Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-31

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not the only present that the town
has received today" which was deli
cate way of insinuating the name of
the donor of the feast without actual
ly mentioning it.
The election of dozen minor Off
GERS calls for no special attention, ex-
cept to record the fact that Abner
Stiles, who had cautiously taken po-
sition several settees removed from
Strout, arose as the nominations were
made for each office. and in every case
nominated Mr.. Obadiah Strout for the
position, and it is needless to add that
Mr.. Obadiah Strout had at least one
vote for each Office in the gift of the
town.
The nomination of collector of tax
es for the town was finally reached.
Abner Stiles was first on his feet,
and being recognized by the Moderat-
or, nominated "Mr. Obadiah Strout,
who had performed the duties of the
Office SO efficiently during the past
year"
Now the battle royal began. Mr.. To.
bias Smith next obtained the floor and
nominated Mr.. Wallace Stackpole.
I'm presenting this nomination, Mis-
ter Moderator, do it out of justice to
an old soldier who served the country
faithfully, and who lost the election a
year ago on account of an untrue state
ment that was widely circulated and
which could not be refuted in time to
affect the question OF his election.
hold in my hand three documents. The
first one is certified copy Of the war
record of Wallace Stackpole, who en-
tered one Of our regiments Of volun-
teers as a private, served throughout
the war, and was honorably discharged
with the rank Of captain This record
shows that during his. four years Of
service he was three times wounded;
in one instance so badly that for
weeks his life hung by a thread, and it
was only by the most careful treat
ment that amputation Of his right arm
was avoided. I hold here also the
war record of the present incumbent
of the Office. From it learn that he
entered the army as private and was
discharged at the end of two years
still holding the rank Of private, and
sent home as an invalid. He is not to
blame for this, but inspecting his rec
ord I find that within month after
he Joined the army he was detailed for
service in the hospital, and during the
two years of his connection with the
army he was never engaged in single
battle, not even in a skirmish.'
Cries rose from certain parts of the
hall in opposition to the speaker, and
| Deacon Mason remarked that while It
was perfectly proper to compare the
war records of the two candidates for
| tho rnciftnp ~ y,ct1 H. h
that because man was soldier, or,
rather, because he did a little more
fighting than the other one. was no
reason that he would make a better
tax collector.
The Moderator'si remarks were
greeted, with applause, and Strout's
face frightened.
Il am glad to see, the Deacon's
bound to have fair play. said he to an
old farmer who sat next to him.
WAL, guess you're more liable to
git 1t than you are disposed to give it,,
drawled the old farmer, who evidently
was not an adherent of the present In
cumbent of the Office.
Mr.. Tobias Smith continued his re-
marks:
! Il acknowledge the correctness OF
the remarks Just made by our honored
Moderator, and desire to say that I
hold In my hand a third document,
which is statement of the taxes due
and collected during the past twenty
years by the different persons who
have held the office of tax collector
find during nineteen years of that time
| that the lowest percentage Of taxes
loft pInnoid a - 80
5 per cent; the highest percentage dur
Ing these nineteen years, and that oc-
Cured during the war, was IA per
cent; but find that during the past
year only Is per cent of the taxes due
have been collected, leaving 20 per
cent still due the town, and the non
receipt of this money will seriously
hamper the selectmen during the. com.
ing year, unless we choose a man who
can give his entire time. to the bust
ness and collect the money that is due.
This statement is certified to by the
town treasurer, and ! do not suppose
that the present Incumbent will pre-
sumo to question Its accuracy"
Strout evidently thought that fur
Their discussion Of the matter might
work to his still greater disadvantage,
for he leaned over and spoke to one
Iof his adherents. who rose and said
Mister Moderator, this discussion
has taken a personal nature, in which
am not disposed to indulge. don't
think that anything will be gained by
such accusations and comparisons. It
strikes me that the last speaker is try.
ing to give tit for tat because his can
didate lost at the last election; but l
am one, of those who believe that Grim
nation recrimination avail nothing,
and move that we proceed to vote at
once"
Second the motion!" screamed Abb
ner Stiles from the settee on which
he had assumed standing posture.
The vote was taken. Those in favor
Of Obadiah Strout being called upon to
stand up first, they numbered exactly
101. Then those in favor of, Wallace
Stackpole were called upon to rise,
and they numbered 2S4; several citi-
zens, having put in an appearance at
o'clock who had not attended the
morning session.
The next matter was the election of
the Board Of Selectmen; and the old
board was elected by reclamation
without a division The maotsno tb az