Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-28
MUST Y"SCHEME
FORT DODGE'S MAYOR MUCH
AROUSED OVER PLAN.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
FORT DODGE, Iowa. March 2S-Dis-
sension is rife In Fort Dodge today over
the proposed ordinance which comes up
for final vote at the regular session of the
city council tonight The opposition has
been bringing every influence to bear In a
final effort to break the strength Of the
mayor in his determined stand for what
he calls "a crying need" viz. to compel
the hundreds of bachelors and spinsters
in Fort Dodge, which town he claims has
more of their kind than any other in the
west. to marry under penalty of a fine not
less than $40 nor more than $780,
The opposition has already won the sup
port of Judge Busby, a member Of the
council. heretofore in favor of the mar
riage ordinance. Spinsters and bachelors
have combined their forces In battle array
to support the opposition in its fight for
the defeat OF the measure. Mayor Ben
nett, on the other hand. Is equally deter
mined that his ideas on the subject shall
become a law in Fort Dodge. With this
condition of affairs in Fort Dodge the town
is wrought up from one end to the other
TO such an extent that communities, neigh
borhoods and families are at war with
each other In support of their views of the
matter.
Much Dissension.
Inc dlssenSon has entered the ranks Of
the business men and assumed the proper
tons of boycott inaugurated by the
spinsters who declared one today on the
Grand Leader department store because its
manager Jerome Courtney, had openly
avowed his intention of supporting the
mayor In his fight. One enterprsing furni-
ture dealer has advertised that he will
give to the couple who will be married In
10 cy,lox Id,
nett fine bed room suite as a bridal
present.
Threatening communications continue to
pour In. The mayor s mail this morning
required bushel basket to hold it and his
entire time is now occupied in assuming
charge of his vast and extensive corre-
spondence. Nearly all of the communica-
tons are anonymous. Some of them are
very insulting and have aroused the
mayors wrath by their arrogance and
threatening aspect, to a high pitch. Il
hate a coward" he said this morning as
he finished reading an especially insulting
outbreak from Grand Rapids. Mich, land
II the writer of this anonymous letter was
before me at the present time l would de-
liver to him the dressing down he so
justly deserves. l have always felt proud
of my record as a soldier in the civil war.
have been in some pretty tight places
with the boys in blue. but no one can
justly accuse me of ever deviat!ng from
my path Of duty. When 1 was out on
Powder river our camp was suddenly at
tackled one day by rowing band of Sioux
Indians. We mounted our horses and
took after the redskins as soon as the
first shot was fired. Just how far we had
gone before 1 was deserted 1 do not
know. but upon looking back 1 found 1
was alone and the Indians had suddenly
slowed up in their flight. 1t was either
run or fight l concluded to fight. Leap
ing out of the saddle l sought shelter be-
hind a friendly mound of earth and pro-
ceeded to empty my Winchester into the
band. A few well-directed shots convinced
them that their danger was not over and
they turned and fled. 1 have just as much
fight in me now as 1 had then and don't
propose to allow any one to dictate to me
what my conscience will not support. This
ordinance will go through or l will know
the reason why. When 1t becomes law
l propose to see that 1t Is enforced If 1t
takes the entire police force.