The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-04-01
VOTE FOR STARKWEATHER,

for the coming year.
There are two candidates in the field
for the mayoralty: the present incum-
bent OF the office, Hervey Dietrich. who
is the nominee of the Republican party,
and Ex Mayor c. :. Starkweather, who
is running on an independent, non
partizan platform and is endorsed by
the Democratic party.
We believe, however, that the people
are not so much concerned about the
political leanings of the candidates who
aspire to the dignity Of mayor as they
are about their qualifications to fulfil
intelIigent,v and tearlesslv the duties of
that responsible office, and that party
issues, at least SO far as Mr. StarweatLer
j. concerned, will have no influence in
deciding the CONTEXT.
The party question being eliminated,
the Issues viii be much the same as las.
year, except that it is Mayor Dietrich
who is placed upon the defensive, ard
who is called upon to give an account
OF his stewardship. Last year it was
Mr.. STARK weather who was seeking for
renewal Of civic responsibilities, and
Mr.. Dietrich who was opposing his re-
election, with the result that Mr.. Stark
weather was defeated by small ma
jority.
The important question therefore is:
What are Mr.. Dletrich's claims for re-
election-does he merit a renewal of
confidence?
BY his record let him be Judged
When Mr. Dietrich was appealing to
the people last March he promised that
if he was elected he would do certain
things he claimed Mr.. Starkweather
could have done but failed to do. He
promised 10 give us pure water in two
weeks, but he has been in office wear
and still the water is as dirty as it ever
was, if not worse. All he did was to
discover a hole in the intake pipe at a
cost Of 5000 A little salt sprlnkled
upon the pipe did the business. ANY
plumber could have done that. As for
the microbes. it needed no expert to
find them. Now, of all the evils with
which the people had and have to con-
tend impure water is the most serious
Many of our citizens have been stricken
down with disease, and some have lost
their lives. as a result of the use of our
city water, and when Mr. Dietrich said
he would give the people pure water he
was taken at his word. He broke his
word in this very important regard, and
for that one reason, if for no other, he
should be defeated
But there are other good reasons why
he should not be reelected.
Another question with which he
promised TO grapple was the electric
light, What did he do? For years the
people had been groaning under the
burden of excessive rates, and Mr.
Stsrkweathcr had taken steps to erect
al independent plant as soon as the
franchise of the old company expired,
unless rates were reduced to figure
considered TO be right and equitable.
lie was willing to allow the company
SO per year for lights. But he was de
feated. Mr.. Dietrich then took hold of
the question, and after considerable
discussion and the exercise of his veto
power, he got what he considers fair
contract from the company, or lights
at the rate of $50 per year for three
years. Experienced engineers how
ever say that while the contract calls
for lights Of 1000 candle power those
being supplied are not more than 300
candle power. SO that whatever rcduc-
ton the company has made in rates it
has made up by supplying poor lights
at less cost, and the people are still be-
ing skinned. Here aga,n Mr. Dietrich
has deceived tie pC0nle
The refundinC Of the city special i'm
provement debt was another matter
with which Mr. Stsrkwealher had made
some progress when he was defeated.
He and his advisers settled upon the
very scheme carried out by the present
administration. with the exception that
the bonds procured 10y their prodcces-
sors We're declared Illegal and Others
secured. The saving to the city for
which Mr.. Dietrich claims credit be-
longs 10 Mr.. Stsrkweather and the city
officials who acted with him. In this
respect again Mr. Dietrich has shown
his unEtness 10 fl the position he oc-
yIples.
Re also claims credit III his manifesto
IT having secured reduction in the
S'a:e TAX, carefully avoiding TO mention
the fact that he was assisted by Mr..
on, Mr. Bright and other gentle
any one OF whom had more lntiu-
han be, besides it has been ad-
i y the Madison officials that 10
"a .cI and Mr.. Bright more than