Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-09
The Election.

before an intelligent people, one that
puts our city and county back at least
a decade in the march of progress.
The result of the battle last Tuesday
was not wholly unexpected ; we were
prepared for defeat, but not for so
overwhelming an assault from the for
ces of illegality and fraud. Illegal
voting was the rule, not the exception.
Votes were offered (and received, by
non-residents with all the nonchalance
possible to imagine, and parties from
outside the city limits 0ere cordially
inuited, by certain whiskey men, to
come IN torn the night before election
and "to make themselves perfectly at
home - with free meals and free Gre
freshments > till after the polls were
closed. Willing men with no stamina
of character were marched up to the
polls like SO many cattle, to vote as
their s'dyivers y should direct. The
result is, that at least an hundred ille-
gal votes were polled, positively chang
ing the result, which otherwise would
have been victory for honesty and So
briefly. 1t is reported that the system
of " repeating was resorted to with
all boldness, and that loads of "yoters"
were transported to and from adjoining
towns for further service. The result
is that good men are defeated and
ticket elected that will be expected to
Weld to the insatiate demands of the
whiskey interests. Matters are no bet
ter, we fear, throughout the county.
A County Board is elected that will,
we fear, be swayed and controlled by
such men as Hiles, Remington and
Powers, to the eternal detriment of the
interests of the whole people. The sit
uation is most deplorabie. With the
County in the hands of political des-
peradoes the City governed by
Council whose whiskey constituents
most reasonably expect will be obedi-
ent to the behests of rum taxes I'M
collected certain ex-officials whose
duties remain undischarged leagued
with iniquity in every form the coun-
tvs wealth being devoured by hungry
gourmands and dishonest men whose
hands are ever ready to piifer, and
with power to legalize their robberies,
we are in a slough of bankruptcy,
and are drawing near to reign of ter
ror that threatens to demolish and NOR
ally ruin us. With such condition of
things how can we expect to make ad-
vancement? Can we look for an in
coming of capital, or hope for a growth
of enterprise? Certainly not. Cap
ital will keep aIoof, and men of enter
prise and energy-men who build up
cities and make thrift and good society
viii be repealed, seeking other points
where they may establish homes and
invest their capital
OF course we accept the situation,
as much rs we regret the conditions to
which we are brought; and while we
would not attempt under any circum-
stances to dictate, vet we will suggest
that our City Council give more than
usual consideration to the questions
which are so earnestly enHs ting public
thought, that the welfare and good
name of our city may not be jeoparded
and traduced by the demands of bus
mess which g tears down" but never
:" builds up" We can hardly expect
our newly elected Council to refuse IL
cense, but we can expect it to protect
the public veal with such safeguards
as will hedge in the unholy traffic. and
protect our people fro,n its encroach-
ments and assaults. VIII it do it?
The officers elect are: Mayor, J.
F. Lunt Marshal, I. DAILY; Treasur-
er. L. ?. Powers Assessor, Isl ward,
John Arpin ID ward, c. S. Warren
Sd ward, r. II. Grace. Aldermen, 1st
ward, VIM. Roche I'd ward, John
Wagner; Sd ward, A. d. Worden.
County Supervisor, LIST ward, VIM.
Roche I'd ward, Jos. Wood; Sd
ward, G. A. Neeves.
Centralia elects a good ticket.
Mayor, Reed Moore; Marshal, A,
Ostrander; Treasurer, Lobdell Police
Justice, F. A, Amsden. Aldermen,
1st ward, c. R. Garrison, E. R.
Ostaander; ID ward, II. W. jackson,
G. 4. Corriveau; Sd ward, r. G. Lyon
Eric Mckay. Supervisors, 1st ward,
r. c. Lyon I'd ward, H. ". jackson;
Sd ward, o. Gordon.
II