Mr. Lisemer Denies Bribery

Mr. Lisemer Denies Bribery

Makes A Defense Of Seventh Ward Delegation

Counsels That No Labor Ticket Be Placed in the Field This Year

To the Editor of the Ann Arbor Daily Argus:

In his speech on the floor of the democratic city convention, held at the court house last Friday evening, ex-Senator Charles A. Ward is said to have made the statement that money had been placed into the Seventh ward to secure a delegation for Lisemer, or words to that effect.

The members of the Seventh ward request me to publicly deny these charges in the press of this city, and vindicate them.

The delegation from the Seventh ward are prepared to make a sworn statement that neither Lisemer nor any other individual in this city, or in this world paid the delegation, collectively or individually, any sum of money, or any part of a sum of money, not a dollar, not a cent, to carry the ward for Lisemer.

I am also prepared to make affidavit to the effect that I never paid the Seventh ward delegation, or any member of that delegation, or any other individual in the Seventh ward, money to further my candidacy for the mayoralty.

It was the members of the Seventh ward delegation, the ward in which I reside, who first requested me to become the union laboring man's candidate for the office of mayor. Members of other labor unions in the city also called upon me with the same request saying that my candidacy would advance the cause of union labor in this city, as the labor unions had decided to take an active part in municipal affairs. I finally acceded to their wishes with the distinct understanding, however, that no money whatsoever must be used to further the interests of their candidate.

I take pleasure in congratulating the labor unions of Ann Arbor who now number five hundred men, upon the excellent showing they made for their candidate in the convention, and thank them for the consideration of my name. The politicians will have to reckon with the unions hereafter.

Apropos, a number of labor union men have informed me that it is the intention of the labor unions to place a ticket in the field on next Tuesday. As their friend and well-wisher, I counsel them, under existing circumstances, not to do so.

LOUIS J. LISEMER.
Ann Arbor, Mich., March 30, 1903.