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About Ashland tidings. (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1912)
PAGE SIX ASHLAXD TIDINGS Thursday, December 12, 1012. ffUR Christmas Present to the people is given w this season in the way of a cash discount on every pair of Shoes in our store for every member of the family. fjm.i m ,amnr-mwm.m mini - P. mm, ui i )n.im'in uwmi H-aw ilffil 8 M i vLU 1 Iwl I Exclusive Voters ot Ashland, Stop (Continued from Page One.) charter should he amended. And the charter cau bo amended only by a majority vote of the city electors. If that matter were under consideration, then the article of Mr. Throue might be in point. The Meeting That Nominated. Referring to the article as to the meeting iu the Commercial Club room of about two score citizens, at the time I was nominated. Such ar ticle seems to be "AN OUTBURST" on the part of some person or per sons trying to give vent to some spleen, and who were ashamed to aign their names, lie or they knew that they were using the art of the demagogue merely to furnish the un thoughtful with some morsel as a campaign argument. If that were not so, why did they not mention the names of all the citizens present, in stead of the names of three candi dates, together with the names of two other gentlemen? It plainly proves in itself that the writer of that article wished to cast an asper sion on Councilman Butler, Recorder Hurt and Mr. Briggs, aud that he did it with no other design. The article is unfair, deceptive, aud unjust. None of the parties mentioned, unless it be Mr. Malone, has any stock or interest in the Siskiyou company whatever. o Friend of the Siskiyou Company. For the information of the public I would state that no persons hi the city of Ashland were more indignant at the action of the Siskiyou com pany in raising the lighting rates than were G. S. Butler and K. I). ISriggs, referred to in that article, and both Mr. Butler and Mr. Briggs at that time wrote the officers of the Siskiyou company that their acts in raising the rates was unjust and was contrary to the agreement made be tween said company and the officers tf the city at the time the city bought of that company the lands and riparian rights along Ashland creek. The letters were published in one of our local papers and perhaps in both at that time, and we must certainly brand that article as an in sinuating falsehood designed to . prejudice people against the said par ties, and it was an unfair and dis honest trick, and every one that knows the true situation will cer tainly agree with me. Shoe Store City lU'corder Hurt Efficient and Friend of Municipal Plant. We all know that there has not been, in the history of the city of Ashland, a more competent, thor ough and reliable City Recorder than Joseph Hurt. We all know that if there is any man in the city of Ash land that has used his best efforts to make the city lighting system a success and free it from imposition, unnesessury expenses and graft, that luiin is Record jr Hurt, and certainly some enemy of his must have been instrumental in bringing up such a false issue. Briggs -Never Aided Hut Always Fought the Siskiyou Company. The article as well as the argu ments bandied about in whispered conversations and other devious methods, insinuate that I would play into the hands of the Siskiyou com pany. They know better. They know that in all of the litigation be tween the city of Ashland and the Siskiyou company for the past seven years or more, and in several impor-. tant suits, that I have represented the city of Ashland as its counsel. And they further know that in each of such suits the city has been suc cessful. Friend of Municipal Plant. Some have said that I was opposed to the city lighting plant. I answer this by saying that as the trusted counsel of the Mayor and Common Council, I for months contested in the courts of Oregon in behalf of the city electric plant and helped to make the construction of that plant a possibility. I even wrote articles which were published in the local pa pers urging the citizens of Ashland to patronize the home plant and show their loyalty to the city, and I was one of the first to make a con tract to take electric current from the city plant, and now some of these "self-styled" advocates of the city lighting system attempt to take upon themselves full credit for accom plishments which they, in their im practical way, could never have ac complished. The Fi-ohbach lleport. I am accused of circulating a sub scription list to raise the money to have the finances of the electric light plant experted. I admit the charge. I wanted to know the actual facts, and I wanted the -people of the city to know them. Some had asserted that the reports made by city em- I ployes were garbled. The lighting 'plant Is an enterprise belonging to All Ladies' genuine Patents, Tans and m button and lace Ladies reg. $450 400 3.50 3.00 Ladies' Felt Slippers 95c to $1.45 We are showing the most elegant line of felt slippers with and without fur trimming in popular shades such as black, blue, red, wine, gray, brown and purple. Boy's, Misses', F u,5, yj- children'sshoes &J They arc all solid leather and are guaranteed tor wear, workman ship and fit. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas the people of the city of Ashland, and the people were entitled to know the facts. I am furthermore pleased to state that in circulating the said sub scription, every person I asked was willing to give his mite for such pur pose regardless of his views as to the issue of additional bonds. I did not then know what the expert report might be; we merely wanted the facts. The report has been made and I am pleased to see that It has ex cited the city officers and employes to come forth and express themselves fairly and give the people a chance to judge for themselves. There can be no question but that the voters of the city are now better able to vote intelligently than they would have been had the usual silence been maintained. Certainly no one who is in favor of a square deal can find fault with that. The Bond Issue. I have stated and I now state tflat as I view the matter I will be obliged to vote against the additional elec tric light bonds. I am willing that the people should know my position, whether it results in either a gain or a loss of votes for me at the coming election. In my judgment I have what I consider good reasons for vot ing against the additional bond issue. I will state my reasons, and I ask the public to have the same respect for my views as they would have for the views that do not accord to my own. First The matter of the water rights of the city of Ashland is now pending in the