Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-21

ward Norman spoke with a directness
and conviction that the Christian peo-
pie of Raymond were learning to re-
spect deeply because SO evidently sincere
and unselfish. A part 81 that editorial
is also a part of this history:
"It 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, a COM
plete surprise to the city politicians
who have been in the habit of carrying
pn the affairs of the city as if they
owned them and every one else was
imply 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 heretofore taken no
part in the city s affairs entered the pri-
mary and controlled it. nominating
rome of the best men for all the offices
to be filed 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 no-
known to many Of the ward politicians,
made one of the best speeches ever
heard in Raymond. 1t was almost ln-
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 hop Tho
consternatlon deepened as the primary
proceeded ana 1t became evident that
the OLD tlme ring OF city rulers was ont
numbered. henry Maxwell. pastor of
the FIRST church; Milton Wright. Alex
ander Powers, Professors Brown. Will
lard and Park OF Lincoln college, Rey.
John west, Dr. George Maine OF the
Pilgrim church. Dean Ward of the Holy
TRINITY and scores OF well known bEsi-
ness and professional men. most OF them
church members. were present. and it
did not take long to see that the5' mad
all come With the direct and definite
purpose OF nominating the best Elen
possible hlost-of these men had meyer
been seen in primary. They were
Z! complete strangers to the politicians.
but they haa evidently profited by the
pollticlan's methods and We're able l,y
organized ana united effort to nominate
the entire ticket
''As soon as it became plain that the
primary was ont of their control the
regular ring Withdrew in disgust and
nominated another ticket. The News
simply calls the attention of all decent
cltl2ens to the fact that this last ticket
contains tAa names OF whisky men, AMI
the line IS distinctly and sharply drawn
between the narhine and corrupt city
government such as We haRs known
+ II eic;eess hess'st. pa
ouslnessilke city administration. such
as every good citizen ought to want.
IT Is not necessary to remind the people
! OF Raymond that the question Of local
b option comes up at the election. That
! VIII De vac mos. important qIestlon
On tlle eicaes Inc Crisis o. our cay
/ aiiaiiS MS pseu 1e''chcu. Ing issue
IS squarels psIo.e Us ehah we Coz
I,ii'e .ile tale OF rum ara oooale ana
shaineiess incomietehcy. or shaA We.
/ rs Fresloe!it MARSH silla IN ms noble
speech rise rs sooa citlzens ana be-
i-slh new oraer OF thlnss: cleansing
our cry Oh inc worst enemy Known 10
nluhlcipai honesty ana DONG what hes
m our power 10 40 with the oallot-to
purify our CIVIC me!
/ The News Is positively and without
reservation on the side OF the new
movement we SINH henceforth Go al
In our power to drive ont the salcan
and destroy It's political stren.sth we
snail advocate the elecsion OF men nom
mated by the majority OF citizens met
IN the nfst primary. and we eaii upon
all Christians. church memoersrnd 10y.
ers OF right purity. teniperanc'> and
nome to stand by President Marsh and
the rest OF the citizens who have shTfs
begun a long needed reform In oHr
city.
President Marsh read this editorial
and thanked God for Edward Norman.
AT the same time he understood well