Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-26
ELECTION DAYS.

Modern election days differ from the
old fashioned election days very TO-
tiveahIy. Somehow we fail 10 exhibit
the wild excitement an election used
10 bring out. Then We got together
early in groups on the street, argu-
ment was rife and vsciferous. Now
and then Il became necessary 20 sep
aIate those who carried the argument
TO the arbitrament Of battle. An cleo
ton without a fight or two was a tane
affair. In those elder days we drew
party lines extending from the presi-
dent TO school director. In staunch
republican communities 1t was fully
understood and decided mat at
t!liation with the "unwashed and
unterrified" democracy utterly un-
fitted the person thus connected
for any public office, elective
or appointive, Including pathmaster.
Similar disqualification Of republicans
existed in democratic communities. The
fact was that both parties were fully
modified for war.
Men and matters were submerged
beneath a mighty principle or an at
tempt 20 destroy the country, the view
point deciding which was which. One
side referred 20 the other as BLACK
republicans" the other inclined in
epithet 20 the term "copperhead.'
When a bunch OF one or the other ilk
net up with another equally apt in
epithet and welcoming trouble things
often took place rapidly. Both sides
were convinced that the other would
stuff a ballot box upon opportunity.
The war was as fierce in a country pre-
c;nct as in those of the city-in in
stances even fercer. The election OF
a county supervisor was the signal for
all kinds Of trench fighting and bonn
oardment. The office of town clerk,
which paid about So a year at most
| became a place TO covet and defend
An election for school director brought
out every voter in the district and
some that were doubtful. The noses
of the hired men were counted closely
and strict anvas was undertaken as
TO those who got their washing done
IN the district" for laundry work was
popularity assumed to decide the ques-
ton Of domicile.
Even at township elections, where
| al least two Of the clerks and Judges
must be democrats the minority on the
board were endured rather than well
comed. Township election were bit
| terry fought affairs. If there existed
doubt as to qualification to vote the
! suspect must swear his vote in
Having done 50 be never forgot the
! challenger but held It as a persona.
affront and an effort to deprive hin
| of his sovereign franchise. as indeed
it was in many instances. But the
bitterness was factional rather thai
personal. Most Of them changed
works in harvest"
In our minor elections party line;
have mostly disappeared. Attempt tc
arouse partisan opposition to a candi-
! date for city and township office j;
generally resented. However we dc
not forget that Somebody's grand
| fathers brother-in-law threw a rock
et or G-aEdmotheT's hens back In the
| ninftjes and We continue to vote a.
Huch OF prejudice as on judgment. II
IL an American trait to vote agains,
a candidate rather than for a candi-
date. But we fail of the extreme ex.
( element and lack the personal en-
counters and avoid epithets common
10 our forOears.
Maybe. some sweet day by and by
we shall 81! understand the purposes
Of an election: that it Is a stockhold-
ers' meeting TO elect directors in the
management Of a vast and importan,
business-that OF governing ourselves
a. a social corporation. Little by lit.