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About Will Maupin's weekly. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1911-1912 | View Entire Issue (April 14, 1911)
ROBERT MALONE'S CANDIDACY Some Interesting Facts About the Man Who is the Democratic Candidate For Mayor of the City of Lincoln HAS MADE GOOD IN THE SERVICE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC The First City Official to Demand a Dollar Gas Ordinance A Working man Who Has Made His Own Way Upward The story of Robert Malone's life is the story of a man who has made good, both as a servant of the public in official capacity, and as a business man. And this success has been achieved by his own unaided effort without the help of friendly interests with coroporation tendencies and often in spite of their determined opposition. Mr. Malone cheer fully admits his limitations. His life has been a constant struggle, and if he lacks some of that thin veneer that many people are pleased to call "polish," the lack is due to opportunity. If he lacks that higher educa he has the excuse that he has always been so busy earning an honest livelihood that he did not have time to acquire the aforesaid education. But if fidelity to every trust reposed in him, honesty in every business transaction, unswerving fidelity to friends and strict regard for the rights and interests of others if these things are to be taken into account in making the proper estimate of men, then Robert Malone's friends are quite willing to submit to having him measured with his fellows. Whatever else "Bob" Malone may lack, he has never been accused of lacking sympathy with those who have to toil, nor has he ever been accused of playing the game any other way than square. He has made a name for himself in the business world, and in the making he has not trampled upon others. He has not achieved vast wealth, but while making an honest living and mayhap a little more than a living he at least has not deprived others by so doing. The only objections so far heard against "Bob" Malone as a candidate for mayor are that he lacks "culture;" that he lacks those refining elements that might enable him, did he possess them, to give a more polished welcome to those who may congregate in Lincoln upon occasion. There may be valid objections -to some. But no one has ever impugned his record for sterling honesty. No one has ever dared to accuse him of having betrayed a trust reposed in him. Mr. Malone has been a resident of Lincoln for thirty years, coming here when Lincoln was a village and he scarcely more than a boy. His life here is an open book. He has served the city in several capacities, and always with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constit uents. He served in the council for ten years. In connection with his councilmanic record a bit of history may be apropos at this time: On January 23, 1899, Councilman Mockett introduced an ordin ance making $1.35 per thousand feet the maximum charge for gas. Councilman Malone moved to fix the maximum charge at $ 1 per thou sand. The amendment -was lost, three votes only being recorded in its favor Malone, Mockett, Bailey. Bailey then moved to amend by making the maximum charge $1.25 per thousand feet. Amendment lost, three votes only being cast for it Malone, Bailey, Stewart. The original ordinance was then adopted. The gas question being somewhat of an issue at this time, the voters of Lincoln might spend a little time figuring on what would have been saved to the city had the Malone amendment been adopted and enforced from January 23, 1899. For seven years Mr. Malone was connected with the fire depart ment. He drove the first hose cart ever pulled by horse power in Lincoln. He arose from the position of driver to be chief of the department. When he became chief the firemen were allowed thirty minutes for break fast and supper, forty-five minutes for dinner, and received each per month a. warrant for $50, always subject to a discount of from $3 to $10. Mr. Malone soon secured for the men an hour for each meal, he secured an annual lay-off of ten days instead of seven, and soon had the firemen getting the cash for their warrants. He brought about disci pline in the department and made it what it never had been before an efficient, well disciplined, loyal fire-fighting force. The present fire department, of which Lincoln is so rightfully proud, was given its real start towards efficiency by Robert Malone. After retiring from the council Mr. Malone for a time engaged in the horseshoeing business, being a horseshoer by trade, and a good one. But soon he entered into the work of general contracting in a small way. He had to start in a small way because he had little or no capital. But men who had large contracts to let soon learned that Malone could be depended upon. The city soon found out the same thing a truth that may be evidenced by some of the pavement laid by Contractor Malone as compared with pavement laid about the same time by other contractors. The Malone pavement work is still in good shape. His contracting work grew rapidly, and he was soon engaged in heavy contract work for railroads. He has done much of this, and always to the satisfaction of the people who employed him. Today he is one of the largest contractors in this section of the country, and has constantly a small army in his employ. If you want to know the man, ask the men who work for him, or ask the men for whom he works. Mr. Malone will doubtless agree to stand by the findings. This is a brief resume of the life of - the democratic candidate for mayor of Lincoln. It is the life of a man who has made his way despite difficulties that would have daunted a less courageous or able man. He may lack "polish." as is charged, but he has courage, unswerving honesty and a thorough knowledge of what Lincoln most needs. He knows the municipal history of Lincoln, knows every influence that seeks to exploit and is ready and willing at all times to thwart them in the interests of the taxpayers. Is Lincoln looking for a business man for mayor? Robert Malone is a business man. He is a large employer of labor, and he is engaged in a constructive work a work that means much for the develop ment of the city and the state Theability and earnestness that has made him successful in his private business he will give to the people's business. He is not now, and never has been, affiliated with any public service corporation, either as an official or as a stockholder. His interests as a citizen and as a taxpayer, are the interests of the whole people. Upon his standing as a citizen, as a business man and as a public servant in years gone by, he is asking the suffrage of Lincoln voters. Being firmly convinced that the people should be allowed to rule, he will be governed by their expression of opinion upon any question which may come before them in the legal and proper way. He believes, and right fully, that a public official is the public's servant, not the public's master.