MAUPIN FOR RAILWAY COMMISSIONER.
K
During my almost thirty years' ex
perience as a newspaper man in Ne
braska I have helped to boost a lot of
men into office. They exhibited no
modesty in asking me to write pretty
things about them, and now that I am
a candidate myself I don't purpose al
lowing my modesty which is so char
acteristic of me to interfere with my
telling the people just what I think of
myself. I am asking for the demo
cratic nomination for railway commis
sioner because I want the job. It is
WILL M.
Candidate on his own motion
for Railway
really a good job, with a good length
of service, and the pay is quite satis
factory. The story of my life is short and
pretty much devoid of exciting inci
dent. I wasn't born in a log house;
I didn't have to hustle like thunder to
get an education, and I wasn't thrown
upon my own resources at the age of
7 or 11. I was born in Missouri of re
spectable parents, who gave me good
care, who clothed me well and gave
me every opportunity to acquire a
common school education. I got along
pretty well at school, but never grad
uated from anything but a printing
office. I learned the printer's trade in
a country print shop and followed it
for a number of years and it led mc
all over the United States. Finally I
drifted into the newspaper business,
and there I've been ever since. I am
married, have six living children, and
will own my own home as soon as I
pay a little more on it. That's the
sum total.
To date admiring and long-suffering
citizens and taxpayers if there be
such have not nocked around me to
beseech me to come ' to their rescue
and run for railway commissioner. To
date I have heard no one crying to
me to rush to the rescue of the com
monwealth. The plain truth of the
matter is I am after the office because
I want it and need it, and if I get it I
will give" an exhibition of a man doing
his level best to serve his employers
faithfully and well. I am not paying
myself any particular compliment
when I say I believe I can fill the job
fully as well as some who have had it..
In seeking this office I do. not do so
as a shipper, nor as a receiver of
freight. I represent a larger and less
considered class the ultimate consum
ers. If elected I will not deem it my
official duty to "rip hell out of the cor
porations," nor to protect the cor
porations against the just demands of
the people. My conception of the
duties of a railway commissioner is
that he is to study conditions, acquaint
himself with the facts and decide con
troversies and complaints upon their
merits, dealing justly with all parties
and showing especial favors to none.
I believe in the right of the state to
regulate traffic within its borders; in
ascertaining the physical value of a
public service corporation and allow
ing i to earn a fair dividend on the
actual investment, taking into account
the ordinary business risk; in squeez
ing the water out of stocks and pre
venting in future all efforts to sy
phon more into them; in the freest
and fullest publicity of the business
transacted in every department of the
state government, and in giving the
,f "
MAUPIN
for the Democratic nomination
Commissioner
state just as loyal and efficient service
as one would give a private employer-.
It is my belief hat I know Nebras:
ka about as well as any man in the
state, and that I have done pretty
much a man's share of boosting for
the commonwealth. Furthermore, I
believe I know Nebraskans about as
well as anybody; that I am acquaint
ed with their needs and their desires,
and that I can serve them, well and in
telligently. I am not seeking the po
sition because it is an honorable one,
and it is an honorable position, for
honor alone buys no shoes for the kid
dies and fills no empty stomachs. I
am seeking it because it carries both
honor and salary; because I believe
that I can. earn that salary by giving
the people just the kind of service
they want and the people want only
justice and square dealing. There will
be no "sacrifice of business interests"
on my part if I am elected. If it
wasn't a better job than the one I now
have I wouldn't look at it. I never got
a job in my life that. I didn't ask for,
and I never lost one by reason of in
ability to make good. It is impossible
for me to prosecute a " whirlwind cam
paign" for the nomination, first be
cause I have got to keep busy on my
present job and second because I
haven't got the money. I'm just vain
enough to believe that if the voters
will get right down to business and
investigate the claims of the various
candidates, and investigate their rec
ords, I '11 stand a pretty good show.
I'm willing to take chances, anyhow.
I'm not going to rend my nether
garment in chasing after this job. I
want it, and you know I want it. If
you want me to have it, say so. If
you don't want me to have it, say so;
and I'll either stick to this job or look
for something else.
I haven't any "platform." All I
promise is that I'll do my best to earn
the salary, deal as justly as my mental
limitations will allow, play favorites
with nobody, and stand up for Ne
braska all the time.'
If this statement appeals to you,
then you appeal to your friends for
me. My candidacy is in your hands.
WILL M. MAUPIN.
We'd Expect You Too.
