Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1924-06-06

puTtndSe ol pdthS OH lHc west etuN'
Ii was openly stated to voters that
land would be purchased, and appar-
entity many of those who were victims
of the propaganda, took no time to
learn the truth.
The money would have been used,
as the Review pointed out, for the
purchase of equipment on grounds al
ready in use, and in paying competent
persons to direct the children's play.
1t was suggested that the movement
was being backed by a large cor
poration dealing in equipment for
children's play. This bait, adroitly
expressed so as to stamp a false sug-
gestion into the minds of voters, was
evidently swallowed by many, regard
less of the apparent fact that no cor
poration could have anything TO do
with the selection of equipment, and
could in no manner direct the local
board in the purchase of such equip
ment. The bait was a subtle sugges-
tion that graft would dominate the
purchase of such equipment. Churches
were reported to have taken q stand
against the proposal, and ministers
wara sanastaa - a".s- r-i--'.~@ 'h1' =
DdTlSlllDf1tIS " fbtt akhihSN VIZ
proposition.
Voters did not think in analyzing
the propaganda, that only half a
dozen lots. at most could be purchased
in any quarter of the city; yet they
| swallowed the argument that the com
mittee proposed to purchase PARK
site with $4,000. The ridiculous
| phase of such propaganda apparently
! did not occur to many OF the voters
who gave the matter no thought. Thus
were people guided by impressions
adroitly fixed in their minds.
The tax proposition was another
wall of the objectors. 1t was made Ia
appear that tax of l-3 mills on the
dollar would mean an increase that
people could not bear, while one OF
the wealthy advocates Of the plan
showed that the increase in his taxes
would amount to but $500 a year, and
this figure is actually far above what
the increase would mean 70 any but
those of comparatively large wealth
Opposition Well Directed.
Apparently the only organized BODY
appealing for adoption of the measure
was the Twin City Federation OF
Labor. Through the news and edi-
torial policy of The Review a large
number of the laboring vote was re-
corded in favor of the plan. The
| News Gazette was opposed to the
plan from the start and took an edi-
torial Stand against 1t and with It's
large circulation succeeded In IN
| fluencing the ballots of many.
The city council advised against
the proposal from the opening of the
campaign, stating that it had Other
important projects which were more
in demand in beautifying the city
one of which is the widening of Uni
versity avenue east of the Illinois
| Central tracks.
The council proposed public i'm.
provements that members of the coun.
ell believe will mean more to the
business interests of the city and It's
general attractiveness.
In the midst of the campaign q
visionary project of purchasing a
large area for park purposes was
thrown into the contest and made to
appear more plausible, though tax
payers of the city were apparently
aware that such project cannot Dc
| put over until the present rate ol
! taxation is reduced.
Defeat Attributed to Lethargy.
The small vote, combined with the
inaction of practically every member
of the supervised play committee is
directly responsible for the defeat
thinks Mr.. Schuler, promoter OF tne
plan. Apparently, according to ms
view, the mammoth park program
which was thrust into the campaign
resulted in breaking the spirit and
interest of the most prominent mem
bers of the committee, Mr.. Schulel
declares that one of the committee
who was enthusiastic in support OF
the plan at first, turned out to bt
one of its chief opponents when tht
campaign was on.
Following the first report which IN
dicated that the cause had been losi
by only 81 votes when City Clerl
Pearman reversed the vote in the sec
ond precinct through an error, a plar
was started TO contest the election
Few committeeman, however, favored
a contest, preferring to inaugurate,
movement to place the question on th'
Il ral Glapffnn