Fergus County argus., 1903-03-18
APPROACHING
ELECTIONS
The Usual Apathy Exists Among the
City Political Warwieks in Re
gard to the Coming Contest
THE PLACES TO BE FILLED
The Election of School Trustees An
Important Matter-No Road Su-
pervisors to be Elected.

With the approach Of April the pol
iticians are beginning to turn their
fancies to thoughts of the coming elec-
tions. No pronounced activity has yet
been made manifest. however, and
Lewlstown Is somewhat behind her
sister cities in her interest in the ap-
preaching contests. If the usual pre-
cedent is followed this year, this leth-
argy will continue until about five
days before the 9Th of April, but dur
ing those last five days there will be
enough rustlin' around to make up for
the slow start.
The election is rather an important
one for the city A mayor, three coun-
cilmen, police magistrate and treasur-
er are to be elected. During the ad-
ministration of the present mayor and
council the city has made an excel
lent start along lines of progression
and civic improvement. To elect men
to the different places who will be a
unit in continuing this excellent work
should be the desire of all public-spir-
tied citizens.
1t is not within the scope of this
article to attempt any prophecies as
to who will be the nominee of one
party or the other, neither is 1t deem
ed necessary to make any suggestions
Of available men. Sufficien. to say
that on the 9Th Of April there will be
elected successors to Mayor George
w. Cook, Alderman l.. w. Eldridge,
OF the First ward; Frank E. Wright,
OF the Second ward; A. w. Stoddard.
Of the Third ward; Police Magistrate
F. F. MacGowan and City Treasurer
Arthur Wright.
Second in interest to the city cleo
tion Is the election of two school trus-
tees of district No. /. Frank Moshner
of the Corbly section and Griffin Nc
Hugh OF Castle Butte neighborhood
are the retiring trustees. II is the
usual custom to elect a trustee from
each Of those out of town sections of
the district and no doubt this custom
will be followed out in the present
election. Lewistown has been most
fortunate in her school trustees for
some years past, having had men on
the board who were unanimous in
their desire to promote the welfare
of the schools OF the district. The
improvements made in the school sys-
tenn during the past two years has
been most remarkable and the con-
stantly increasing attendance at the
schools makes it imperative that there
should continue to be a progressive,
business-like board in control of our
school affairs.
On the 18th day Of April comes an
other election the outcome of which
is not more important to Lewistown
than to the rest of the county. The
special election, called by the county
high school trustees for the purpose
Of voting on a proposition to bond the
county for 100000 to secure the money
necessary to put up good high school
building, is discussed at length else
where in these columns. The county
high school is the center of the school
system of the county and having been
created, should be given a home and
literally supported at all times.
Every child in the county has the
privilege Of partaking of its benefits
and each succeeding year will demon
strate its increasing importance.
The usual interest attaches to the
school elections throughout the coun-
ty. From one to two trustees will be
elected in each district and. in some
cases, the patrons will have to vote
upon proposition to increase the in
debtedness Of the district for building
improvements. A new feature, and
most important one, in the coming
election is the vote on the free text
book question. This is in accordance
with the new school law enacted by
the late legislature. The matter has
been tried successfully in some of the
eastern states and the April school
election will determine whether or not
the voters Of Montana are in favor of
the departure from the old system.
Certain il is that in Fergus county
the spirit Of Improvement has spread
| from one side to the other and IL Is a
matter Of but a few years when all OF
the lily constructed buildings ana
poorly equipped school houses shall
be no more
Under the old law the election OF
road supervisors often added zest to
the spring elections; but the new law
makes these officials appointiye. so
that this feature of the election is
eliminated.