The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-10-24

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in earnest. One feature of the cam
paign, surprising to say the least, is
the lack of enthusiasm, as compared
to that of two years ago. The fact
that there are only two candidates
for the Office of Mayor, the present
incumbant, Wallace G. Nye and AL
derman James D. Williams, prob
ably accounts for this state of affairs,
but it is these quiet campaigns that
are conducive of the biggest sur
prises. Unfortunately for Minneapo-
lis. which, at the present time. is
growing faster than any American
city, there has crept into this cam
paign some of the most unspeakable
and despicable petty politics that has
been in any campaign for twenty
years or more.
In the preceding paragraph said
unfortunate and I really deem that
but weak word to express the real
import of these filthy tactics.
In Chicago, in some wards, we
have had the spectacle of canal
dates for City Offices colonizing all
the cheap bed house with the riff
raft" of the world. The same is true
of New York and some other of the
larger cities, but in Minneapolis this
method of securing votes for candi-
dates has been entirely lacking, to
the credit OF Minneapolis be it said.
But there are more low-lived ways
of playing politics than that of col
onization, and, no matter how strong
the denials on the part of some of
the candidates the fact remains, new
ertheless, that advantage has been
taken through the manifested inter-
est in other affairs, to inject, into
the present campaign, some very
filthy invectives.
Minneapolis is seeking outside
publicity; Minneapolis is growing
and making bid for more factories
and for more businesses. The spec
tacle of candidates for office appeal
ing to religious bigotry is to be de-
plored and the better element of Min
neapolis should rise up in its just
wrath and, by their votes on Novem-
Der third, demonstrate that Mime
apolis is City for the religious be-
liefs of whose citizens the officials
have the greatest respect. If any
candidate for office tells you that it
is impossible for him, in his official
capacity, to respect your religion,
whether you are Catholic or Prot
estant, that candidate is deliberately
telling you an absolute untruth and,
if he lends himself a party to any
such bigotry, he is unfit to represent
the people of Minneapolis in any po-
sition of trust or in any office, the
duties of which give him an oppor-
tunity to give vent to his spleen,
thereby leaving Minneapolis open to
criticism of the outside world. He is
usrrping his powers and prostitute
ing his office.
Aldermanic Contests.
In the first ward ex-Alderman John
Ryan is giving Alderman Geo. V.
Ziemer the race of his life and until
the votes are counted on the night
of November third, it is hard to tell
who will represent the ward in the
Council for the next four years.
the next four years.
In the second ward Alderman Jo-
siah M, Chase seems to have the edge
on his opponent, John F. McGovern,
but the latter may make one of his
| famous "round the end runs for a
touchdown" while his friends are
"blocking Chase's tackle"
In the third ward the old war
horse, Claus Mumm is giving Alder
man Hill the hardest battle of his
career and his friends assert that
he will be elected.
The fourth ward presents two new
candidates for Alderman in William
A. Currie and Frank Ferrin. Both
men are working hard with probably
the biggest array of boosters behind
Mr.. Currie, but Mr.. Ferrin is making
quiet campaign, circularizing the
ward with literature, giving his Views
on how the business of the City
should be transacted by the City
Council.
In the fifth ward Harry H. Downes,
not a new candidate for the office,
but mighty good business man, is
making great campaign against AL
derman William Hooker.
The sixth ward race is between AL
bert Bastis and E. German Larson,
young attorney who has developed
into a formidable candidate. Both
men are confident, but Mr.. Larson, at
this stage, seems to have the edge.
Alderman Morris McInerny Is
serenely confident Of his ability to
ry.r-.lnk I,,$ NE~ Mol,