Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-02


cal Ottumwa and the republicans,
though they failed to elect their can
didates for mayor, police judge, so
licitor, and treasurer, are soon to be
represented in the council by six al
dermen as against three democrats.
There is still a fighting chance of
George Withall's winning from e.
Hoglund for the Office of alderman-at-
large, as Mr.. Hoglund has margin
of only three, according to the first
returns. Whether Mr.. Withall will
contest the election is question, but
he is today being advised to do SO by
prominent republicans who believe
that, in view of the many scratched
ballots cast yesterday, he has an ex-
cellert opportunity of winning out in
a trial.
Majorities Are Decreased.
The result of the hot campaign that
has been waged during the past sew
eral weeks by the republicans of OF
tumwa was shown last night when
the votes were counted and it was
found that instead OF being elected
with majoritics running to 665, as
was the case two years ago, several
of the democrats were undeniably
others held in 1901 were swept away
or materially lcsscned.
Big Charges.
For instance, w. r. Lewis, the dem
ocratic candidate for reelection to the
office of auditor was elected two years
ago for his first term by majority Of
665. Yesterday he was defeated by 81,
! &c orol wis q or
year Mayor Picker who last time
had SIG to spare, finished last night
with only 246 on the right side of his
ledger. Alderman Hoglund, who has
made strong individual fight for
election this year, was returned to
Office by a narrow margin Of three
votes over his next highest republican
candidase
The result of the present election
will be the appointment by the mayor
of the members of the police force, in.
Guiding the chief and captain. Mayor
Picker says he has paid little or no
attention to this matter and has given
no thought whatever to the matter of
the Appointment of the council COM
mittees. The council has the power
to appoint the members of the fire
department, street commissioner and
sidewalk commissioner. stenographer
in the clerks office and the city ply
stefan, or physician to the board of
& health.
"A Republican Victory.
Although the head of the ticket is
democratic, the republican leaders OF
at least the greater number of them
1sn NJ
the election. With six aldermen in
the council the party will have a
great deal of influence, and with sew,
en-, as it may have in case contest
should be made on the Hoglund vote
and should prove successful, it will
make the municipal government more
strongly republican that it has been
for several years in spite of the fact
that the mayor is a democrat.
The First Ward Surprise,
1t was body blow that Thomas F
Keefe received in the first ward. Fol
years Tom" Keefe has been the repre-
sentative of the bloody first" and has
: been regularly appointed chairman O,
the street committees of successive
councils. 1t has been practically con
CSQSu, do d SSlleidl RUE, llldL the HIS
ward would go democratic in the cit,
elections from 100 to 300 or more
However, William O'Malley changed
the game and as a result, r. F. Keef,
will be alderman from the first fol-
just one week moreno longer. The
result of the election in the first ware
4 is such an agreeable surprise to the
republicans that they have hardly tim,
to grieye for what might have been.
Mistake Found in Time.
When the election board in the fifth
ward came to count the ballots lasI
evening it was found that, contrary
to the expectations and fears of some
not a single fourth ward ballot was
voted in the fifth ward AS was men
toned in yesterdays Courier some Of
the ballots printed for the fourth
ward were sent to the fifth, but the
first one to be taken out of the pack
age was noticed in time to prevent
any trouble.
The City Vote.
The vote in the entire city and ir
the various wards for the seyeraI