The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-12-19
''Peace on Earth Good Will to
Men" Keynote of Meeting
Held Last Night.
ATTENDANCE, SMALL
BUT ENTHUSIASTIC
League Leaders Counsel Caution and
Are Confident Alignment of Issues
Will Be Same as in Campaign of
Year Whiting Withdraws as
Candidate for Treasurer.


Will Be Same as in Campaign of
Year Ago-Whiting Withdraws as
Candidate for Treasurer.
"Peace on earth good will to men,"
was the keynote of a small but en-
thusiastic meeting of the Progressive
league held at the city hall last night.
No action was taken on the platform
of issues on which the candidates Of
the league will go before the people
on February 3. 1t was decided to
abandon the proposed banquet until
after election, committee was ap-
pointed to solicit new members and
stir up interest and several speakers
expressed the conviction that the
cause Of the league was stronger than
ever before the people and would be
endorsed by the election of every one
of its candidates.
Other speakers recognized the ex-
istence of split in the ranks of the
league by referring to the fact that
such old familiar faces as those of
Conrad Mattson and Carl r. Johnson
were missing from the ranks, and one
enthusiast declared he believed the Or
ganization was strengthened thereby.
Alderman McGhee, the leagues
candidate for mayor, said he had been
informed that a story was being cir
culated to the effect that he had voted
against the schools Of the city when
he cast a negative vote in a bond
election to authorize funds for the
building of one of the city's schools.
Mr.. McGhee explained his position on
the matter and said he voted against
the proposition because the life of the
bond issue proposed was but one year.
He declared his record as member of
the school board was open to investi-
CATION and said he stood for schools
in Virginia sufficient and sufficiently
equipped to meet its every. ,a.eaea salsaG]
educational lines from liberal stand
point, while he believed also that the
interests of the large taxpayers should
be fairly considered.
William Fitzgerald eulogized Mr..
McGhee's record as school official in
staunch defense and other speakers
spoke along similar lines.
Mayor Murphy counseled a gum
shoe campaign for the present to the
end of more thorough organization
and ct his suggestion the matter of
adopting platform and filling vacan-
cies on the ticket in several of the
wards was left open until January 2,
the date of the next meeting. 1t was
limited during the course of Mr.. Muir
phys remarks and in talk by Presi-
dent Hughes that some of the candi-.
dates that have already been endorsed
by the league appeared to be inclined
to stray from the Progressive league
flock and stress was laid on the fact
that the campaign must be financed.
The report of Secretary Whiting
showed the funds in the treasury at
the present time to be something over
$29. Funds will be available, however.
The record of the league was re-
viewed by other speakers and it was
held that the people would endorse
its candidates at the polls by reason
of the successful elimination of the
fight for the purchase of the electric
light and water plant, which was still
a worthy issue and one which the
league would be able to take up in
an interesting and effective way dur
ing the campaign.
Frank Whiting announced his will
ingness to withdraw as candidate
for city treasurer in favor of any
member of the league who might de-
sire the position more than he did.
Lull In the Campaign.
That the city campaign will not
reach its height until after the holi-
days period is passed is evident this
week. The announcement of the can
didacy of Edward C. A. Johnson for
mayor was the big event of the
week. Mr.. Johnson and his friends
are working quietly, but the johnson
campaign will not be on in earnest
until after the first of the year.,
Alderman Boylan, who is also a
candidate for mayor is most active Of
all the mayorality aspirants at pres
ent. Mr.. Boylan is losing no oppor-
tunities to extend the glad hand or to
smile on the people and is making one
of his old-time campaigns, which in
his candidacy for alderman has al
ways heretofore been very effective.
He said Tuesday he welcomed the en-
try of Mr.. johnson into the race and
believed it would result in his election
by large majority.
Bliss Not Candidate.
Rumors that Lafayette Bliss would
be candidate for mayor, following
the announcement of Edward C.. A.
johnson, were set at rest Wednesday,