Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-03-05
The Election.

Inc munlClpal eIectlOn IN this city, Oh
Monday last, resulted in the triumph of u
greater part of the Citizens ticket, and
the defeat Of the candidates on the Re.
publican ticket This result is, Of course,
not pleasant to contemplate by Republi-
cans, but the failure ID elect their candi-
dates Is not the most unpleasant feature of
the election. The means and agencies
employed 10 secure tie success OF the
Citizens ticket divcsts that success of all
honor, and leaves no cause for congratu-
lation by decent people. 1t was said on
the day of election, by one Of Mr. Hold
ridges chief supporters, that he was ''the
only man upon whom it was possible to
unite the temperance element and the
whisky interest" This remark is key
to the campaign of the "Citizcns'" party
in the late election. Mr.. Holdridge and
his associates on the ticket were voted for
by quite number of respectable people,
on the sole and distinct understanding
that he was pledged TO enforce the laws of
the city. The runmies voted for him and
worked for HIM with an energy and zeal
never before displayed in any election in
this city, because, as some of them said,
he was sure not to enforce the laws, es
pecially those regulating the saloons
One of those parties is bound to be terri.
bly, cheated. The saloon men say it will
not be them, and in those matters they
usually know what they arc about The
temperance friends of Mr. Holdridge
deny that he has pledged himself to the
whiskyies. We f1vantly hope that this
is true, but We must say that the appear
ances are against its truth From a posi-
ton of fighting antagonism to him on
Friday and Saturday they were, by some
means, not satisfactorily explained,
brought on Sunday and Monday into "A
position of most enthusiastic, even vehe.
nlent support His new allies not only
worked, but supplied the munitions Of
war. Not content with this. they fur
nished the whisky and the powder with
which to celebrate his success. OF course
people will interpret these things in their
own way. If the saloon men did not re-
ceive from Mr.. Holdridgea pledge to con-
tinue the present lax administration of the
laws regulating their business, they did
hope to place him under such obligations
to them as would etlcctualy secure their
interests. The question of the day now
is, will Mr. IIoldridge have the backbo
to do his duty irrespective of friends or
selfish obligations? We are not going to
answer that question, but wait and see.
We only hope that the party opposed to
law and order are the party cheated in
Mr.. Holdridge's election. We speak of
Mr.. Holdridge in this connection, specially
and apart from his ticket, because upon
him primarily devolves the administration
Of the city ordinances
Besides this combination of clean and
unclean elements, there were other things
not more reputable that contributed to the
success of the Citizens ticket These
were the outrageous falsehoods set afloat
by the opposition concerning the Repub-
lican candidates, especially against Mr..
the Republican candidate for
Mayor, who being comparatively new
man in our midst, and not personally
known to a majority Of the voters, pre-
scented fair mark for the INSCRIPTIONS
of the rum element No man
stands higher in the estima' ion of the men
who do know him, than Mr. Millington.
In point of ability and character he was
fit and worthy candidate, and but for the
fact Of his being comparatively unknown,
he would have been elected III spite of the
" Risky crowd The result on the balance
of the Republican ticket shows this.
And now one word regarding the in
coming city administration Mr.. Hold
ridge owes his election mainly to the elc-
ment who demand the reinforcement
of the laws Of the city. The fear
is freely expressed in reputable circles
that he will not be able to extricate
himself from the coil of obligation
that this class has wound around
him, and that his administration will
be but copy Of that preceding
it. We hope for better things. =
We would like to see these pledic-
tons exploded, and if Mr. Holdridgc
is firmly determined to do his whole duty
and make the city government respectable
and a terror to evil doors, we promise to
forget that lie was elected by the opposi
ton, and. though it may be deemed pre-
we tender to him the unswerv-
ing support and encouragement of the
BULLETIN in any such effort. Though
We desired Republican success in the late
we wanted reform of abuses
more, and if the new city administration
shall accomplish this We shall be salts
fled.
WE hope that none Of our town readers
will forget the caucllS tO.mOrrOW evening