Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-02-08

calling on the mayor and marshal and praying
them to do their duty in running out alleged
evils. What great head it must have been
that formed the idea of getting up and present.
ing that petition. To say the least. it was a
novel plan. When completed. the petition was
copied and a copy was presented to the mayor
by woman who rather shamefacedly made for
the door as soon as the measure was out of her
hands, nor could She be persuaded by the
mayor to remain long enough to venture an eX-
PLANTATION or defend the MEASURE. The officials
did quite right by taking no notice of such a
plea but very manfully accepted the insult i'm
piled by the presentation of 1t. The petition
was far from success, being frowned down by
most of our prominent people as not worthy a
Thought few towns people signed it and we
think the majority of them meant well in so
doing as they have since explained their posi-
tion. while others signed it to please; not even
knowing the purport of it. The majority of the
the names attached to this petition, were of
farmers living south and east of town, and some
even from Minnesota There is only one charge
implied, and that is simply that the mayor and
the marshal have not performed their duties
while in office. We publicly hold up rheir
records to view, and leave the answer with the
fair minded citizen as to whether these two
Offices have not been as well represented in the
past two years as ever before Is it necessary
that man in their position has to turn spy and
detective and pry into other peoples affairs,
inst to please a few old fogies, or temperance
cranks no matter to what sex, order, or society
they belong? Is it necessary that these have to
be dictated to as to what's their dnty and what
not when the only possible outcome is that the
Justice of the Peace would gain his constantly
looked for fee? They lay great stress upon the
duty of these two offices. but they say nothing
as to the duty of the j. p No. it is not his place
to see that these are stopped. His position is
clear; to stir up bitter feeling against those
who will not bring needless expense to the town
Just to reimburse our worthy justice. If the
charge Is true. why have the accusers never
before been aware of the circumstances? Why
was our present mayors first term so enthus-
iastically endorsed at union caucus last spring?
Why at this late hour is the cry of incompetent
cy raised? With the exception of brief Intervals
our present marshal has oficiated as such for
the last twenty-five years. Does it not seem re-
markable that in this length of time no one dis
covered him to be incompetent and unwilling to
do his duty, but have waited till now? How
does the present incumbents manner of con-
ducting himself compare with his predecessors? ?
While you have raised great cry against the
marshal. Mr.. Van Leuven. and have openly
asked for the appointment of certain other
party in his place, we challenge you to answer
the above questions in any other than a favor
able light. We would not be so bold as to
| mention names if you had not established pre-
cedent by doing so during your harangue at the
NJ E. church last week Tuesday night. This
| meeting was undoubtedly intended for tenn
| perance rally and was addressed by different
ones with appropriate remarks on this subject.
Then our worthy Justice, with thoughts of days
| gone by when arrests were followed by fees and
fees were followed by arrests and more fees,
arose, and following the same line of thought,
began to tell of the arrests that had been made
| OF ate and as near as he could remember,
there had been but one in the past year or two
and even at that, the prisoner had to be re.
inanded to the county bastile tor lack of funds
| to pay his fine. We might remark however
that the Justice of the Peace sent in his bill for
fees. The most worthy Justice uttered a pal
able falsehood when he stated that two hundred
and fifty drunken men had been allowed on the
streets at different times during the past year
The unfairness Of this Justices accusation will
be noted however, when our people recall the
time the thieves were captured last summer,
tried, and sentenced. Also, we might recall to
| mind the manner in which carousing and
rowdyism was stopped at the billiard hall and
other places during the present administration
of affairs. The marshal was said to have drawn
regular salary of $50 per year, and performed
his duty by staying home and doing nothing.
The j. p. advised us that under proceeding
officers he had been much better reimbursed
than he has since. Then his counsellor very
dramatically remarked, "Have we got to endure
the present administration six weeks longer?'
/ We are very much afraid you have, dear ones,
unless we give the officers credit for more back
| bone than they really have. To casual OBJ
server it might seem tnat the maarhal has a
snap and barely earns his salary. We will see
Take look at a few of the regular items and
! judge for yourselves:
~ To take care of the horde of tramps
which come along all honrs of the day and
night, and on Sundays is Il task which of itSel
is way ahead of the large salary received fol
doing nothing. 1t was the idea of the mayor
and the marshal to have the tramps saw the
wood for the school, and thus save the town an,
district an item of expense. This requires con
siderable labor and time taken from his private
business,
w Inc puDi;c KNOWS little about the c0unSe
asked by different ones in trouble nearly ever
day We have lived in the marshars family fo
many years past. and know whereof we speak
(s) Customary trips to quiet disturbances o
warn evil doers.
i W He is continually on the lookout for tn
best interests of the town and will not foolishl
: cause needless expense by following the strie
letter of the law.
(5) He has often been compelled to lea
home some member of one family or anotle
because that one was so under the influence {
liqnor, his kin could do nothing with him. Ye
these same ones who are crying fol the marsha
and mayor to perform their duty without di
elimination would call down curses on the
heads ii that member of the FIRMLY was led {
jail instead of his home.
Dyes, the marshal ought to cling to such
| snap. His every movement in whatever d
rection is praised or at least would be if h
wonld but swell the Golfers Nof our worth
Justice. He is more than willing that som
other would take the Office in his place but ne
for the world will he please u few carpin
| critics who call upon him to ferret out eyi
while all they have to do is lie around home, g
about prying into others affairs, get up in NEE
, ing and take the part of a meek reformet, viii
!. their real nature they hide under the garb
christianity Our personality as corresponds