Fairbury Journal (Rep.) "Will Mau-.
pin, of Maupin's Weekly, has an
nounced his candidacy for the demo-.
cratic nomination for state railway
commissioner, and it is entirely unique
in that he does not claim to have ob
served a crisis in the history of the
state that means commercial, financial
and moral ruin unless his services can
be secured right away quick. He
frankly admits that the state may
be able to get along without his serv-'
ices, and that he has not mistaken
a desire to connect with the salary of
that office for a call to duty. In other
words, he is a candidate just because
he wants the office and perhaps needs
the salary worse than the state needs
his services. Such frankness is entirely
out of the ordinary with politicians
seeking a job ,and while this paper is
pretty strongly rooted to the republican
faith, we are forced to admit that
the sort of a campaign he is making
appeals to us, and if he gets the
nomination we will probably vote for
the other fellow.
Says a Plenty.
Plattsmouth Evening Journal (Dem.)
Will M. Maupin, editor of Will Mau
pin's Weekly at Lincoln, has come out
for railway commissioner. Well, all
we have to say is that there is not a
more competent man in the state for
the position, and you can bet your
bottom dollar that if he is nominated
and elected the interests of the people
of Nebraska in that department will be
most carefully guarded.
Good Service for Good Money.
Kearney Daily Hub (Rep.) Will
Maupin, publisher of Maupin's Week
ly, at Lincoln, announces that he will
be a candidate for the democratic
nomination for state railway commis
sioner. Unlike most candidates who .
have heard a loud call to duty, Maupin
declares that he simply wants the
office for the salary attached, with
the intention of course of giving serv
ice as an equivalent. It is any way
gratifying to find a man occasionally
who does not make the pretense' of
being a patriot when he is just' a joli-
tician looking for a good job, anct if he"
will faithfully deliver the goods there
are few who care whether he is really
a patriot or just a politician.
We Both Hope, Then.
Cortland Sun (Rep.) Our good
friend Will Maupin announces himself
as a candidate for the democratic
nomination for state railway commis
sioner. In his announcement, Mr. Mau
pin gives the public to understand that
he isn't in the raoe for the honor of
holding the office, but that it is the
salary attached that attracts him. Mr.
Maupin is in every way qualified to
fill the position which he seeks. As
deputy labor commissioner he made,
good, and advertised the resources of
Nebraska as they had never been ad
vertised before. He is a genuine
Nebraska booster. The Sun hopes
the democrats will nominate him, and
that the people, regardless of politics,
will elect him. , ,
Do His Level Best.
Grand Island Free Press (Ind.)
Will Maupin has filed as a candidate
for railway commissioner on the demo
cratic ticket, and is out with a state
ment that is unique, in which he frank
ly states that he is attracted by the
$3,000 per year, and teels confi
dent that he is capable of manning the
job, and if elected, will devote his
entire time to the office, and will draw
his salary only after having earned it,
by giving value received.
He Was Our "Devil" Once.
Holbrook Observer (Ind.) Will M.
Maupin, editor of Maupin's Weekly,
SuMOfdun spuauj jo oj psq ou sbu;
published at Lincoln, has announced
himself a candidate for railway com
missioner. Mr. Maupin held the posi
tion of deputy labor commissioner un
der Governor Shallenberger, and
proved the best and most efficient com
missioner the state has ever had. In
fact Mr. Maupin is the man who resur
rected this office, brought it out of its
dormant state and made it one of the
most popular branches of our state
government. In truth, while in office
"Bill" Maupin used to sit up nights
figuring out Nebraska's wonderful re
sources in agricultural and other lines.
He probably did more to advertise the
possibilities of Nebraska along agri
cultural lines during his tenure of
office than any Other one man in the
state during a like period of time. He
is particularly proficient in figures and
could tell almost ; to the width of a
gnat 's heel just what proportion of Ne
braska 's egg crop, if the eggs were laid
end to end, would reach around the
world. If 'there is a man in the state
who deserves recognition for the good
he has done, and for his effortsin aid
ing in the development and showing
up the state's great resources, through
publicity, Mr. Maupin is one of them,
and if he can land the nomination we
will be only too glad to boost for him
during the campaign.
A Disinterested Champion.
Nebraska City News (Dem.) Will
Maupin,. who has been in the newspa
per business in Nebraska for the past
twenty-five years, has announced that
he is a candidate for railway commis
sioner. He says that he wants the of
fice as bad as the office wants him. He
has not had a lot of friends importun
ing him to "accept the position" but
he is frank enough to say that he
wants the office because it pays $250
per month and that for six years. In
that time he will be able to save a lot
of money for the wife and kiddies. He
is of the opinion that he knows what
common fairness is, and that is all
that the people ask between the rail
roads and themselves. Maupin is also
of the opinion that he knows as much
about the needs of the people as any
physician or attorney who never had
more than a speaking acquaintance
with railroad men. Maupin promises
to do a good job for the $250 per
month, and will be Johnnie on the
spot all the time. He is competent for
the position and we believe would
give the people good satisfaction. We
are for Maupin even if he has only $25
to put into the campaign.
" It Was the Whole Truth.
