Putnam patriot., 1911-11-24
Local Municipal situallon

the Democratic ticket as nominee to carry the standard of the Democratic party, in the December city election, causes rather a unique situation in 10. cal municipal affairs. This situation was brought about because no Demo- crat, who was considered by the party strong candidate for mayor, could be prevailed upon to accept the nomina' tion. This was emphatically apparent at the Democratic caucus where, after several had refused to allow their names to be used, it was suggested that the Republican nominee be en- dorsed or that the space on the ballot be left blank. Neither suggestion meeting with favor Dr. Omer LaRue, present alderman from Ward 1, was nominated, although Il was stated in the caucus in the plainest terms that the Doctor had refused to run, in Ian gnage that WIS unmstakable and forceful.
 Upon being informed Of tEe action of the caucus Dr. LaRue still adhered To his former position and nothing could shake his determination. This left the Democratic city committee in q guam dry. They had been empowered to fill all vacancies but they had no material at hand with which to fill il. And furthermore they had sent their nomi- nations to the Secretary of State to have the ballots printed. lt was iinal- ly decided that the best thing to dc was to leave the space on the ballot, for the nominee for mayor, blank. The city clerk was informed of the com mittee's decision and requested to no- tify the Secretary. lie did so and in reply was asked by the Secretary to furnish more authority for the change. J. Harry Mann, chairman of the Dem ocratic city committee, thereupon wrote the Secretary stating that it vas the wish of the committee to have the space left blank. And now it has been fully determined that there will be no name printed in the top space on the Democratic ticket.
 Asked what effect this would have, the chairman of the committee said that 1t would give the voters an op- poTtunity of voting for anyone whom they wished for mayor. He said that il was often heard said that one could not vote for who they wanted as the vote had to be east for the nominee of the caucus. This year there was an opportunity to express a preference for any citizen of Putnam, Notwith- standing that 1t has heretofore been printed upon the ballot, in effect, that anyone wishing to vote for n person whose name does not appear on the ballot should do so in designated blank column for that purpose, the chairman was of the opinion that name written in the blank space at the head of the Democratic ticket would be legal.
 There is no real opposition to the Re. publican nominee, Mayor Macdonald, to succeed himself as mayor. While we believe this is true 1t may be said that those who wish to see him con tinue in office hold different views as 10 why be should remain at the helm of the city government. Both classes embrace voters of either political party. The first class, who are supporters of the administration, and we believe ghnu in In ainFftN haliaNn he should remain in office to carry out the progressive policies he inaugurated and finish the work begun under his administration. They believe that the large debt already incurred in the progress of improvement and the fur. ther large debt that will necessari- lv be incurred when the city takes over the plant of the Putnam Water Com pany, are fully justifabe and com mendable under the eNigencies of the case. They believe that the welfare and health of the community demand ed sewers as preventing threatened calamity; also that the city should own it's own water supply, which they believe will mean better service, an in- come to the the city, and eventually cheaper rates. They lend their hearty support to these progressive measures and believe the man who inaugurated them and began the actual work to bring the plans he inaugurated to successful culmination should be left in position 10 carry them successful ly to the end.
 The second class, while probably ad. mitling that these improvements are necessary, do not believe that they were of 50 vital importance that the city could not get along as il has for wears rather than shoulder the burden of heavy debt. They believe that the administration that saw it 10 incur such burden as they consider the debt of the city to be should continue to carry the burden thus voluntarily assumed These are the existing cir cumstanees which lead one to believe that there is little if any opposition to Mayor MacDonaldiS candidacy, and il is further borne out by the fact that the Democratic party have put no one in the field against him. Under these conditions Mayor Macdonald should receive large vote although different
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