Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-19
THE GRINNELL ROW.
Papers and Preachers Arguing Over q
Very Small Question.

Editor Times Republican,: There ia
red-hot controversy going on between
the Herald and Gazette over the present
city government, and your corresponds
ent, Mr.. Thayer, has added fuel to the
flames. There is suspicion that it is
much ado about nothing and that the
boys are trying TO increase their circu-
lation.
The Herald says in effect that the
Gazette man is no better than an anar-
chist when he advises people not TO OBEY
the ordinance, and Patton comes back al
Ray and Cowden with hot shot. To this
the Herald vouches for the entire re-
spectability and sobriety of the mayor
and the councilmen. and likens ordi-
rance IT'S to the splitting ordinances, etc.
Incidentally the Herald charges Mr..
Thayer with statements that 1 don't
think Thayer made. haven't Thayer's
article before me, but as l remember 1t,
Thayer simply undertook to state the
charges and counter-ch charges, and Ven
tured no opinion as to facts.
Rev. Mr.. Stoddard took a hand and
branded all who opposed the mayor as
bad citizens, and now the Rev. Charles
Noble says: Our little city has been
cursed with company Of law-defying
hoodlums" etc.
All in all, neighboring towns think we
are having an awful time. The facts
are these: Back of Spaulding's factory
zig little pond that gathers surface wa
ter. Spaulding uses this water in his
boilers. 1t becomes very filthy. Spauld-
ing has spent a lot Of money in cleaning
it. The people who don't like Spaulding
say 1t ought to be destroyed. This is all
L can see in this controversy. The Sec
ond charge is: Spaulding imported
marshal from Des Moines. This Is true.
The expediency of going outside for
marshal may be question, but there is
no denying the fact that Munger is a
Sfirst-class officer, and don't believe
that anybody can say that he has
abused his authority, unless 1t be In
searching George Clifton's home This
\ appened while I was away, and
don't know the facts.
The great controversy is over the or
6inance, and 1t may just as well be con-
sceded that this statute is wholly indie
feasible. The city council has no power
to enact such a law, and If they had
such authority they ought to have
known better. Munger has not arrested
me, nor have any fears that he will. 4
venture the above opinion at the risk of
being called an arachfst and bad citi-
zen. There is no parallel between this
ordinance and the splitting ordinances.
No one questions the authority of a city
in the latter case. Such ordinances are
enforced in New York City and in Bos-
! Mt nd
enforced in Grinnell.
Now Grinnell has always borne an en-
yiable reputation as a peaceable, decent.
law-abiding town. have lived here
longer than any of the present actors
and critics. and with all due respect to
the Rev. Charles Noble, who is a SPLEEN
did gentleman, want to say he doesn't
know what he is talking about. Grim
rel is just as peaceable, decent and law
abiding as it ever was The hood
ilums" who are in the habit OF getting
drunk can be counted on ones fingers.
They are not bad They do not steal,
and bat one or two fight. They are SIM
ply idle, worthless, good-natured and
good-for- nothing fellows. They are not
worth killing, and the more repressive
the measures the more trouble they
make. What does the Rev. Mr.. Stod-
dard or the Rev. Mr.. Noble know about
.hoodlums'' anyway? They couldn't
call one of these "hoodlums" by name.
So far as am concerned feel just as
safe when passing these hoodlums as
any other people. and have yet to learn
the name of any lady" that has ever
been insulted by them. They will get
drunk, they like to get drunk and I have
no doubt they will get drunk as long as
they live, and for one do not believe it
worth while trying to reform them by
act Of city ordinance. The fact is they
are not worth reforming.
D. w. NORRIS.
cr;rna,, SAINT 10