Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-31
Canvassing For s'igners to Petit
ton to Relocate the Court
House E'egun
MAY BE A BITTER CONTEST
The Money for the Expense of Making
the Preliminary Canvass Has Been
Raised - Effort to Enlist Malcolm,
searsboro and Other Towns in the
Fight.
Special to Times-R Republican

Special to Times-Rerublican
Grinnell, March 31.-The work of Sc
curing names on the petition for re-
locating the county seat is fairly
started, and has been pushed with an
energy from the moment of the first
public mention of the matter that
promises well for ultimate success.
The managing committee established
headquarters at the L%anphere and Of
fee on Fourth avenue and yesterday at
that center was a day of feverish un-
rest, but of methodical execution. The
finance committee, consisting of III. w.
Spaulding. c.. HI. Morse, Hon. C. w.
Carter and Hon. j. p. Lyman, reported
owe $1,000 subscribed before noon.
This had been SO fully anticipated by
the managing committee that the 9TH
er work had been vigorously pushed
and a vast mount OF detail matter
arranged when that report was pre-
sented. Malcolm and Brooklyn had re-
sponded promptly by phone and prom
bsed cooperation, and committees
from Grinnell We're sent to both places.
Malcolm called a mass meeting of citi-
zens for today. In S%earsboro active
work had already t,egun. The cam
paign a completely mapped out be-
fore the public meeting was called
here, subject to the decision Of the
business men of the city at the meet
Ing. The project meets with q sur
prising unanimity OF feeling and ex-
preston among the people here, altho
the difficulties of the initial movement,
owing to the shortness of time for Sc
curing these names. is not UNDER
estimated. The territory to be can
vassed Is Systematically mapped out
and C man is given only so much
as ought to be covered under ordinary
conditions in two or three days. Great
stress has been laid upon presenting
the matter fairly. squarely, honestly,
to the people. To this end a printed
circular has been pat into the hands
of every and thousands Of
these circulars have been and will be
mailed to voters in The territory to be
covered by the canvass. About thirty
cams and sixty or more men will be
at work today, and will continue to
NpIk So lOilS DIS laeFe Is HeGu. lIleEe
is no fienzy or furore in his move-
ment, but there IS 81 settled conviction
that the county seat ought, as q mat
ter OF convenience and economy to
nearly the entire county, to be located
at Grinnel1.
1t Is about twenty years since a
movement in this direction was made.
At that. time local j~ealousies in towns
or the Rock Island road We're quite
largely responsible for defeat of the
project. Since that time conditions
have materially changed. Every year
there Is increasing need In these towns
of ready access to rh,a county seat; and
the inconvenience of the present loca-
ton, in these days of rapid transit, be-
comes more annoying. entafling loss of
both money and valuable time. 1t Is
sincerely hoped by the citizens of Grim
nell that, while there. will naturally be
a strong contest, and some hard feel
ing. no such deep seated and long con-
tinued animosities will be created as
have arisen in some counties of the.
state yer attempts to change the
County seat.
The committee on management is
composed of the following gentlemen:
r. NJ. Haines, j. II. Patton, G. H. Nc
Murray, A. D. Talbot and r. G.
Courts.