Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-11-16
THE SAME OLD WHINE.

| towards THIS paper, cnarRe us Wltn
responsibility for the defeat of Mr..
Barfoot for Supervisor. This does not
surprise US. Since the editor of this
paper had the audacity to engage in
the newspaper business in DEBORAH
several years ago the editors Of the
Republican have grasped every oppor-
tunity to cast reflections upon him
and his business. The people of the
[ county know the struggle we have
| been compelled to make to establish
| this business upon sound footing and
to counteract the malicious influences
of these trouble makers. 1t is entirely
unnecessary for us to comment upon
this matter, but in justice to the 500
republicans of the district who cast
their votes for Mr.. jewell and who
have been insulted by this article, we
feel like relating bit of history.
In the fifth Supervisors district,
comprising Decorah and Madison
townships, there were 1881 votes cast
for Supervisor. The vote on the head
of the ticket shows that 1923 were re-
publican and 225 democratic. 1t IS a
recognized fact that quite a number
of democrats voted for Mr.. Barfoot.
Therefore, it was necessary for Mr.
Jewell to secure about half of the re-
publican votes cast to give him the
majority of 1873, or 702 votes, which
he received. This proves conclusive
ly that with a majority at least OF the
voters party lines were not drawn.
And then to say that we did it. 1t
robs those of the honor to whom it
rightfully belongs.
Anything that the editor Of this
paper could have done would not have
effected the result The people of the
district knew how they wanted to
vote, who they wanted to vote for and
against, and did it. They did it
without the solicitation or recommen-
dation of any newspaper or Official.
They did it for no other reason than
that they believed Mr.. Jewell the
best man for the position, and because
at this time more than any other the
district needed the services OF the
best man. They would have done SO
if this editor had been 100C miles away
from the district.
Three times before this the people
of the county have defeated Mr.. Bar
foot for public Office. we are told.
Three times when this editor was not
voter. when he did not know aud
had never heard of Mr.. Barfoot or Mr..
Jewell. And besides this they have
defeated him for nomination for the
same office within the party. Twice
before they defeateu Mr.. Barfoot for
this same office of Supervisor and in
this same district. And in doing so
they elected Mr.. Jewell's father,
Jacob Jewell. And once the entire
county defeated Mr.. Barfoot for Re-
preventative, electing Mr. ID. o. Aaker
of Ridgeway. He has never been
elected to any Office within the gift of
the county. although repeatedly an
applicant. Did this editor do all
these things? Is it strange that he
was again defeated this fall?
The editor of this paper was elected
delegate to the convention which
nominated Mr.. Barfoot for SupeIvis-
or, but declined the honor, for the
reason that he did not desire to be a
delegate to the convention in the
outcome of which he was personally
concerned The two sons of Mr.. Bar
foot we're delegates to the convention
which we have referred to. One of his
sons presided as chairman of this
Supervisors convention which nomi
mated their father, and the other was
the prime moving spirit in that con-
vention. There were four candidates
before that convention for the comi-
nation for Supervisor besides Mr.. Bar
foot, and not single one Of them
have supported Mr.. Barfoot during the
campaign just closed. And yet they
are all republicans, yes. better repub-
cans than Mr.. Barfoot or the writer of
the article herein referred to, and
have been for many years. Besides,
not single member of the present
Board of Supervisors supported Mr..
Barfoot for nomination or election.
They said it would be manifestly un-
fair to them, after what they had done
for Decorah, to place upon the Board
man opposed to che court house pro-
position. Men who have voted the re-
publican ticket for thirty and forty
years. many of them. voted against
Mr.. Barfoot, and did it without any
one approaching.t them or asking them
to do so.
In the light of all these facts, and
many others we might relate, is the
attack upon this writer by tho Repub-
lican justified in the least degree?
The defeat of Mr.. Barfoot was simply
the frank, honest, unhampered voice
of the people of the district regardless