Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1921-11-04
To the Voters of the City of Morris

10 the NOGSTS O1 Tic lily VI MOA14S'
At the solicitation of consider
able portion of the younger and mid
die aged tax payers and voters of
Morris l permitted nomination certifi-
Gates to be filed by them in my be-
half as a candidate for Mayor, which
nomination I accepted in full sympa-
thy with their desire of running
without any affiliations with factions
money interests, or gang politics, and
with a desire of assisting those peo-
pie back of my candidacy in further
developing the progress of the city
in the attractiveness of business and
beauty.
In so accepting l then anticipated
and now realize that most of the ex-
service men, laborers and independ-
ent men and women voters are in
favor of this movement. This is the
real issue of this campaign and if
successful assure you that each man
woman and child, whether rich or
poor, low or high, weak or mighty,
shall have equal and just considera-
ton with square deal for all and
special privileges to none, and if
elected, I will to the best of my abil-
ity, be the servant of no faction or
gang of trained politicians, but of
all the people.
I make no vote getting promises
| impossible of fullfillment such as cut
ting the taxes in two or reducing
same any substantial portion al
! though I feel every reasonable effort
! should be made to reduce the high
cost of living during this period of
readjustment and money stringen-
cy until we get again, if possible, on
pre-war basis, but it is also a fact a
city can not stand still-it must eth
er go forward or backward I
! favor progress safe and sane, in
keeping abreast with the spirit of
! the times by keeping labor employed
in making the necessary ultimate
public improvements during this per-
iod of unemployment.
The total mill tax levy for 1920
which is payable at the County Treas
urer's Office, was 70 mills, of which
the public school was 80 mills, the
county levy 1888 mills, the state 5.42
mills concerning which three items
the city commissioners have nothing
whatever to say. The remaining 1872
mills, which is little more than one
third of the total levy, is the city
mill tax out of which must be paid
interest on taxable Indebtedness now
amounting to $4,000 including the
$4,000 voted in 1919 by the people
for the municipal building and arm
DRY out of this must also be paid the
maintenance of the street lighting
system, the police department, the
fire department, the public library,
taking care of the streets, municipal
court, health department, salary of
the city manager and other city en-
ployees, and other incidentals to-
, gether with the paying of said in
debtness, which facts make it self-ev-
ident by simple mathematical calcu-
lation that the city officials, regard
less of who they might be, can not
cause taxes to be reduced but very
, little if any, and that if any, only on
: the loose ends. On this score I will
, and only honestly can, pledge 100
;, cents value for every dollar spent.
, +. There is also $4,000 balance of
water works certificates which are
paid by rentals received from the
users of the water, and also $46,O17.-
SIS special assessment certificates
: charged to and paid by AUDITING prop
erty which takes care Of sewers, side
, walks, curbs, cutters and paving Gin
Guiding main street paving which is
: S26,000), all of which improvements
= included in this item may be made
upon petition of not less than so pei
cent Of the owners owning not less
> than SO per cent of real estate to be
o affected. These certificates of in
r debtedness however in no manner af-
+ feet taxation, but l do believe such
= improvements should be econimically
! made and efficiency supervised.
Neither do 1 make any claims Of
causing the towns population to be
increased to 5000, believing that il
should and will have nothing more
t than it's natural, normal and legiti
S mate growth. Neither do l claim
n with honeyed words and alternating
e promises of making this a cleaner
f and more moral town, but do hon
o estly say, if elected, that to the bes
of my ability the laws will be en-