Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-04-11
RESULTS OF ELECTION.
A Surprise Party Given to
Jamestown by the Voters
Saturday..
Reflections on the Causes
That Operated in the
Election.

The voters Of jamestown took the bit,
last Saturday, in the city election and
gave the public surprise. The entire
ticket for city officers named at the court
house convention by delegates elected
at regularly called caucuses, was de-
feated badly. There was not man
elected who had opposition. Mayor
Halstead was defeated for reelection by
j. L. Eager by "a majority. DR.. Bald
win for city treasurer had l65 majority
over Oscar Sieler, Henry Bensch 26
majority over H. B. Wood for alderman
in the second ward, and p. Gaffney !
majority over Geo. Lutz in the first. In
the second and third Messrs. Seekins
and SchmitZ had no opposition, their
election being conceded without con-
test 1t was sweeping victory for the
opponents of the convention ticket and
the boys who got their favorites there
naturally are feeling satisfied over the
result of hard work done and good
politics manisfested.
There is no one reason for
the success of the candidates by
petition. Several causes can be seen to
account for it, each one used effectively.
In the first place there was organized
work done against Mayor Halstead by
portion of the fire department. This
fight, which began at the start. the voters
at large, and the friends who brought
about Mr.. Halstead's nomination, could
not prevent or direct. 1t was hot dis
pute among the companies arising from
the mayor, who was sustained by the
council and city attorney, taking GER
tain action IN regard to the Distribution
of fire company funds, which created the
dissatisfaction.
Another and leading cause for the de.
feat of the convention ticket was the
method of calling the conference which
lead to the calling Of the caucuses and
to the nomination of Mayor Halstead
and his ticket. A great many voters be-
lieved the call should have been through
the usual channels OF publication and all
invited to participate, and objected to
the special means taken Of getting the
leading business men and taxpayers
together to start the movement for q
ticket. While nothing developed after
wards to show that scheme or plot OF
any unfair or Objectionable kind lay
behind the conference referred to, the
voters took otfenee at the plan and
showed their objections at the polls in q
most decided way. This helped the op-
position to Mayor Halstead. and shows
that if the temper of the voters remains
as at present, nothing but the usual
manner Of getting candidates INTO the
field is likely to be tried hereafter-for
no matter how excellent ticket should
be named, every voter claims and wants
the same right to take part IN choosing
it as any other person exercises. Other
causes also had a bearing on the success
of Mr. Eager and his running mates, and
it is only justice to say that hard effect
I've work was one Of the chief OF them.
The various elements that usually
do not fraternize joined to elect Mr..
Eager, who seemed to hold the confidence
of many who admitted that Mayor Hal
stead had given good administration.
Mr.. Halsteads workers we're too conf
dent of his election, and overestimated
the force of the opposition, failing to
comprehend the tull strength of the
same. OF course, in addition to the gen.
eral reasons above given, personal
motives and desires entered into the
campaign to considerable extent. The
disposition of offices that are at the dis.
posal OF the mayor and council had a
hearing, but not to any great extent.
The above is about the situation. 1t
was an interesting election and showed
that the people are "the bosses" when
they care to be. The following is the
vote by wards: