Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1908 — OUR HUSBAND IS A CANDIDATE [ARTICLE]

OUR HUSBAND IS A CANDIDATE

Monon News Editress Proclaims Her Husband’s Virtues and Aids In Campaign. Mrs, J. L. Peetz, the editress or as she says the editor-ess of the Monon News, Is the wife of a candidate for state office, her husband being after the republican nomination for state statistician, and Mrs Peetz, as a good wife should do, comes forth In her newspaper of last week and exploits his many good virtues, and her article is here reproduced: We, the editor-ess, didn’t know very much about politics when we joined hands with our better half and made a solemn vow to stand by him through thick and thin, and to lend a hand at the rough places to help him across. We don’t know much about politics yet, but we have always tried to remember and to be faithful to our sacred pledge; and as we see one of the rough places looming up in the not distant future, we are Impelled to say something—- . make an effort at least to smooth the way and make the rough places passable. And though we realise the probability that our powers are nihil and that the efforts will produce a zero effect, still we are constrained to show our willingness and our eagerness to be the helpmate in this as in lesser matters. We refer, as any indlanian who reads this article has no doubt surmised, to the nomination desired by our husband at the coming Republican State Convention for the office of State Statistician. We have always believed, and we think a majority of the people believe, that the considerations in selecting and electing men for public offices, should be their knowledge of and experience In the work to be undertaken, their ability to perform the work and their moral worth. On ,-.a scale of 1 to 100, we would grade Mr. Peetz in all these branches 99. First, as to knowledge, and experience,which go hand in hand and promote each other: Mr. Peetz* experience In statistical work has extended over a period of six years and eleven months with the Government Bureau at Washington, D. C., about half of which time he was in the field engaged in gathering data for statistics on manufactures, marriages, divorcees, mines, mining, electric lights and electric railways, spending more than a yedr In Indiana in the work for the government. The remaining half of the nearly 7 years, he spent in the office inWashington, in helping to compile the statistics gathered by himself and the other field agents. Mr. Peetz resigned his position as government clerk, which resignation took effect Jan. 1, 1907, to enter upon similar duties for the state of Indiana, as chief deputy of the state statistician, which place he held until about the middle of October last, when he retired by voluntary resignation, for the purpose of entering the race for the nomination for head of the State Bureau. This latter appointment was not sought by Mr. Peetz but was made by the statistician upon the recommendation of Governor Hanly, who has known Mr. Peetz intimately since their boyhood. So much for experience in, and consequent knowledge of, the work, and we may say also, so much for ability to perform the work, as such service would net.be retained and demanded during almost eight years if ability did not make itself manifest throughout. Last but not least, his moral, worth: There is an old saying that a certain sentiment* to which the human heart and soul are susceptible, la blind. Be that as it may, during the years of our acquaintance with Mr. Peets, the day has never dawned within which we have hnown him to commit any act or deed unworthy a true man. He is entirely free from the little vices, the use of tobacco in any form, profanity, or any form of intoxicating liquors. He is clear and clean, mentally, morally, physically, and politically. He would acorn to do even the slightest injury to a fellow being, and is ever ready to lend a helping hand to a needy one. He would sacrifice dollars rather than appropriate rents about which there might be any question as to his right. Now we have made several statements, statements based upon our somewhat lees than a score of years* acquaintance with Mr. Peets. We invite Investigation of the truth of these statements, by interviewing persons whose acquaintance with him dates back more than a score of years. Perhaps it may appear that we should

feel something of- a delicacy in using the columns of the News for the purpose for which we are using them, but we feel nothing of the kind. Mr. Peetz is our husband. As noted in the beginnlg, we have ever tried to remember and to be faithful to the vow made at the marriage altar, and we feel that we would be falling did we not In this paper, which In part reflects ourself, make known our standing on this question. In the beginning we were somewhat opposed to Mr. Peetz entering the campaign. But he is now, and we are with him, heart and soul. The nights will never be too dark nor the mud too deep for us to go on foot and out of our way if by so doing we can gain him a vote. To be sure, if defeat comes to us, and there is always such a possibility, why, the state statistician’s office is not the only thing In life worth living for.