Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1915 — Erhardt Wuerthner Writes Again on Subsidy Proposition. [ARTICLE]

Erhardt Wuerthner Writes Again on Subsidy Proposition.

Rensselaer, Ind., May 6, 1915. Editor Democrat:—-In looking over the Republican of the 23d of last month, there appears an article signed by Charley Parks, saying that there are no backsliders in Newton township on the Interurban subsidy. Our friend seems to try to carry Weight by signing his name as assessor of Newton township, a little office that many boys who have passed the Bth grade could well fill. Mr. Parks seems to have forgotten that the people of Newton have elected him assessor, and not, agent for the Northwestern Traction Company, for which he seems to spend a great share of the time. Now, in looking over our friend’s article it, appears to me that Charley has again signed his name to something without reading it, for which t signing) he seems to have a mania. Do not believe, our friend f knowning him as well as, I do) is able to master such an article. it appears to me that, the same Per son th at se ntth a t dirty ’ ana r chisth; article to the Republican, that people that have convictions of their own that differ with some contributors, are rattlesnakes, skunks and a lot of other dirty names, has again contributed to the Republican, and our friend Charfey O. K.’d same. If our friend will look through his trunk, which is no doubt full of such trash, no doubt he will find a mask, dirk, sawed off shotgun and othei valuable articles, that are becoming to his boasting self. Was surprised that Brother Healey printed such an article, as we had a better opinion of him, than to think he would stoop so low to throw dirt that way, - Brother Healey can not help but know that a great, number of his readers in Newton township have no money to throw at private corpora tions, and are opposed to this enterprise from a business standpoint,

and resent being called rattlesnake:-, etc. . ■. ' Brother Healey should also know that we bring to the altar our little offering ($1.50) to get the news and not to have the paper assail us. Let us act as men, friends and neighbors, and not as trouble-mak-ers, although we may differ on this question as we have differed on others before. Now, setting all the above aside, let us give Mr. (assessor) Parks credit for what he has written or signed. He seenis to have it in for the seven backsliders that The Democrat mentioned who would not vote tfpr the subsidy after Signing the petition. That there are backsliders, (as he calls them,) none knows better than Mr. Parks, and all the elders sand saints of Newton’s Private Spirited church cannot dictate to them how they shall vote, and his (Park’s) article is simply being published to offset the strong feeling that is springing up all over the township, against giving $15,000 to build four little miles of a little road. Has he ever thought that this $15,000, after being placed on the road, may be the means by which said company may get a loan, thereby swelling our private donation greatly?

I have talked to four signers ana was very plainly told that they were simply asked to help get the election, and that no one had any strings on them; that they were for the road but strong against the subsidy and would vote and work against same. One signer told me that he told the parties that were circulating the petition, that he would vote against the subsidy, - —• Have also heard from othep signers, and have it straight, that they are (rattlesnakes) opposed to and would vote against the subsidy. Our friend knows that freeholders signed, with the intention of simply giving the promoters a chance, and that they feel perfectly free to vote as they please. . Mr. Parks told me with his own mouth that he felt perfectly- free to vote as he saw fit, and advised others (one in particular from the south of the township) to sign as it did not bind them as to their voting. Should our friend have read his article before signing it and then thought how- he had talked in the near past, he no doubt would not have O. K.’d such a ridiculous artilce. ■ I do not wish to take up too much space of our good editor's paper, but will mention a few facts: We are all for the road, and if the company should build it, will do all we can for same in the future, but to ask us tp buy part or all of same and turn it over to private parties later —-‘ Nix ”, we are not that kind of a bunch of fools.

We have not even heard of the company estimating the cost of the road; if We are asked .to vote two per cent ,why not 25 per cent or 50 per cent? Would like to tell but have not the time, about that $15,000 that will bring but a small per cent back in taxes. Would like to tell about voting the Monon SIB,OOO when the future for a road looked bad. Every person that, hunted a market then had to travel to Remington or Goodland over muddy roads dotted with ponds, while how we have a steam road on both sides, of our township. Cen we not have a little breathing spell? Have we not got an abundance pf taxes? Have we not built ditches and roads ’till our financial strength almost breaks? Have we not had a drought just passed, that left most every farmer poorer than he was the year before? Have we not heard that the north and south would like to have stone roads, and that petitions to vote a tax are talked of in both locations’. Have we not heard that the upper Iroquois needs cleaning, and a petition also will soon be circulated to accomplish same? These latter improvements should be made and are not PRIVATE improvements. ~ Is there a tenant in the township that has any guarantee that he may be here any length of time after the road is completed and has swallowed up his Free Offering?

Let us think, and think hard. I do not believe that in the north or south of the township, there is a man that favors the road that feels like voting more burden on the many to benefit a few.. To all apeparances there will be the greatest uprising of “rattlesnakes” on the 26th of this month that was ever heard of and our assessor friend and our friend in the center will be compelled to fall on

their knees and say: “Be merciful unto us misrepresentors.” t~ As our boys faced the Spanish guns at Santiago they cheered each other by shouting: “Remember tlje Maine.” Let Newton township boys when entering the voter’s booth think silently for himself, "Remem« ber the Match Factory.”

E. WUERTHNER.