Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-27

To the Citizens of Rock Island, Hi
| nois:
1 take this occasion to announce
myself as a candidate for the office
of Mayor, on the following plat
form:
/ stand for a square deal for all
classes of people, rich or poor, re-
CARELESS of their station in dife,
sect, creed or color
l am in favor of law and order,
and its strict enforcement.
In times of epidemic, believe in
a reasonable enforcement of the
health regulations, seasoned with
good judgment, but strictly and
rigidly, if necessary.
l am opposed to making our city
the dumping ground for thugs,
thieves and robbers, even under the
guise OF industrial necessity, as my
recent fight for the removal of pa
rolled conyicts will prove.
l stand for home rule for cities,
with power to control and regulate
public utilities serving its people,
but am in favor of their having a
fair and reasonable compensation
for service rendered.
l pledge myself to resist to the
utmost any attempt to secure a
seven-cent car fare. If street car
lines wish to increase the wages VI
their employees, 1 am in favor of
them doing so out of their excess
sive profits and dividends, and not
place this burden on the travelling
public.
1t is my plan to institute pro-
ceedings to reduce the cost of gas
and electricity, to the pre-war ba-
sis.
l am now and always have been
in favor of public improvements,
but under proper conditions. At
the present time, cost of materials
and freight rates are so high, that
the cost of improvements are prac-
tically prohibitiye, excepting in en-
ergencies.
l believe in progress, and have
been identified with most of the
great improvements inaugurated in
this city in the last thirty years.
laid the first paving brick on Sec
oud avenue in 1889; helped to es-
tablisn the first pad fire depart
ment; | inaugurated q system of
grades and enforced the building of
permanent sidewalks; l was instru-
mental in securing and erecting the
public library; l rebuilt and COM
pleted the reservoir; | started and
inaugurated the Rock Island park
system; l helped plan and arrange
a financial system. whereby the city
of Rock Island has paid off deots
contracted almost fifty year ago. F.
by means of refunding bonds I
through the state treasury, which I
plan was instituted by me twenty /
years ago. My present admins ,
tration was responsible for the ac- /
quiring of the BELT Line" which .
has been talked of for the past for /
y years, opening a free railway
10 all railroads oper- ,
ating in our city from our eastern /
city limits to our southern limits on !
Rock river
Unlike most candidates, I do not !
stand on a platform of promises. I
For l have q record of accomplish /
ments behind me, of which | am (
not ashamed. l believe l have not :
only the experience. but also the .
knowledge and ability to guide the
city of Rock Island through the
shoals it is at present en-
into a sound and SAFE
financial harbor for the future.
If you thik / am still progressive
enough, and have the stamina and
nerve, to stand and fight for what l
think is right and for the best in
terests of the city and its people, l
ask you to give me your support, 1
not only at the primaries, but also
1t the election.