Albion News (Rep.) Will M. Mau
pin of Lincoln announces that he is
a candidate for railroad commissioner,
and in doing so comes nearer telling
the truth about it than most candi
dates do. He says that he is a candi
date of his own volition; that he has
not been urged by his friends; that
the salary of $3,000 a year looks good
to him; that he is making no personal
sacrifice in going, after the job ; . he
claims to have n? exceptional qualifi
cations for the office! only a, moSicum
of common sense, and the firm convic7.
tion that any man should expect to
work hard and. give his undivided
efforts to earn $250 a monh. His an
nouncement will strike the average
voter being nearer the truth than the
usual grandstand proclamation of
those seeking an office.
We Agree on This.
"WJayne Democrat v(Dem.) Will M.
Maupin asks the democratic nomina
tion for railway commissioner, and he
plainly says he wants the office for
the salary and thinks that he can
earn the same as well as the next man.
It is certainly a novel way to an
nounce his aspiration for the office
thus frankly. Maupin has the good
common sense to know that the peo
ple are not fools; and we believe that
he has honesty and common sense
enough to make a good official if nomi
nated and elected to the position.
"Mac's" The Real Booster.
Polk Progress (Ind.) Will M. Mau- ,
pin, of Lincoln, has decided to become
a candidate for the democratic nomina
tion for railway commissioner. The
Progress believes that the . voters of
Nebraska, regardless of party lines,
could select no better qualified man.
to fill that position than Will M. Mau-,
pin. lie has been in the newspaper
business in Nebraska for twenty-five,
years, and is now editor of one of the;
best papers for the upbuilding, of our
fair state that has ever been published
within her borders.
He's Walked the Section.
Nebraska City Trnscript (Ind.)
Will M. Maupin is a democratic candi
date for railway commissioner. He
used to live in Missouri, that tells what
kind of a democrat he is. He has
lived in Nebraska twenty-five years
and .by profession is a newspaper man.
He has never had experience in the
railroad business, not . having even
worked on the section, but he knows
what is right and fair and would
make a good official. ,
We Yearn For the Job.
Beaver City Tribune (Rep.) Will
Maupin admits that he would like to
be the democratic candidate for rail
way commissioner, frankly stating that
his chief desire for the job is based
on the fact that it has a six year term
at a salary of $3,000 per year. He
further declares that he is willing to
go the limit in his effort to earn the
salary. It is really refreshing to
locate a candidate who is not claiming
willingness to sacrifice his own per
sonal business affairs to serve the
"dear people."
Yes, Why Not?
Red Cloud Chief (Dem.) Will Mau
pin has announced himself as a candi
date for the nomination on the demo
cratic ticket for railway commissioner
and true to his character he states in
plain terms that his object in making
the race is to secure the three thousand
dollar salary that goes with the job.
He makes it clear that there was no
large popular demand for him to come .
out but on the contrary he is acting on
his own motion and his own advice.
And why not? Why should not all
candidates be frank? . It is true that
there are occasions which bring men
out for certain offices regardless of
their own will but under our present
primary system it takes a terrible jolt
to get the great public to demand a
man to "sacrifice" himself. But ;
Brother Will is in the race and we
cannot see why a newspaper man of
twenty-five years experience in the
state should not be a first class man
to have on this commission. If there
is any man who is in touch with public
"inatte'rs it is the newspaper man who -,
has been in the thick of the fray like
Will Maupin. Of one thing we would
all be certain and that is the public
would know every minute just what
was going on and you can rest assured
that Will knows nothing but honesty
and fair dealing. The people do not
want more than is coming to them and
the railroads may always be dended ,
upon to act fairly if a matter is pre- ,
sented to them fully.
Well, Clarence is All Bight Too.
Riverton Review (Dem.) Will M.
Maupin has anounced himself as a "
candidate before the primary, for the '
office of state railway commissioner. He
declares that he has no especial fitness
for the position that other men do not
have. That he. .isn't out hunting ' for
honor and has no money to spend, but
the salary of three thousand dollars a
year looks mighty good to him and he
wants the job for the salary it draws.
This is pretty frank declaration from
a pretty brainy man, but out in this
neck o' the woods," Clarence Harman
has got a lead-pipe cinch on too many '"
democratic votes to permit of Will
Maupin having a just share of them, ' '
we are afraid. . ;
We'll Always Stand Up!
Minden Courier (Dem.) Will Mau-'
pin, of Lincoln, has filed for railway
commissioner and states boldly that"
it is not from an earnest desire tof"
serve the people but rather on account''
of its being a good paying office. Wilr::
has been one of the men who havd"
"stood up for Nebraska" at all times
and under all circumstances and de
serves most generous support.
Some Qualities, These. '
Moorfield Chronicle (Ind.) Will'
Maupin, is a candidate for railroad'
commissioner. He is making a very'
frank statement of his case. He says'
he is not yielding to the earnest solici tations
of his many friends, nor is he
making a great personal sacrifice for
