Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-12
Tire e.fourths Of Registered Vot.
ers Have Already Signed
For Central Site.
Seventy Volunteers Circulated
Petitions-Great Enthusiasm
Ali Not Yet Seen.
East End Slow In Starting
About 500 Names For
Main Street.

standing of the local interest taken in
the postoff1ce question until one admits
that the town is on fire. Early yester-
day morning no less than seventy men
were busy circulating petitions for the
central, public square site. Every man
was VOLUNTEER and his enthusiasm
knew no bounds. BY night the returns
showed over 1850 signatures, with very
few Implications, and today's figures
foot up strong 2,100 out of possible
$500 voters, registered at the last cleo
ton. The east end men had two men
out most Of the day yesterday, and a
few during part Of the day. BY night
they had secured twenty-eight names
on their two main petitions and con-
ference was held. Division arose in
their camp. Some were willing to ac-
knowledge defeat and others were In
favor of trying to rally. Today more
petitions have been out and their rec
ord would show possibly 400 or 500
1t Is inconceivable that so great a
proportion Of the citizens could have
been even seen in one day, but the en-
ergy Of the central location men was
Irresistible. About 8 o'clock yesterday
morning two men fastened for the de-
pot districts to be first on the ground.
but there they found Bert Bingaman,
harness merchant, established in the
center Of Third avenue at the railroad
crossing, hailing every teamster that
crossed, and his petition showed forty
eight names already.
At the Central shops, as has been
told, the men took the matter into their
own hands, and sent the circulator for
more paper to hold the signatures. The
result showed 225 Of the workmen In
favor of the public square site.
There is so little to tell Of the work
of the other side, for the reason that In
formation is withheld, so that any ac-
count will seem biased. out 1t is known
that one east end property holder. who
heretofore has not been known In this
controversy, worked all yesterday
afternoon to get his own name, as some
enc put it, for he was unable to secure
another one, and returned to the com-
mittee with the report that they would
have to designate their site definitely
before he could get people to sign. BY
rersistent work today much better sue
cess has resulted. The public square
retition circulators found in their can
vass fully 10 per cent Of the citizens
in favor OF the Boardman site.
Many interesting incidents enlivened
the day. Several unsuccessful attempts
we're made to circulate petitions thru q
ibrickyard owned by man who favored
the Boardman site, but all failed.
whereupon b. "A. Morgan and DR.. Janss
tried 1t. The doctor slipped around
among the men and secured all but two.
while Ben entertained the proprietor
with funny stories about the weather.
In a large factory public square Pc
t;tioners were unable to make any
Roadway being told by the men tnat
II had been suggested that they not
sigma carriage was sent for the propf1-
etor who was sick at home and ne was |
driven to his factory where he told his
men they were at liberty to sign any
petition they wanted to. Fsorty-tWc +
then signed for the public square site.
Duplications were sure to occur, but /
II ia remarkable how few there are
One man signed a petition In front OF
Densel & Wilbur's store. His wife
signed for him at home. Both hurried
around and withdrew the names and
then when they learned what each had
done the daughter was sent back to
notify Mr.. Wilbur to allow the fathers
signature to stand. People all over the I
city were SO we'll determined in their
own minds as to what they wanted thas I
thew were careful not to sign more
than one paper for fear OF jeopardfzing
the whole.