The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-08

" plcdu ldCk Oh COuuuSuCC III Their
ability to make use of the opportunity
offered.
| Keokuk is presented with an oppor-
tunity that has come or can come to
few towns and it is now up to the
citizens to demonstrate whether they
are sufficiently aggressive and alert
to seize and make proper use of the
opportunities at hand.
| No town has ever been built up by
a political ring. A few have prosper
ed and made progress in spite of the
domination of political intriguers, but
these are exceptions and those towns
which are recognized as leaders have
been built up by the citizens forget
ting personal prejudices and party
lines and pulling solidly together for
the best interests Of the community
as a whole.
1 Under the old administration of past
years no new industries of any extent
were added to Keokuk. No new OPP
portunities we're opened UP for the
wage Garner to secure q wider range
of employment at better wages and
under better conditions. Is it reason
able to believe that the average wage
earners of Keoluk will favor a return
1 to power of the men who took much
and gave nothing in return?
4 Much unmerited criticism has been
made against Mr.. Cooper for simply
| having expressed the hope that the
administration of city affairs would
be placed In the hands of men who by
experience and training were qualified
to carry on the business of the city
and the upbuilding OF the town on
business lines.
Gratitude is one OF the most COM
mendable virtues To fail to appre-
oiate favors is evidence of selfish
and narrow mind. Mr.. Cooper and the
people he represents are directly and
WIDELY responsible for Keokuk hay
ing the opportunity today of becom-
4 ing prosperous growing town.
4 They are asking nothing. They
have received and in investing the
millions that they are in the water
power project it is but natural that
they should wish that the admins
tration of city affairs be in the hands
of men of calibre sufficient to for
get ring politics and work constantly
for the good of the entire town.
AS manufacturer who looks al
these questions from practical stand
point, have no hesitancy in stating
that new Industries will not seek q
location in Keokuk or any other towr
where the city government is in the
hands of a political ring.
Mistakes have possibly been made
during the past two years by the pres
ent administration but it must be re
! membered that they were blazint
their own trail, under a new form o
: city government and that they no
only had to take up their duties unde
difficult conditions but also over
come prejudice and tangled stat
. of affairs that made their task doubl,
: hard Their administration has bee
Q able. honest and clean and is entirel
r worthy of the support of every citize
8 who has the real interests OF the cit
at heart.
In the words OF the old German VIII
offered advice to newly appointe
assistant, This Institution is at las
running smoothly-now don't stop
till you know how to start it,
To support the present ADMINISTERS
ton means the Keokuk we all want
, to support the opposition means droT
ping back in the old rut and the onl
difference between rut and gray
is the depth-let's keep Keokuk OH
OF the grave by re-electing Elder b
an Overwhelming majority.
/ Respectfully,
G. M. RICH.