courts. The testi mony has been taken, and perhaps within the next few months the courts will have decided just what those lights are. Such decision may not give to Ashland ALL the waters of Ashland creek, but when given we will have to abide by the decree of the courts. When that decree is made then we will know our exact position, and when our actual rights are determined then we can act intel ligently, and what is done can be done for permanency aud with safety, but until that time It is unwise, in my judgment, to incur' a consider able expense in installing a plant that through the decision of the court might become useless and of no value to the city. Danger for Water Users. Second As one patron who uses water from the upper water system, and as one who In the past has keen ly felt the need of water to Irrigate lawn and garden, I am fearful, not withstanding the statements of the city experts, In some of whom I have aoodyear welts in Calf Leathers, both styles. shoes, Hpiicd.ay $3.90 3.40 2.95 2.60 44 ntn JJMCI SEEING IS great confidence, that we who live along the upper system will in the future suffer still more from the scarcity of water in case water shall ue taken from the upper system and discharged at the intake of the iower system for the running of the pro posed auxiliary-plant. I cannot see how It can be otherwise. Health of People Endangered. Third For several years 1 have been fearful as to the purity of the water in the lower water system. It has 'always seemed to me that the lower intake is not where it ought to be. It ought to be extended farther up the creek, and above the belt of the farm lands which sooner or later will be subject to irrigation and seepage water will percolate into the reservoir of the lower system, and furthermore it should certainly be extended to a point above the Prater property, where the leachings from the old barnyard and outbuildings soon mix with the water that passes Into the lower system. The intake of the lower system must be extend ed up the creek to a point above the Prater property. The health of the people of the city depends upon it. The State Board of Health will cer tainly require it to be done, and should it be done, then an auxiliary power plant erected at the present reservoir at the lower system will be useless and its cost will be wasted. This point I wish to emphasize more emphatically for the reason that the trouble "has already begun and we have now perhaps a dozen cases of typhoid fever in our city, and instead of voting these bonds at the present time it seems to me that it would comport more to the benefits of the city and the health of Its Inhab itants, and even to the saving of life, If our city fathers would engage without delay In effecting a remedy for the condition that confronts us. I dislike to be thus plain, but it is right that the people should under stand the situation. I know the Ash land canyon nearly as well as I know my home place, and I wish that the people of the city would try to In form themselves by going up the can yon and not trust to the gaining of knowledge second hand. People Deckle inncers Must Obey. But whether I am in favor of the bonds or not makes but one vote dif ference In the result. The people de cide by a majority vote whether or no the bonds shall Issue and it will be the duty of the city officers-elect to follow the Instructions given by such vote. And let me assure you All Men's dress and heavy shoes in all leathers, button and lace styles. Here are a few of our prices. Mens Boots, reg. 44 M en s 44 44 tress snoes 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 MEN'S SLIPPERS-Our stocK to $1.45, is complete, both in V i; WiOLUUlMl regular tops BELIEVING that should the bonds be voted, and I, elected as Mayor, there will be no expenditure in excess of the bond is sue in the construction of any auxil iary plant. Fire Protection. I believe it is absolutely necessary that we should have better protec tion against fire. I believe that if an auto fire engine can be found that can be 6afely trusted to climb our hills, that such protection will be the most efficient, safe, and sanitary. I believe the fire boys should be given the opportunity of testing any engine purchased, and the responsi bility as to the selection entrusted to them and their decesion respected. I am in favor of those bonds. Lower Taxes Inijicrative. Fourth I believe the people of this city have all the burdens they should be called upon to bear until they have had time to recover from the immense drain for the taxes and special assessments of the past year and from the taxes and special as sessments soon to become due. They should not be imposed upon by hav ing to bear still heavier burdens, and, furthermore, I am not willing to in vest much more in public utilities unless the management of them can be removed from the influence of politics and isms and placed in the hands of some carefully selected commission freed from the influence of city politics. I believe that with " 1 fTOST stores get a much y larger profit on their lull Christmas goods than on other lines, but FERGUS ON'S BARGAIN STORE is sat istied with their usual small profit. $8.00, 7m Holiday Price 44 $7.20 6.30 5.50 495 440 3.40 2.95 2.60 6.00 5.50 5.00 4.00 3.50 3.00 44 I 44 in men's slippers, 60c leather and felt styles. rugft tops and SEBI These are Cash Prices Only 5231 a proper utility commission the elec tric light plant and the city water plant might be made to pay hand some dividends to the city, but they can never be made to do so an long as the management depends on po litical preference. License or Xo License. The license or no license question is to be voted upon, and the VOTE must decide the question of salobns or no saloons, and if a majority vote for the saloons then license will have to issue regardless of the views of the Mayor or the City Council on that question. But if license is de feated, as undoubtedly it will be, then there can be no license issued, regardless of the state of mind of the Mayor and Council. Any officer elect must take an oath of office, and is bound under his oath, and I have no thought but that every nominee before the people, if elected, will live up to that oath in every respect. It seema ridiculous to me that any fair minded person could think otherwise. In view of the above It seems use less for me to declare my position on that matter. But, that there may be no misunderstanding on the part of either a dry or a wet voter, I will say that if the people vote NO LI CENSE, then there MUST not be, and will not be any "blind pigs" in Ashland, if I have to work night and (Continued on Page Seven) r t t 1 i mi 1 1 1 1 r i n 1 1 1 1 in 1 1 1 n h