Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-21
srHE DAYTON MUss.

llmellSQt since us QlSdStTOuS llOOQ ny
reason of its adoption of more ad-
vanced form of non-partisan city gov
eminent than any other American
community, has made sad mess Of
affairs by endeavoring to mix old and
new conditions and old and new gov
|ernmental systems.
The upshot is victory for the so
cialist party's ticket in Tuesdays local
primary election. and already the paci-
fists and socialists are endeavoring to
construe the vote as declaration by
the bulk Of Dayton's citizenship for
anti-Americanism and opposition to
the nations war policy
Dispatches from Dayton indicate
that the victorious ticket obtained as
many votes as the two tickets nomi-
mated in opposition to it, one Of which
was supported by the republican press
and one by the democratic committee.
The republican committee. lacking
newspaper assistance, failed to make
nominations.
The socialists rallied all the discon-
tented Daytonians to their banner by
demanding an entire change in the
present system of government and In
the personnel Of the administration.
The democrats nominated a business
mems ticket consisting of candidates
who never had been in politics before.
The republican press favored the re-
election of the three present commits
sioners, who were nominated by an
Independent citizens committee.
The most eloquent indication that
the vote was based almost entirely on
40 ~
that the incumbents received only a
third of the total vote. although they
had strong newspaper support in their
campaign The democratic business
mems ticket, with continuation OF the
present city charter as its one-plank
platform, polled only 3,014 votes against
the socialists HOY. The vote for the
incumbents was 1914. They became
nominees against the socialist candi-
dates and will fight it out in the cleo
ton in November
Included in the socialists platform,
in addition to the demands for local
governmental changes which always
can he counted on for popularity, were
planks demanding a statement OF war
terms and repeal Of the selective con-
scription law. And because the propa-
ganda of discomfort with local cond :
lions scored a victory. pacifists in
Washington are hailing the Dayton
vote as certain indication of senti-
ment over the country against the ad-
ministration's war policy.
The experience of Dayton affords a
striking example of the conditions
with which American cities must deal.
and. incidentally. the loyal citizens OF
Dayton owe duty to the country
which they can discharge only by de.
feating the socialist ticket in the final
election by decisive vote.
1t will be fight between the ad-
vanced and somewhat impracticable
scheme of local government. repre-
sented by the men who are seeking
reelection. and the forces of discon-
tent and criticism which will be well
coined by the socialists no matter
what may be their real reason for sup.
porting the socialist candidates.
1t will be the old fight between the
"ins" and the outs" and no one out
side of Dayton would care hang how
it might end but for the fact that the
"cuts" have lugged into their platform
the plank of disloyalty and pacifist
propaganda.
If an explanation for the vote in the
primary is sought from the standpoint
which the pacifists choose to adopt. it
may be found in some of the demo-
cratic campaign speeches of last fall
which resulted in the transferring OF
Ohio from the republican to the demo
cratic column for the first time in
many years. These democratic orators
who went up and down the state less
than a year ago. pleading for support
for their candidates on the kept us
out of war" issue. might repair some
damage for which they are responsible
by going back to Dayton now and
mounting the stump to argue for 10y
atty and true Americanism.
II might be interesting and some.