Willmar tribune., 1909-03-17
WEDNESDAY, MARCH II, 1909.
THE CITY ELECTION.

incidents so far is the
statement in the Gazette that the
saloon question is a dead issue and
discouraging the re-submission of
the question. Good for the Ga
zette! Now should some of the ul-
tra-wet element insist on precipi-
tating the question, we hope the
Gazette will join in the fight to
make it dead question henceforth.
The Gazette wonders what has
become of the telephone question.
It is still unsettled so far as anyone
knows. The franchise of the local
exchange expired two years ago,
and nothing has been accomplished
during the past year to make this
corporation submit to the city's
control. The matter has just drift
ed along, just as the telephone trust
hoped it would continue to do.
Having won the contest for alder
man last spring by the help of the
railroad influence and liquor vote,
and later secured the election of its
own attorney to look after the legal
affairs of the city. it has been rest
ing easy. 1t has deferred the rails
ing of rates at Wlllmar until a
friendly mayor and business"
council be elected. If the tele-
phone agitation and the support the
Tribune has given it did not accom-
plish more, it has saved every tele-
phone patron in this city from $6 to
$l2 during the past year. The
trust has shown unusual sagacity in
handling its affairs at Willmar, no
doubt due to the able coaching it
has enjoyed from local supporters
and beneficiaries. But it doesn' t
feel very certain Of its ground un-
til it gets some understanding with
the city, and it no doubt much pre-
fers to have this contract written
with more pronounced friends in
control.
The people Of the city have a
right to be cautious about support
ing any move for a better "busi-
ness' administration, advanced by
the element that has been unhorsed
at Willmar during the past five
years. The citizens will not soon
forget the high finance of the last
much vaunted "business' council
that had $37 900 in revenue and
nevertheless quit nearly ten thous.
and in the hole. There have been
good conservative business men on
the council last year, and while the
Tribune has not entirely endorsed
all it's actions, on the whole no SER
ious fault can be found with the
manner in which the routine bust.
ness managed. Most tax payers
will not be disposed to criticise the
deep cut in taxation. The tax rate
is nearly eight mills lower than il
was last year. 1t is a question
whether so deep cut was wise,
with the growing needs of the city,
but it was evidently made in good
faith, and the Tribune would like
to see the same people responsible
for the reduction in taxes be given
the chance to make good in its ad.
ministration this year.
| Hans Peterson has made gooC
mayor in many respects. He stand:
firmly behind the police department
for the enforcement of law and hi:
|appointees are men whose sympa
thies are right with the dry polio,
of the city, and who work in har
mony with the county officials
There is a certain element tha
would like to see the lid pried of
occasionally, which is clamoring fo1
a little more "liberal" mayor. bu
the big majority of our citizens
prefer the cap on snug and proper
The water and light department
is making steady growth unde
the efficient and conservative boar'
appointed by Mayors Qvale ant
Peterson. The leaders of tn
business council agitation ar