River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-04-15
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The Superior MayoraIty.

Inc people OF superior are great
advertisers, and occasionally get up
an attraction which draws like a
mustard plaster, so far as notoriety
is concerned. Two years ago they
elected preacher to the office of
mayor in the person of Rev. Charles
). Starkweather, of whom much was
confidently expected. Before his
Inauguration, however, a metropoli-
tan interviewer announced that the
ministerial mayor elect did not pro-
pose to conduct his administration
upon Sunday-school basis. AS
time passed on this fact became APP
parent, and Impeachment proceed
ings followed. The trial command
ed much attention from the press all
over the country, and ended in the
dethronement of the mayor. He
appealed to the Supreme Court in
vain, and scorning all inducements
to enter the lecture field or write
book, went out and commenced cul-
tivating a truck PATCH" raising
eggs and vegetables and "biding his
time" One year ago he gently sized
up the pUblic's pulse and shrewdly
decided that his "time" had not
then come. He thought best to
raise one more crop of rutabagas
before further insisting upon swim
dication." Last fall, after having
pulled his turnips, he returned to
the city and took review in polit-
ical science and boldly waded in to
win. At an opportuno time for him
the Supreme Cou.. in mother case
involving similar points vent back
upon its anti-StarkweatheT decision.
This turn in affairs inspired the ex-
mayor with renewed courage and
his energy was correspondingly in
creased. His barrel was not tapped
for the benefit of ward heelers, as he
preferred to handle the campaign
funds himself. Investing in candy,
peanuts, and popcorn what seems
to have proven a sufficient sum with
satchel in hand he single handed
and alone opened an aggressive fight.
He hired halls in which to address
the multitudes who were curious to
hear what the cold man" would have
to say, and the candy, peanuts, and
popcorn from his well-laden satchell
flew in every direction, in profu
sion that made saloon-keepers tired
as they viewed with alarm this in
nocent as well as novel innovation
upon the customary methods of con-
Quoting a municipal campaign.
1t was entirely too dry for them,
but a big bonanza for the average
and irrepressible small boy" who
soon got onto the "racket" that Mr..
Starkweather was making. Luckily
for "young America" the recently
adopted curfew ordinance did not go
into effect until after the last sack of
pop-co had been 'shelled out, )"
the last campaign chocolate cream
dispensed, and the fresh roasted
peanuts on tap had became cold.
This campaign was doubtless the
most entertaining circus that ever
struck Superior, and highly enjoyed
by all-before the ballots were
counted. Every newspaper in the
city, every party organization, and
as we understand the case every
speaker in the campaign-with a
single exception-were opposing
Starkweather, and yet he carried
not only every ward, but every pre-
cinct in the entire city. The leading
question upon the following day
was, ''Did you ever?" the response
being, "No, l never!' which just
about expressed the wonder of al at
the result.