The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-03-13
MAYOR WILLARD.

The mass meeting at the opera
house Saturday night brought to-
gether large concOurse of citizens
whose actions demonstrated that they
had come together with no idle inten-
tion, but rather with the determin-
alton to do something positive and
sreditable. 1t was condition, not
"A theory, which confronted them, and
&hey took hold of the work with
Wigor and enthusiasm which presageS
"A unity of action in the approaching
nunicipal election heretofore want
Gng in city affairs. Democrats and
Republicans, Knights of Labor and
ProbibitioniStS, professional men and
mechanics, merchants and laborers,
all Joined hands and with .one loud
acclaim declared that Mr.. John A.
Willard was the one man in the COM
immunity whom they deemed should
he mayor. And he will be. From
she personnel of Saturday nights
meeting as well as the persistency
which characterized the demand that
Mr. Willard should not decline to ac-
acept nomination coming from the
people and not from party, from the
patriotic desire of community and
not from the selfish motives of seek
sers after place, it is not too much to
say that no man in the city will be
found to run in opposition to him.
And the FREE PRESS does not hesitate
80 say that it does not believe any
party interests or desires will be per-
mitted to dictate any other candidate.
The name Of Mr.. Willard will I'M
guestionably be placed at the head of
gthe Republican and Democratic tick
eets, If the remaining nominations for
city officers shall be put up in the
usual way, and thus endorse the uni
'Yersal sentiment expressed at the
meeting.
That Mr.. Willard is sacrificing much
TO serve the city as mayor cannot be
gainsaid. His business interests are
great and bis time largely consumed
in private affairs, but despite this
fact he will give all time and atten-
2tion necessary for the fultlllment of
public duties. No interest will suffer
Through neglect. He has not only a
high personal regard for the city of
mis- adoption, but he has the capacity
to give substantial evidence of his in
5erest in the progress and develop
ment Of MankatO. AS has been well
and truly said, interest should not
now be wanting on the part of
the people to give Mr.. Willard
the strongest possible backing by
choosing set of aldermen who will
strengthen his arm and lend aid to
mis- administration. A most auspi
cious beginning should be carried to
triumphant close. And this can be
done only by ignoring political COM
plicati0ns and adopting the views so
semphatiCally proclaimed at the mass
meeting.
The committee chosen to select
aldermanic timber to present to the
primaries which will shortly be held,
will be composed of representative
men, wh0. we are sure, will choose a list
OF names that will readily commend
Favorable consideration. 1t would be
2nnch more desirable than otherwise
If this committee would select one
Democrat and one Republican from
each ward, so distributing them that
IN the event of a redistricting of the
present precincts into wards that the
proposed six wards under the revised
charter would all be represented.
There would be no craftsmanship in the
council, and there should be none.
The city is to be congratulated upon
Mr.. Wizards final acceptance of the
nomination for mayor, however re-
3uctantly he did so, and it will be the
subject for further and even greater
congratuiation if a nOn-partisan
board Of aldermen is chosen. This
result can be had if the large number
eod voters present at the opera house
meeting are determined, and will
G1rn out to the primaries
Let the people take hold and con-
duct the primaries this spring and see
what will be brought forth.