have in
dors"d in principle many of those
things for which | rontended (for
they were mostly restatcment of the
law that is or the law that is to be-
dld not approve my candidacy. nor
that of the candidates for county
offices who ran on the same ticket
with me in the primaries.
Accuses Central Committee
On the contrary, the central cam.
paign committe. In violation. | be-
lieNe. of the party rules and i'm dis.
regard of the spirit of the uniform
primary election laws. set ND a can.
.didate for Mayor on its own account
and named candidates for the other
offices, proceeding TO use. and actual.
ly using. the party machinery to
ehectuate their nominations.
In" contest proceeded from early
August to September 1G. the date OF
tn" primary election. and the result
you know-at first doubtful. then
thrown into court with veXatioug de
lays, and then. the official announre-
m"nt by the court only few days
ago. that Mr.. I.amberton for sheriff
MI Cunningham for clerk OF quarter
sessions and myself for Mayor. all op-
posed by the central campaign coI
mlt'ee. had. along with the Other
certified candidates won the Repgrit
can nominations.
So much for the facts and lAA
strategy. BUT note the anOmsioa.
position into which We are all bgog gar
YOU, the central campaign couIllr-
tee. the various committees -uBE4gF-
ing our respective randidacies am -tr
candidates themselves. NOur rqu..
nittee is recognized By law ~ rl- yf-
hrlaI campaign committee ~ u" Sr-
publican party. and e. -gnA ln.sr
ordinary circumstance. the ttEwa'9
elections having been free. wD41e nur.
duet the campsign for sl' rla n&lq'
dates from the pr!uar!%s 80 tgF g'H
orHl election
But this committee YDel.l D'r,eo,,t
Tia" candidates for Msyof. st.pftr aud
clerk of Quaryes SsE.iDIs. gt.r Ngr
plong with tnnir fellow ugluun,,
whom they desire sLel ~ tauurGup
fair aud equal partg tsesiau'-,- vrgI
themselves become l8p paaas a.,t.
dard hearers f. is slsg sHt irrt.
that under the parry srH.rs pH rnr
nominees referred 30 zts t.pV rprtF.rU
automatically 10 usEEI3J',rsu r tu Un,
central rampaigu r0Illrlt '.s.i lp, J,tr
pose Of that II nElelg ll.,,uiur,s II, "a.
under normal r"Ld.,gpHs l"sar ar-'
evident
But the difhrulr5 no1f,@pHtp9 M,
candidates is that tkeRs srs pai.p
committees i'm the field .sgsssgss sals.
iols with the central t4Esssags s.vnl-
'littee that the entire Eeggs.pqesA
ticket shall be elected. E,yia# ~ r4as.s
committees were organized .a Hrbr5r.
Sition TO- the central csH.s,a ~ sssp
mlttce, as AT present constituted ztss
others were made necessary hsez s@
Of the attitude of that committee sa
the primary election.