The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1914. THE MAYORAL CONTEST. .

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 4, 25 April 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1914. THE MAYORAL CONTEST. .

After the tone taken by Mr W. P. Kirkwood in ids address to the burgesses on Monday evening last it was not surprising to find that Mr X. J. King—the other candidate for Mayoral honors at the hands of the people of Stratford—should also assume a fighting attitude, and in defence of his character and position should put Ids ease with vigour and forcefulness. MiKing certainly had a large and sympathetic audience to listen to. him, and it did not appear difficult to convince his hearers that he was hardly so black as painted by the extremists who. are taking such an exceedingly hostile attitude towards the Electrical Supply Company. Why it has not occurred to certain highly respected and estimable citizens of this town that it is both foolish and ridiculous to make what amounts to straight-out charges of corruption against Mr X. J. King and other equally prominent and substantial men, in connection with the electric light business, is almost beyond comprehension. When a man’s interests in the Borough are large enough to compel him to contribute £lO or £SO a year in rates, it is hardly common-sense to suggest that he is going to do something altogether improper and seriously detrimental to the town’s welfare to benefit a concern in which he holds a paltry £SO worth;;,of shares. But this is by-the-way. Burgesses have heard both. Mr Kirkwood and Mr King on the muchvexed question, and will draw their own conclusions. What really remains to be considered is who will the ratepayers vote for? Both candidates have had experience of the Mayoral chair and both have good records. Both also have their personal following and friends, and ‘despite the windy assertions of street-corner politicians and the dark rumour# of this and that which always roar their heads at such times tha election, we believe, will be largely decided on personal lines, If

the electrical red-herring diverts some; from the truck of the followers of Mr ■ Kino to that of those who support -Mr 1 Kirkwood, a similarly odoriferous fish hearing the no-Liceuse brand may 1 beguile about as many more from the ! camp of our present Mayor’s supporters. Such side-issues certainly ought not to obtrude themselves, hut unfortunately they do, and the fact must! be accepted. This will, however, prob-’ ablv even up matters a good deal and the run should be a closer one than at first expected. There is, however, at least the fact that tiie bulk of the burgesses;,- who seldom bother about anything, have been aroused sufficiently by the heat of the contest to think a little about municipal matters, and that is a good thing. Was it not Charming who said: “The more discussion the better, if passion and personality be eschewed: and discussion, even if stormy, often winnows truth from error—a good never to be expected in an uninquiring age.”