Evening journal., 1919-06-04
LYONS and GRIER
outline PLATFORM
Candidates Of Both Parties
Discuss Issues Before Tax
Defense League
MAYOR LAWSON WAS
UNABLE TO ATTEND

: at the city election attended a meet
ing OF the State Income Tax Defense
League at the Friendship Engine House
last night ami explained their position
on several matters OF importance 10
The citizens OF Wilmington. Other can
didatcs were unable TO attend because
Of the invitation arriving after they had
made previous engagements. \ letter
was read from Mayor Lawson express
: ing his regret al not being able TO al
) tend. as he was called out Of the city on
account OF a death in the family OF a
close friend.
The candidates who were present,
each OF whom addressed The league
members. were George T. Lyon. candl-
date for president OF Council; Elmer II.
klund. candidate for tax collector IN
the Northern district; Herman y. faulk-
lner. candidate for Council from the
second ward. and sumner Jones. Coun-
lcHmanic candidate iron ihe Third ward.
Republicans. and a Herman Grler,
candidate for presidcn. of Council; JOS
eph Thomas, candidate for Council from
the Eighth ward; Joan J. Mulyena,
candidate for Council from the Tenth
ward. add John j. SPORT Murray. can
didate Tor Council from the Twelfth
ward. Democrats. Messrs. Grier ana
Lyon, the president or Council candi-
dates, acted as the chief spokesmen OF
their respective parties.
II. u. BuGd who presided over inc
meeting. pointed Gus that the org9niza-
lion was neither Republican nor Demo
cratic, and had invited the candidates
10 be present 10 ascertain their views
upon subjects in which The League was
interested ana also TO get the c1ndi-
dates TO state the platforms upon
which they are running.
Mr.. Grier. who was The arst speaker
+. said he stood for efficient and eco
, nomic government with a square deal
for all regardless OF their STALLION ~
live. believing that the man IN the
streets digging trenches has the same
rights as the heads. Of corporations
Hc also took q decided stand In favor
Of publicity for all c0icial business.
Il am very much m favor Of Tho
open door policy" be declared 80
public business should be transacted
behind closed doors. ] know what am
talking about. Through my exbcTience
as a newspaper man during the past
thirty-nine years. have been in close
touch with City Council and the Legis-
1ature. and know how they make
laws and how they try TO fool The poo
pie.
Il believe that every public official
. should take the public into his con
ndeuce. don't care what kind OF
business IL is, public business is not
private business and .hc public should
be informed OF what Is going on. That
is my personal platform
Afr. Grier stid he had always strongly
. advocated a river frons and enumerated
some Of the many advantages the city
would derive from such an improve
ment. lie strongly favored more rep
resentation for Wilmington In the Leg
islature. saying this city should have
at least twice its present representa-
! ton. lie thought the working people
were already paying enough tax, and
that the income tax law was therefore
lunfair. Mr.. Grier described In detail
lust now the tax law had been passed
BY the 1917 Legislature, and wliy, The
clause exemptlng garmers had been IN
cluded at that time The question or
making Wilmington a separate county
was one that he believed could be
argued pro and con, pointing out mat
Wilmington had no lght with rural
New Castle county and that the mis-
understanding that did exist was win
Kent and Sussex.
Mr.. Lyon spoke next. lie remarked
that when be came TO the meeting he
did not know that he would have TO
serve i'm the capacity OF mayor, point
] In h- al "a
mayor the president Of Council served
in his place. so far as my record IN
CITY Council is concerned. he said Il
don't think the working people have
any fear as 10 where ! stand. / am
working man myself and have been
connected with the labor movement for
thirty years. ! never make any pledges
as to what shall do. as ! always want
10 be free TO use my own judgment.
could not stand on this floor and make
a pledge The only pledge ever made
was to look after the interests OF all
the people OF Wilmington
Mr.. Lyon said that the present Coun-
lcn would do something with regard 10
the river front and predicted action
would be taken before the first OF July
which would start work upon this pro-
iect. lie favored making Wilmington a
separate county. declaring there is just
as much reason for Wilmington 10 be a
separate county as for the city Of Phil
delphia 10 be a county, and then the
city would derive the benefit Of all taxes
psid by It's citizens lie said ne has
not paid his income tax and doesn't in
tend TO pay il until decision has been
handed down, because he believes It to
be Illegal. He also believes the marsh
lands on the river front should be placed
on the assessment list, pointing out
that the revenue derived from that
source would enable the tax rate on
real estate in the city to be reduced.
Representative Mulvena gave an in
teresting description OF his effort In
the Legislature TO have the income tax
law amended and told how diflcult IL
was for the Wilmington representatives
lin the Legislature TO accomplish any
thins even though the Republican and
Democratic members from Wilmington
ioined forces in the interest Of bills
beneficial 10 the city Mr. Muivena also
favored the river front proposition and
outlined his platform for better streets,
better parks and other things 10 make
Wilmington a better place TO live In.
Similar addresses. all expressing a
desire TO aid Wilmington and the peo-
pie living therein, were made by
Messrs. Klund. Murray. Thomas.
Jones and Faulkner The candidates
were thanked for attending the meet
ing OF the organization.
Chairman Rudd. In referring TO the