Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-03-09
THAT ELECTION MATTER.

We had hoped that the decision
rendered by the people of Decorah in
the overwhelming majority given to
Mayor Daubney and the reelected
member of the city council at the re-
cent election would be evidence enough
of their feeling towards the past ad-
ministration to silence the spiteful
harangue of the Republican, which
has employed every means within its
power to accomplish their defeat. But
he must continue to publish rejecting
statements. Because the people did
not agree with him as to the efficiency
of the past administration to wisely
perform their duties, he must throw
out statements which are disgrace to
any city, especially when they are
without just foundation, and we can
not refrain from briefly answering some
of the uncharitable and uncalled for
abuses appearing in the last issue of
that paper.
He says that Mayor Daubney wanted
the office lawful bad" and that the
other candidate reluctantly permitted
the use of his name, and did so with
the understanding that he must not be
expected to do any active work him.
self The voters know well enough
which did the most personal work and
hot fo ind
"Supposing" his statement to be true,
it is surprising that Mr.. Bailey would
lead one of his lifelong friends and
warmest supporters like lamb to the
slaughter in such merciless manner.
But the counting of the ballots indi
Gated that the city wanted Dr. Daub-
ney to act in that capacity as much as
the Republican "supposes" he wanted
it himself. The voters were asked to
render their decision and did, so en-
phatically that whatever Mr.. Bailey
may choose to say derogatory to such
action cannot materially alter the SEN
timent. He also says "beer was re-
ported as free as water Saturday night,
and there were cigars galore" We
have too much respect for the citizens
of Decorah to believe that they can,
like "dumb driven cattle" be Influenced
by any such means. OF course cigars
were smoked, and beer was drank, but
who ever saw an election or public
event but what such was the case, and
who is able to determine which side
partook more freely'of either?
In another column of the last issue
his spite is also expressed in several
"supposes." He would have the peo-
pie believe that his judgement is better
than that of the body ofmen who were
elected to represent the city and its in
terests. We fail to see where the cOun-
ell has expended any money which
was unnecessary for them to eXpend,
and which did not receive the approval
of our citizens. He thinks they should
not have made these much needed i'm
provements, but should have increased
the tax levy several mills. Had the
latter been done he probably would
have said that taxes were too high.
But in the whole article he touches just
one point, which is that the city should
own the new electric light plant, which
is in our opinion an argument too weak
to call for reply. We have considered
the council lucky in being able to Sc
cure a reliable company to establish
such plant without expense to the
city save that of the actual lights used
for street lighting. How many other
cities there are who would be glad to
have an improvement like ours.
We had intended to drop this sub
ject with the election, but feel it our
duty to express this opinion. Enough
has gone abroad already to injure the
business interests of DecOrah. and we
do not desire to have outsiders think
that our city is constantly retogradipg,
when such is not the case. We want
to help to build up business along all
lines, and shall be found endeavor-
ing to do so, whenever it lies i'm our
power.