Hammond Times, Volume 8, Number 38, Hammond, Lake County, 1 August 1913 — Page 7

Fridav, August 1, 1913.

THE TIMES.

VOTE

FOR.

iji 1 1,111 ?a Muti 1 1 - f 1 ' ' '

We judge most everybody by past performances. A man without a public record is an experiment which is likely to be costly to the public. I stand pat on my record and I ask the voter to judge the future by the past, so I pledge myself to the following platform which is a positive, not a negative declaration of the principles upon which I stand before the Democrats of Hammond today. 1. In the event of my nomination and election I pledge myself to a progressive administration of the affairs of the city of Hammond. I will be governed in my action by the good of the city, the wishes of the majority of my fellow citizens and not by the dictations of any political boss or bosses. I am open to conviction in all things and seek the counsel and advice of all who have the good of the city at heart. I owe nothing to the public utility corporations of the city. I expect to treat them all with exact justice and in return I expect the city to reap the benefit in improved service. Should they fail in this respect the democratic party has provided an excellent public utility commission to which I will appeal in the interests of the citizens of the community. I do not propose to needlessly harrass any corporation or public utility" and my record shows that I have always safeguarded the interests of the city against these corporations. 2. I am in favor of the municipal ownership of all public utilities, particularly the water works, the gas and electric plant and the ice plants, but I believe that the acquisition of other utilities should wait until the water works system is made adequate and the state constitution is amended to provide for an increase in the limit of indebtedness. 3. I propose to keep the police and fire departments and all other municipal departments in their present high state of efficiency. If changes are made they will be made in the interests of public good and not in the interests of my political future. 4. I believe in the acquisition of additional land for parks while land is cheap, but before any such land is acquired I will insist on the improvement of the valuable park property which thecity now owns. An unimproved park, like the miser's hoard, is of no benefit to anybody. I favor the adoption of a definite plan for the development of the city so that its building may be orderly and the construction of city improvements may be done intelligently. . 5. I propose to direct the conduct of the affairs of the city on a business basis. The system which I inaugurated as city comptroller requiring the making of annual budgets, my insistence that the accounting be properly done and the conciliation bf full reports from all departments will remain a feature of my administration. 6. Hammond is an orderly city. It is a law-abiding city. Decent citizens are satisfied with the manner in which laws have been enforced. And yet no one has complained of the enforcement of blue laws. Personal liberty has not been curtailed. This will continue to be the policy of the administration in the event of my election. 7. Hammond has grown because of its industries. My policy will continue to be liberal towards them. I will endeavor to encourage the investment of foreign capital in Hammond to the end that assessed valuation may be increased and the city may have additional funds for its use. 8. Public improvement contracts will be awarded to the lowest or best bidder. The public shall be its own judge of the character of the improvements installed unless the community selection shall conflict with the standardization of improvements made in the interests of the general good. No particular contractor ever has been or ever will be favored above any others by me or the members of this administration who are responsible to me for their acts. 9. I am for a Greater Hammond and pledge four of the best years of my life to making this city the center f commerce, industry and prosperity in the Calumet district. Adv.

MMN Do M ALLEY

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