Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-03-25

i crease in Taxes.
If the reception accorded the OPP
posing candidates for mayor by citi-
zens OF the south side Monday night,
at IL public meeting OF the Fifth Ward
J Boosters Club. is any criterion the
community Is anti-Pierce Judging
by the applause for the two apirants
at the conclusion Of their speeches, the
sentiment is all for Wilson. BY the
same token II was apparent that the
proposed bond issue Tor municipal
lighting plant would meet with serious
opposition on the souta- side. Such
was the imprcssionn gGined by the
chance spectator who was impressed
by the hearty APPLAUSE following VIII
sons speech and surprised at the utter
lack OF any aemonstrative outburst
when Pierce had finished.
! Pertinent questions from members OF
/ the clUt shot at the speakers for the
bond issue clearly proved the exist
I ence Of opposition 10 a municipal light
ing plant TO engage in commercial
! business.
The meeting was enlivened by a bel
ligerent speech by J. J.NWilson, of the
1 may orally tiCAet who opened the pro-
gram, directing his remarks at his OPP
ponent, who vas accused Of ''malign-
ing" him in an effort 10 get votes.
4 Jeff in New Light.
4 Five candidates for oftlce-Wilson,
i Pierce. Ford, Good and Butler-ad-
dressed the meeting. Wilson was the
first speaker and If il was a fact that
he was evasire and side stepped the
issues at the meeting Of the booster
club a week ago. as some had charged,
he assumed very different attitude
Monday night He launched straight
out and kept direct route. Meeting
the question Of bond issue at the outset
he said he believed in the city owning
it's lighting plant. especially for street
lighting. He felt that if the city were
TO enter the commercial lighting field
it should first be determined what
might be expected in the way OF pat
rOnage OF the citizens.
Il am not going to tell you whether
YOU should vote q heavy tax upon
your homes" he said. You must use
your own judgment. This was at first
a business proposition and was to be
kept out Of politics. have tried TO
keep it out of politics, and l believe 1t
: Will not succeed il it is to be made a
political matter To meet with sue
cess in such an undertaking it is nee
: es.sary to educate the people.
He stated that if the bond issue is
: voted. and he was elected mayor, he
WOULD carry out the wishes of the
: people to the letter.
Statement is Misguided.
I: In conclusion Wilson declared a
stateme.- he had made at the last
! meeting of the booster club had been
{: misouoted and he wished TO face the
, "henchman of my opponent who has
! circulated this malicious falsehood.
!: He asserted that, If he was to DC
|: continually maligned, he too could IN
!: iect some interesting matter INTO tht
!: campaign with reference TO his oppo'
|: nent. He pointed to the fact ina
!: Pierce while counting the labor vote
!: was printing D journal for the low;
!: League of municipalities in non
|: union shop.
]: He resented the lies" told aocu
|: him. he declared, end charged that HI
i: opponent was trying To get the feV
!: votes he can by devillsh lie WI
III CONS speech was punctuated with
ii burst of applause.
Pierce Replies to Wilson.
II Pierce the next speaker, said in op
Il ening his address, that he had nc
II come to the meeting 10 SCI INTO con
4: troversv with Wilson. He adm!ue
i that the journal referred 10 by MS w
4; none,. was printed in non-unio
8; shop. but explained that Wheh III
i: Journal was started the Miller pEint
q: company had half interest IN IN
:: publication and still retained thaI ~
q: terest. He had not, he said, the mean
q: To control the magazine alone.
:: His position or the lighting pfopos'
i; ,,on said Pierce, had been pupllshe
and everyone knew where ne stoo'
3: He defied Mr. Wilson or anyone eis
q: TO publish stories concerning hlmsei
and said that the Times Repupnca
had from time to time, mace DUN
81 remarks. If they have anything Vo'
n charge me with" he added, the
q, .ho,,,a do go" The remarks deroe
" atorv to his character, he said, al
= made in such a way that they are ne
4 direct or l,belous.
Would Save City Funds
Pierce declared himself in favor
municipal ownership and reiterated ~
previously expressed stand with r.
snect 10 the bond Issue. Re rcferre
m linz. remark lie had previously mao
in regard to reduction OF taxes. an
said he was prepared to show how
might lessen the burden OF the tau
payer. :
During the six years prior TO !,
occupancy of the mayors .office'
declared, the levy for city purpose
was 90 mills; during the six years
was mayor the levy was IL mills an
in the six years following his term
office the levy was 25 mills.
The fact that he was able to redue
taxes during his tenure OF office wa
he believed, a good indication that n
again might reduce the taxes OF Tn
city. There was no applause at u
conclusion Of Pierce's speech.
Police Judge in Disfavor.
"What about the police judge?' ash
ed an auditor
"The law is that cities OF this size
said Pierce, must have police 1udg
II this was not SO would be in rave
with doing away with the polio