Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-03-29
The Doctor Explains.
Editor Tribune:

Editor Tribune:
A couple of citizens wish me to
state why Mr.. Bishman left the elec-
trio plant last fall, and why we en-
ployed Markhus, Omlie, Anderson and
Crasswell.
The facts are these: In the course
of the summer, the chairman of the
electric light committee, Mr.. Nasset,
brought in charges of inefficiency and
neglect against Mr.. Bishman. An in
formal talk in the council about this
matter developed that there were three
members in the council in favor dis
charging Bishman at once, while the
other four were strongly in favor of
giving him at least fair and impair
tial hearing before action was taken.
No formal action was taken howev-
er at this meeting and the matter was
postponed.
In the meantime Mr.. Bishman was
seen about this matter by his friends,
and he declared at once that he would
resign rather than enter into a squab-
bic to hold his job with three men on
the council against him. For the fact
was that he was offered other jobs
from several differentplaces. That is
how Mr.. Bishman came to hand in his
resignation.
Now then, Mr.. Bishmau having re-
signed, the position was applied for
by Mr.. Markhus. -Four men on the
council entertained some doubts about
his capacity, but it was urged that he
was a Willmar boy, a widows son,
really in need of the job, and that the
council ought to give him trial. So
we employed him and there was no d.
vision on that point. Soon after this
Mr.. Olof Dale, assistant engineer, re-
signed, and Mr.. Omlie was elected to
fill his place. Both of these men were
republicans, to be sure, but no popu-
list on the council thought OF raising
any objection on that score.
By and by, however, we found that
Mr.. Markhus was not as competent a
steam engineer as we wanted, and Mr..
Crasswell was employed as superin-
tendent of the plant.
Then everything went along fairly
until one week before Christmas, when
the big dynamo became balky and re-
fused to give light. Up to that time
Mr.. Markhus had had the full conf
dence and earnest backing of the whole
council. Mr.. Markhus said the excl
ter was at fault, and a new one was
needed. We Immediately ordered a
new one. We expected to have it here
for Christmas. On the day before
Christmas, I called on the recorder
and found to my establishment that the
new EXETER had not come, and that
we were destined to be without light
during the holidays.
In this dilemma, I telephoned to
Litch6eld and called upon their elec-
trician to ask him if he could suggest
some way out of our difficulty. He
told me that he could undoubtedly
make the old EXETER work. I request
ed him to come on the next train. Our
EXETER was made to work, and works
now.
But Mr.. Markhus took offense at
at me for calling in the electrician
from Litchield. He accused an alder
man and myself of trying to GUST him
of his job. Well, we tried to get light
and are sorry we had to call in out
side assistance, but we felt it our duty
to the public of Willmar to do SO. Il,
The disclosure of the insulting letter
which Markhus wrote about some OF
the council made US of course feel like
bouncing him forthwith, But taking
into consideration his age and mex
perience in the world, we left him to
be disposed of by the next council.
There is no doubt in the minds OF
most citizens that the electric plant is
now out of shape from one cause or
another. How to restore it to eficien-
cy is in my opinion not a political
question, but simply y question ofget-
ting q competentS experienced electrical
engineerto operate it.. II. =:. 81
With the<question fairly before them
I thiLk the citizens Of Willmar can
safely be left to select council that