Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-05

To the Citizens of Rock Island. I'LL
nois:
take this occasion to announce
myself as a candidate for the Office
of Mayor. on the following plat
| form:
l stand for a square deal Tor all
| classes OF people, rich or poor, re-
/ gardless of their station in difes
sect, creed or color.
l am in favor of law and order,
and its strict enforcement
| In times of epidemic, l believe TN
a reasonable enforcement OF the
J health regulations, seasoned with
J good judgment, but strictly aud
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 convicts Will prove.
1 stand for home rule for cities,
with power to control and regulate
public utilities serving its people,
but am in favor Of their having
! fair and reasonable compensation
! for service rendered.
l pledge myself 20 resist to the
utmost any attempt to secure
seVen-cent car fare. If street car
lines wish to increase the wages "
their employees, l am in favor Of
them doing so out OF their exces-
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.
] 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 prOhibitHe, excepting IN en-
ergencies.
l believe in progress, and have
been identified with most of the
great improvements inauguTated in
this city in the last thirty years. I
laid the first paving brick on Sec
ond avenue in 1883; ! helped to es-
tablish the first paid fire depart
ment; l inaugurated a system of
grades and enforced the building of
permanent sidewalks; I was iustru-
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
financial system, whereby the city
of Rock Island has paid off debts
contracted almost fifty years ago.
by means of refuldiDg bonds
through the state treasury, which
plan was instituted by me twenty
years ago. My present admins
tration was responsible for the ac-
curing Of the BELT Line" which f
has been talked of for the past for
ty years, opening a free railway
right-of-Way to 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.
For l have q record Of accomplish
meuts behind me, OF which l am
not ashamed I believe | have rot
only the experience, but also the
knowledge and ability to guide the
city Of Rock Island through TINS
financial shoals it is at present en-
countering. into a sound and safe
financial haTbor for the future.
If you thik | am still progressive
enough, and have the stamina and
nerve, to stand and fight for what I
think Is right and for the best in
terests of the city and its people, [
ask you to give me your support,
not only at the primaries but also
at the election.