The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-02-29

III hhtG AlhiAN w otds W. tbiN Aiit
Cumberland voters this week.
The candidate. IS years old. is
making vigorous campaign out
side OF his working hours and
e.a'as that he is rrcnivinp enrour-
agement and support from many
OF his friends and old time work
ing companions Of his railroad
days.
Sure. l am working for q liy-
ing" nc said this week. and ! am
quite surprised that efforts should
be made to use that fact against
me. I have worked all my lie
and It comes quite natural to me.
Proud Of Work
Mr. Harper. now employed at
the Medical Building also says. Il
am proud also to be working for
such outstanding medical men as
Doctors Hawkins. Graccy. HODGES.
Owens and Robinson. ] have often
talked and heard mention of hon
est toll.
His previous employment on
the Western Maryland Railway
brought him into contact with
many people. lie has a record
of twenty years with the
company. twenty-fOur of which
were spent rs locomotive engin-
Ger and. during the government
operation of the road during the
war period nc served rs foreman
of road engineers.
Honest John"
Rather tall. OF spare frame and
very deliberate in his talk he was
dubbed Honest John" and some
times Honest Abe" by the men
who worked with him. and under
him.
He has lived in Cumberland for
forty years and has watched with
interest the growth of the commu-
nifty. But. 1t has TO grow more
and there are many things needed
to accompany and encourage this
growth" he says. Il have some
very definite ideas on the subject.
That is why / decided TO run for
Mayor. because II is that position
where the lead must come from. :"
Mr.. Harper has a wife and two
grown daughters. His wife is act
i've in the Ladies Auxiliary Of the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive En-
gineers and also in the affairs Of
the Bedford Street Methodist
Church. Mr.. Harper also is active
in church circles and sings every
Sunday in the choir.
A Family Man
His daughter June is employed
at the Celanese plant and she is
not averse to letting the curious
know that she follows her fathers
footsteps and carries a union card
In the CelaneSe workers union.
Another daughter. Katherine is
employed at the c. & p. Telephone
Company and has ten years
service pin for continuous en-
ployment.
Both Mrs. Harper and his
daughters are Loyalty agreeing
that the candidate will make a
good Mayor and are supporting
his campaign.
The candidate was questioned
on reports that his candidacy
made primary necessary. Well
he said. II understand that the
primary costs were levied and
raised from the current taxes and
that If they had not been used for
such a purpose they would have
been used in other election work.
/ am no more responsible for the
primary than is Mayor Irvine. He
had every opportunity TO with
draw If he desired TO save a pri-
mary campaign. The same also
applies to the sitting City Com
miSsioners.
"The voters are entitled 10 have
the right to express their prefer
ence in primary campaign. That
is why the law provides for 1t and
why the tax levy included such
costs"
ONE "f The .:::.:. ;ss"es said
the candidate. is the present
city financial affairs. 1.-THE local
Tax Research Association this
week called for public account
Ing of all funds. They say that
this was promised them some
time ago. There is a lot of loose
talk going around on financial
matters and II should be settled
now before the voters make
their choices. Are the city fl
nances sound or unsound? Well.
an examination and production
of the records will show.
Fair to All
There is also present in the
city an air of hostility among
groups of the people. My position
Is that every individual citizen
and every separate group in Cum
berland has rights and privileges.
The businessman. the working
man. the church organizations all
have their own common ends. The
Il