Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-22
RENlvALISTS GET
THE FIRST BLOOD
Carnival Decides to Avoid
Town in Face Of OPPOSE
ton Evangelist Now
Threatens to Close
the Saloons
fRy John A. Hall.l

The little city of Eldon, which neigh
bors Ottumwa on the southeast, 6ar-
bers a smoldering volcano and before
long there promises to be some start
ling and sensational developments,
which will shake the municipality to
Its very foundations, the results Of
which cannot now be even guessed.
A split in the city council is boldly
rumored on the streets and the mayor
Is being assailed on all sides by every.
body with the result that he is in a
most distressing and embarrassing
position. He is like the proverbial
fish, he dares not move for fear that
he will jump from the frying pan into
the fire.
The rock on which the city threat
ems to split is the saloon and liquor
question and just at present is the
pne all-absorbing topic Of CONVERSE
ton in the city, both on the streets
and In business places; in the church
and in the home and prominently in
the tent meetings, where Evangelist
G. F. Barrett is making strenuous Of
forts to make the residents see the
wickedness of the city and that Ell
don is veritable Sodom and Gomor
"a,
Mayor Edmund ]. Bradley, who was
elected on platform of an open town
is being bombarded on all sides with
appeals to close down on the city and
to put the lid on to stay. He is
being critised, ridiculed and fierce
ly attacked on the charge that he is
letting all kinds of vice go on under
his eyes and makes no efforts to STOP
1t. He is being charged with negli
gence of his duty, fear of consequences
Of doing right and many other things
which even the most bold hesitate K
state for publication
Says Hands Are Tied.
The mayor in his own defense states
that on account of the peculiar con
ditions that apply he can do nothing
unless the cases are brought befor;
him and that he is ready to prosecute
all cases within his Jurisdiction HI
states that being both mayor and DO
lice Judge as he Is under the presen
system of municipal government unde
which the affairs Of Eldon are admins
tered he is powerless to take the mi
tiative In prosecuting these cases OF
account Of holding his judicial positio,
as police Judge
Carnival We. Revival.
The city has been in a foment 10
some time and matters were brough
to a climax during the past few day
when 1t was proposed to allow a ca
nival company to come into the cit
during the stay of the evangelist an
the church people claim that it was
distinct and pre-meditated slap at tn
church and the religious work that 4
being done. Steps were taken immet
itely to prevent the carnival oompan
from coming to the city, while the r.
ligious meetings were being held an
Evangelist Barrett threatened that
the shows were allowed to come mi
the city, he would close the doors
every saloon in Eldon.
Rev. Barrett stated yesterday tn;
the mayor and three members of tt
council railroaded the matter throue
the council and granted a permit
the carnival company during the a
sence of three of the members of IL
council who would have opposed ar
defeated the proposition He al.
states that these three members
the council were strongly opposed
the matter from the start and are