An Appeal to Reason.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12622, 19 November 1908, Page 7

An Appeal to Reason.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — About cix weeks's ago I wrote to you, urging the workers to stand by Mr Hogan during the political campaign. Now that one candidate has had to stand down, and a straight-out contest between Mr. Hogan and Mr Hutchison is about to take place, it behoves all true Liberals of all shades of opinion, to stand firm by the Liberal candidate at all costs, and give him such an overwhelming vote ais will cripple the local Tory party for years to come. Rarely has such a chance presented itself to the workers of Wanganui. On the one "hand stands Mr Hogan — a man whose politics are as straightforward, as they are progressive. On the other side stands Mr Hutchison, the representative of all that is undemocratic and reactionary, and who has no other object in life than to endeavour to join a party whose whole aim is to crush the only party — the Liberal party — which has ever endeavoured to raise the lot of the worker. Yesterday 4700 votes were cast for the two Liberal candidates, MP Hutchison polled 1854. If the Liberals who supported our worthy Mayor stand firm by the principles of their party, — and conscientiously they must do so — then they should unite forces with Mr Hogan and give him the greatest majority that Liberalism has ever received in Wanganui. Mr Hogan's supporters will stand, to him to a man because he deserves it; will Mr Mackay'e supporters rise to the occasion and help in routing a party which deserves defeat? It remains to be seen. Mr Mackay definitely announced that if defeated he would give his support to the other Liberal. Now is his time to give it. It goes without saying that everything that the local Conservatives can say or do to defeat the Progressive Liberal candidate will be said or done. Rarely does it happen that two such men as Messrs Hogan and Hutchison try conclusions. The fight is such a straight-out duel between all that is democratic and advanced on the one side, and all that 13 undemocratic and retrogressive on the other that it is to be hoped that the progressives will so unitedly work that the whole Liberal Part"- will block vote for Mr Hogan. If that is done and Mr Hogan secures 4700 to Mr Hutchison's 1854; the majority (2846) will so hit the Conservatives that they will cease to trouble and be at rest for years to come. That this result may eventuate is the wish of yours, etc.,

WALTER GREY.

18-11-08.