The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-12-31

Surprised Everybody by Defeating Party
Candidates Eccentric Newspaper
Advertising Brings Him Success and
Notoriety Before He Entered Politics.
YOUNGSTOWN. O.. Dec 31-George
/ l.. Oles. Youngstown 5 spectacular may
or-elect. arrived home recently from a
vacation in Florida ready he said to
clean up the city, and fire anyone
who doesn t obey orders when he takes
office next Sunday.
Oles made political history here by
running as an Independent candidate, de-
feating the Republican incumbent by
over 500 votes and the Democratic can
d.date by over 5000. The city auditor
received a request from Oles ii Florida
asking for a thorough invoice - of the
city Just as if | were going to buy it. ''
Start In Business.
Oles went into the produce business in
New Castle Pa, - years ago with a
wheelbarroW anu a barrel OF potatoes
a. his sole Stock III trade. After he had
built Up a fiourishing business there In
i've years time he sold it 10 start a mar
Eet IN ouugStowH. to be run on what
he called psychological principle. Oles
began presenting eccentric newspaper adj
Nerslsiag. based. he says, on Billy sun
day : evaueGlistic tactics, which he had
seen in New Castle. Slam bang state.
ments about women 5 styles, his compel
itors, local politics and current topics
soon won him Il reputation.
Started As A Joke. .....
During the mayoralty campaign Oles
announced in his lad - one day that he
was going TO run for mayor.
II gust started it for Joke. = he said
later. - But people took II seriously
and pretty soon / took il seriously too. -
At length .0les moved into a loungs-
town hotel from his country home, 10
Establish a legal residence, and began to
give oungstown its most spectacular
political campaign. There was no or
ganZatiOn by precincts and wards, but
he and his wife held meetings all over
the city-meetiugs for women only at
which Mrs. Oles told what a fine hus-
band and father Mr., Oles is. and meet
ings for men at which Mr.. OleS rushed
on the platform with arms in air, shout
ing, =. Here | am Vote for Oles!
Bets Himself \ Vacation.
Few persons professed to believe that
Oles had q chance until the returns be-
gan to come in election night. Next day
a check on admissionSa by various men
who had challenged Oles w wagers
Drought out the fact that by taking all
bets he could make enough to paw his
campaign expenses and we himself and
his family trip to Florida.
At various times during the campaign
Oles announced the fouowing platform
planks:
Discoutinuance of street car service.
and turning over the streets to iitneys.
Firing the whole nolice force if it
didn t clean up the town.
Permit spooning IN parks under po-
lice protection.
Jail anyone who paid taxes under a re-
cent revaluatiop.
Tear up the Erie railroad 5 tracks if
ii didn I eliminate down town grade
crossings
After his election. however, there were
thar Oles was considering
uolicicS. Questioned about
= firing various officials whom he had
named in the campaign he said he would
fave TO inquire into the law Concern
in the street car plank he said that
the traffic problem was knotty, and re
nuired a great deal of stud-'. Asked as
to falling taxpayers. he said after cleo
ton that he would iail anyone who
ls"oke the law