The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-09-24
PLAN IS NOW IN GOOD
LABORING CLASSES ARE PLEASED
WITH ITS OPERATION.
Letters Received By Charles K. otto
From Secretaries of the Des MOines
and Sioux Falls Commercial Clubs
That Offer Testimony as to the
Workings of New System; st.
Peter Has It's Eye on Mankato.

That the commission or Des Moines
plan of municipal government meets
with the approval of the business and
laboring men, as we'll as the bankers
and financiers, is evidenced by the
statements contained in the letter
which Charles X. Otto, secretary OF the
Mankato Commercial club, received
from the secretary of the Commercial
club at Sioux Falls. The letter reads
as follows:
Liked BY Laboring Men.
Sioux Falls, Sept. l6. l9O9.-Mr.
Charles X. Otto, Secretary Man
kato Commercial Club, Mankato,
Minnesota. Dear Sir: We are in
receipt of your letter of the 10Th
inst. in re the commission form
of city government as operative
in this city.
The commission form of govern
ment is popular in Sioux Falls.
While it cannot be said that the
labor organizations have any di-
rect representation on the present
board of commissioners, the gen.
eral attitude of the laboring men
seems to be that the mayor himself
is their accredited representative and
has their welfare at heart. In
quiry of opinion among different
citizens seems to point out that
the commission form of city gov
eminent has not effected labor or
CARNATIONS in any respect from
the old form; but that, If any
effect has resulted, it has been
toward improvement. Whatever
salaries of appointive officers are
higher than under the old plan is
due, in the opinion of many, to
a sense of Justice of what the po-
sitions deserved, and would have
occurred in any event. Yours
very truly, The Commercial Club
of Sioux Falls, H. E. Wyllie, secre-
tary.
Likewise in Des Moines.
Des Moines, Iowa., Sept. II,
l9O9.-Charles X. Otto, Mankato,
MINI. Dear Sir: Replying to
yours of the 18th, the laboring
men of our city like the commits
sion form of government very
much as do all the citizens of
Des Moines. Those who were OPP
posed to its adoption are now
firm supporters of it. We have
seen decided improvement in all
the departments. We have cleaner
streets, better sidewalks, the parks
are kept up better and we have
seen an improvement in the police
department. One great advantage
is the fixing of responsibility on
one party instead of half dozen
as under the old plan.
Any further information | can
give you, [ shall be glad to fur
nish. Respectfully, Gels Botsford,
secretary.
St. Peter Looking to Mankato.
There is talk of organizing COM
mission to draft new charter for
St. Peter. The people in that city
IRE awaiting the outcome of the vote
in this city on Sept. q, and should
it be favorable to the adoption of the
charter, it is quite likely that st.
Peter will move to have similar laws
for its guidance. A st. Peter saloon
keeper remarked to a Mankato man
yesterday that he could not understand
why the Mankato saloonmen were OPP
posed to the proposed charter. He could
not find line in it that was inimical
to their interests.
Other cities throughout the state are
keeping an eye on Mankato, awaiting
the outcome of the contest for and
against progression. Mankato is in the
limelight.