Willmar tribune., 1899-09-27
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The Evening News in it's Saturday
edition gave full account of the pri-
maries, and in an editorial column Ed
ward Norman spoke with directness
and conviction that the Christian peo-
plo of Raymond were learning to re-
spect deeply because so evidently sincere
and unselfsh. A part of that editorial
is also part of this history:
1T is safe to say that never before in
the history of Raymond was there a
primary like the one in the courthouse
last night. It was, first Of all, COM
plete surprise to the city politicians,
who have been in the habit Of carrying
on the affairs of the city as if they
owned them and every one else was
simply tool or cipher. The over
whelming surprise Of the wire puller
last night consisted in the fact that a
large number Of the citizens of Ray
mond who have he tofore taken no
part in the city's aft: entered the pri-
mary and controlled it, nominating
some of the best men for all the Offices
to be filled at the coming election.
1T was tremendous lesson in good
citizenship. President Marsh of Lincoln
college, who never before entered city
primary and whose face even was not
known to many Of the ward politicians,
made one of the best speeches ever
heard in Raymond. It was almost lu-
dicrous to see the faces of the men
who for years have done as they pleased
when President Marsh rose to speak.
Many of them asked. Who is he? The
CONSERVATION deepened as the primary
proceeded and it became evident that
the old time ring of city rulers was out
numbered. Henry Maxwell. pastor of
the First church; Milton Wright Alex
ander Powers, Professors Brown, Will
lard and Park Of Lincoln college. Rev
John West, DR.. George Maine of the
Pilgrim church. Dean Ward of the Holy
Trinity and scores of we'll known busi-
ness and professional men. most of them
church members. were present, and it
did not take long to see that they had
all come with the direct and definite
purpose Of nominating the best men
possible. Most Of these men had never
been seen in primary They were
complete strangers to the politicians,
but they had evidently profted by the
politicians methods and were able by
organized and united effort to nominate
the entire ticket.
LAS soon as it became plain that the
primary was out of their control the
regular ring withdrew in disgust and
nominated another ticket. The News
simply calls the attention of all decent
citizens to the fact that this last ticket
contains the names Of whisky men, and
the line is distinctly and sharply drawn
between the machine and corrupt city
government, such as we have known
for years, and clean, honest, capable.
businesslike city administration, such
as every good citizen ought to want.
It is not necessary to remind the people
sf Raymond that the question of local
option comes up at the election That
9vill be the most important question
On the ticket. The crisis of our city
affairs has been reached The issue
is squarely before US. Shall we con-
tinue the rule of rum and Doodle and
shameless incompetency, or shall we.
as President Marsh said in his noble
speech. rise as good citizens and be-
gin a new order Of things, cleansing
our city of the worst enemy known to
municipal honesty and doing what lies
in our power to do with the ballot-to
purify our civic life?
1.-The News is positively and without
reservation on the side Of the new
movement. We shall henceforth do all
in our power to drive out the saloon
and destroy its political strength. We
shall advocate the election of men NOM
mated by the majority of citizens met
in the first primary, and we call upon
all Christians. church members and low
ers of right, purity, temperance and
home to stand by President Marsh and
the rest of the citizens who have thus
begun long needed reform in our
city.
President Marsh read this editorial
and thanked God for Edward Norman.
At the same time he understood well
enough that every other paper in Ray
mond was on the other side. He did not
misunderstood the Importance and seri-
business of the fight which was only just
begun. It was no secret that The News
had lost enormously since it had been
governed by the standard Of "What
would Jesus dor" The question now
was, ''Would the Christian people of
Raymond stand by it7'' Would they
make it possible for Norman to conduct
q daily Christian paper, or would their
desire for what is called "news," =. in
the way Of crime, scandal, political
partisanship Of the regular sort and q
dislike to champion SO remarkable q re-
form in journalism, influence them to
drop the paper and refuse to give it
their financial support That was, in
fact, the question Edward Norman was
asking even while he wrote the Satur-
day editorial He knew. well enough
that his action expressed in that edi-
torial would cost him very dearly from
the hands Of many business men of
Raymond, and still as he drove his pen
over the paper he asked another ques-
tion. What would Jesus do3' That
question had become part Of his life
now It was greater than any other.
But for tho first time in it's history
Raymond had seen the professional
men. the teachers. the college profes-