Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-02-05
CALIFORNIA CONDITION.
TOskaloose Herald.

| CALIFORNIA CONDlI1ON.
[Oskaloose Herald.]
Back home when we heard anything
about the Panama Pacific Exposition
We thought of the show they are pre-
pairing to pull off at San Francisco
But down here in South California
it is hard to distinguish between San
Francisco and San Diego The San
Diego show is officially known as the
Panama California Exposition, though
both affairs are advertising as inter
national shows. San Diego claims to
be the nearest American port to the
canal and looks forward to great adj
vantage with the opening Of the great
waterway. OF course there are over
/ 500 miles intervening between San
Francisco and San Diego. but it looks
to a fellow up tree, like one or the
other is destined to be a side show,
and each Is bound to suffer by reas-
on Of the other. There are prophets
Of evil also who predict great shrink
age Of values and great industrial
troubles for the coast after the ex-
position-the forerunner Of which, the
great army Of unemployed, Is already
here Public enterprises are being
formed to give idle men something to
do. Thousands of them are on the
verge Of starvation and are glad to ac-
cept the preferred work at $1.25 per
dav. But the prospects for fruit and
the growing development Of the mineral
resources of the state together with
the ever present tide Of tourists. give
promise Of the usual prosperity. OIL Is
classed as mineral and the forest OF
derricks" near Los Angeles is a great
sight. The oil is in we'll defined strip
that runs like an underground river.
A few feet either way runs into dry
territory. One estate which owned a
big lot Of the land is drawing $4,000
per month In royalties. and is not wor-
/. rying over any phophesies OF exile or
hard times.
SOME REFORM MOVEMENTS FAIL.
dubuque Times Journal]
| A special election was held at Quincy
few days ago to decide on whether or
not the city should adopt the commits
sion form Of government. The PROPOSE
| ton was overwhelmingly defeated.
Women were allowed to vote at the
election and about the same proportion
voted against the plan as the men. The
proposition was defeated about three
to one.
w.
the proposition, declares the result OF
the election was not a reputation OF
the plan, but Of the method employed
to bring 1t about 1t seems the move
ment was launched in a secret gather
ing by an exclusive crowd and then
put up to the voters for approval. The
liauor question also entered into the
election.
| It is a fatal mistake to secretly
(launch any movement intended for the
! general good. No matter how sincere
/ body Of men or women may be they
will not receive support in any move
ment they undertake unless they work
| in the open and take the public into
their confidence.
Just now, we understand, there is a
movement on foot in Dubuque to
launch campaign for the purpose
of improving municipal affairs and
oiecting high grade men to office.
y exit, ious as the plan is, we fear 1t
will meet with defeat unless the pub
lie is convinced there y no effort made
| to work in the dark. To select list
of candidates and adopt n platform Is
one thing, but to put them before the
voters and say:
Here are our candidates and plat
form; vote for them." is another mat
| ter
We endorse the spirit which aims
for placing high grade progressive men
in charge of our municipal affairs and
urge every citizen who has the welfare
of his city at heart to support it. We
believe an Improvement can be brought
about only by the elimination OF parti-
sanship from our municipal election,
but We venture the assertion that the
only practical way to bring this about
Is by sane agitation for reform
In several large cities organizations
for the purpose Of improving munich
pal elections have met with great sue
cess by resolving to support the best
men for office. Their duties ended
there. Had they devoted their energies
towards the exploitation Of individuals
their work would have been futile.