Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-25
BARRETT TALKS
ON ELDON WAR
STATES THAT THE CITY is ON
THE VERGE OF RELIGIOUS UP,
HEAvAL, WHICH WILL STIR ALL
HE AVOIDS PUBLICITY
The Evangelist Working In the Neigh.
boring City, Is a Worker and Has a
Large Following Behind Him-Mer.
chants Interviewed.

Large Following Behind Hin1-Mer.
chants Interviewed.
Mayor e. j. Bradley of Eldon was in
Ottumwa yesterday on business and
calling on a number Of friends. He
discussed the situation in Eldon, in re-
CARDS to the saloon and Church fight,
with many Of his friends here. stating
that the conditions we're still the same
and That he Is unable to comply with
the demands Of the church people on
account Of his position in Eldon.
There has been no open act of hos
tility as yet on either side, except the
action taken by the church faction In
keeping the carnival company from
coming into the city, but the feeling
of the other faction Is nigh against
the church, people on account of their
action in regard to the carnival and
further developments are expected at
any time.
Rev. Barrett Interviewed.
The Courier representative inter.
viewed Rev. Barrett, the evangelist,
who is conducting the revival in FL
don on the condition of Eldon and he
claims that Eldon is on the verge Of
a great religious upheaval and that 1t
10 natural consequence that evils
such as the carnival would have
been,, as well as gambling and liquor
selling, would be attacked.
There Is no fight at present
to close the doors Of the Saloons
said Mr.. Barrett, but conditions are
such that IL we desire to do SO we
ca nclose the doors of every saloon in
the city and keep them closed. There
are five churches in this city and all
are united in the movement to purify
Eldon of all evil Influences"
Most bitterly did Rev. Barrett ar
raign the mayor of the city for allow
ing the existing condition of affairs.
These and kindred other reflections
were cast at his honor. the mayor of
Eldon, as the reverend gentleman ex-
pressed his disgust at the manner in
which Eldon is allowing evil to exist
as 1t does.
Mr.. Barrett seems to be a thorough
ly earnest and sincere minister of the
gospel and he deprecates anything that
borders on sensationalism His meth
DDS are not those of BILLY" Sunday,
but he gets results just the same. He
mas not yet began to call for converts
in Eldon but his meetings are being
attended to the limit of his tents ca.
pacity every evening and he Is con-
fident of converting large number
before he leaves the city. He states
that the citizens turn out generally
to hear him and that he is backed In
his work by the merchants Of the city
as whole. "Tnis tow mis- being turn
ed topsy turvy by religion" said the
evangelist land there will soon be
one Of the greatest upheavals this vi
cinity has ever known, Three mem
bers Of the council signed the petition
to keep the carnival from coming into
the city have won the people of the
city to my side, the merchants among
them. have won the people who
have not HERETOFORE been religious and
l believe that we will win the entire
city to Christ The town Is stirred to
It's depths and a great work will be
done here before leave. / am not a
sensational evangelist, am not Billy
Sunday. don't want publicity
may have to close the saloons here
to accomplish my purpose in doing
good for the city. If do have the
power to do So There is no move
ment in that direction, at present.
however. There are a number of bust
ness men in the city, who have I'M
portuned me to lead crusade against
the saloons and they would back me in
such an undertaking. They would al
SO place unlimited financial means at
my disposal.
Merchants Interviewed.
Getting both sides Of the question
from the two factions as out
lined in the Courier, 1t was
sition the merchants were
really taking. Both sides claimed that
they have the business interests with
the mand the Courier representative
visitd a numbr of the leading mer-
chants in order to sound their senti-
ments on the question. The majority
Of them stated that they believed in
tn church and tn church work and
that they would be solidly for the
adjustment of the liquor traffic en-
tirely and forever. IL that were posi-
BILE, but the majority Of them agreed
that 1t was impossible, as bootlegging
would become common If the lid were
place don the saloons and the evil
woul remain, while the city would reap
no benefit in the way Of revenue.
One merchant wanted the saloons
all placed in one place in order not TO
create nuisance In SO many parts Of
the city. Another was strong for clos
ing them up until he was asked how
the city would pay the necessary ex-
penses Of maintaining the city and the
ordinary improvements, which could
not be dispensed with. He then chang
ed his mind. not having taken this IN
to consideration before, and stated that
he would not vote to close the saloons.
The general sentiment among the mer-