Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-30
NoRRls, CHOSEN At. MASON CITY,
MAY De DARREp FROM
OFFICE.
RAN AZ PARTY CANDIDATE
WITHOUT PARTY ACTION
Nominated by petition, Nerr;. Run. ..
Republican Nominss-Was candi.
date Of Northwestern and standpat
and District Politics 10 Involved in
His Swinging Out.
Special to rimes-Republican.

Mason City, March 3O.-wiN r. NJ.
Norris become mayor Of Mason City?
That Is the question which today is
uppermost in the mind Of good many
residents of this city. Monday he was
elected mayor by plurality of sew
enty-two in field of seven candidates
Inc cry for the week previous was
anything to beat Norris" but there
was no opportunity open for the oppo-
s1tion to get together and the vote was
quite evenly divided between four can
dldates, with three receiving but light
votes.
\ new phase of the primary law is
brought out in the contest which is
quite likely to ensue. About three
weeks ago the city ward committeeman
met and it was decided by that body
that caucus should not be held Inn
mediatey after F. M. Norris filed nom
Iination papers under the appelation Of
republican" Robert NJ. Witwer filed
for city solicitor under the same. Sew
eral of the candidates 1memdiately filed
a verbal protest with the city clerk,
and Mr.. Witwer. being the city solic-
itor. was consulted with reference to
this question, and he insisted they had
a right to file as they did. The COM
mitteemen protested but all was Of no
avail. This city and county are over
whelmingly republican and all the cam
didates presented the same plea to the
city clerk, that they considered they
were handicapped in the fight.
Saloon Issue Enters.
There have been several meetings
called in different Offices of the city to
discuss the situation. The opposing
forces of Mayor-elect Norris are fear
full that a saloon fight will at once be
precipitated. There were several cam
didates in the field who favor the sa-
loon system and it is now thought that
this was done to bring out every pos
sible, voter who favored the saloon
system of regulation. From the result
Of Monday it would be very difficult
matter for saloon men to get much
comfort out Of the contest for while
a man that is about true of the anti
saloon vote for 2,O3S voted for mayor.
No Right to Use Party Name.
The law has been thoroughly gone
into regarding F. NJ Norris right to
use the republican head. and the best
attorneys think that he had no right.
Section 1887 Of the code reads this
way:
Nothing in this act shall be- con-
strued SO as to prohibit nomination OF
candidates for Office by petition a1 now
authorized by law; but no person 80
nominated shall be permitted to use
the name of any political party author
lied or entitled under this act to nom
mate a ticket by primary vote or that
has nominated ticket vote under the
provisions of this act"
District Politics Involved.
Back Of all this is another interest
ing story It is reported that F. NJ.
Norris was not candidate for mayor
on his own motion. Four months ago
Mr.. Davis. who is looking after the IN
terests Of the Chicago & Northwestern
railroad. and who is located at Des
Noines. made a visit to this city and I'M
mediately after he had left q friend OF
Mr.. Norris announced that he (F. NJ.
Norris) would be the next mayor OF Ma
son City, For many years Mr.. Norris mas
been found in the Blythe camp. He is
a standpatter from the ground up, ana
this contest, according to the opinions
OF some very shrewd politicians, Is only
q forerunner Of what is to come. AT the
end Of Senator HamnilPs term OF OF
Ace Mr.. Norris is to be a candidate for
that place. In event the situation does
not shane itself properly he will be
candidate for representative against
Arthur Pickford. That is the dope as
II Is now dealt out. Mr.. Norris In his
own right. is one Of the shrewdest pol
i.icians in this section of the state. He
is a great organizer and knows how
TO get the vote. The surprise Is that
Mason City being 80 overwhemmsly
nrorressiye should elect standpat to
the highest place in the gift OF the city.
However, at this writing. it looks
like he had hard fight before him be-
fore he will occupy the mayors chair.
The time Of his qualifying coming SO
quickly it may be necessary TO serve
an Injunction on him restraining MIN
from, assuming the duties Of the Office
before the legal question Of his right
to use the republican appellation Is
settled.