American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-03-22
POLITICIANS QUIET THOUGH
CITY ELECTION LOOMS CLOSE.
Mayor, Six COunciImen. Clerk, Engin-
eer and Police Judge to be Elected
April "a Under Ward System.

Is the political breed extinct or
haven't they come out of their winter
sleep? It's city election time-almost.
and there is not a stir among politician
who are ordinarily as busy as bees
this time of year. Interest in city poll
tics is usually rife by March 20th.
when the makings of a municipal bat
tie royal are at hand, but the war
riors have not emerged from their
tents.
Forecasts of proposed tickets in the
held for the city election are usually
quite generally known a month be-
fore the election but if any steps have
been taken thus far this year, the
public is mo- aware of them.
Beyond an occasional query as to
who is going to run for mayor" or
who is going to be our next council
men," there seems to be blank apathy.
A few names have been mentioned for
the various city jobs but no plans have
taken definite form and no general
movement or movements have been
launched.
H. c. Wones is now chairman of the
Village trustees and shares the re-
sponsibility of city government with
W. NJ. Davie, ]. P. Mehlhaff and Henry
Lang. All have been incumbents since
the 1915 election which time American
Falls was a village. Since that time
she has emerged into a city of the
second class, and at the coming cleo
ton will be governed under a system
requiring a mayor, six councilmen,
clerk, engineer and police judge. That
Will mea at least three new jobs for
the citizens of American Falls, name
ly, two councilmen and a police Judge.
The present regime in control of
city government has o received any
adverse criticism to speak of and may
be reelected wholly or in part. All
are men OF considerable experience
and have served the village during
periods ranging from two to eight
years. 1t is probable that some of
them will be reelected, though no
definite announcements as to who will
be in the field for nomination and
election have been made.
Despite the fact that the surface
indications all point toward a general
apathy on the part of the city politi-
clans, an undercurrent of rumor has
it that during the next week or two,
we'll developed campaigns will be
launched. Whether or not it is merely
idle rumor will develop during the
next two weeks as no one at present
is sponsor for any real information
on the subject.
According to the laws of election
governing cities of the second class
the six councilmen are to be elected
by wards and the mayor elected at
large. A new law that came UP for
consideration on the last session of
the state legislature may have been
passed allowing the election Of all
candidates fromthe field at large,
the provision for ward elections need
not necessarily hold.
The city has been apportioned into
three wards according to population,
there being a variation in the voting
strength of the wards of not more
than ten votes. The first ward is COM
prised of the territory north of the o.
S. L. and west of the street running
north and south. back of the Baugh
hotel. The territory north of the o.
S. L. R.R. and east OF the street run
ming north and south, back of the
Baugh hotel comprises the second
" ard. All territory lying south Of the
o. S. L. tracks is embraced in the
third ward.