Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-01-24
SOUTH SIDE STARTS
MOVE TO ORGANIZE
CITY FOR ELECTION
INITIAL STEPS FOR FORMING
"CLOSE POLITICAL CORPORA
TON" FOR GENERAL VEAL OF
CITY TAKEN AT MEETING LAST
NIGHT.

Al "A meeting in the town hail last
might residents OF South Ottawa
formed an association for the purpose
OF taking an active part in lhe com.
ing municiual primary and election
Presided over by George o. Grover as
chairman and Howard Farnsworth as
secreary, the meeting resolved itself
into a general get together session
terest to ther section of the ciCy
were discussed by the forty or fifty
men in attendance.
Conceding that they should have
representation on the city commits
sion. the meeting unanimously dee
cided that some steps should be taken
toward forming an organization which
would help toward that end
Called at The instigation Of a band
Of loyal South Siders vino, with elov-
enth hour notices summoned their
neighbors to She town hail, the large
turnout came as a surprise TO the
0riginators of the idea.
The sense of the meeting was that
while 1t was not absolutely necessary
their section have commissioner, the
association should center it's efforts
on some one particular man who. in
all civic matters. would give their
side of town more attention than it
has been getting in the last eight
years They will agree. if such a man
puts in an appearance in the primary,
20 throw their strength behind him to
force his nomination and election
south Sidcrs. they contendcd, were
big enough to support any man from
any district OF The city who was really
big enough to sit on the city com
mission.
Several prospective candidates were
discussed, among them being Capt.
Taylor StraWn, now returned from
France and awaiting his discharge
from the army; Serst. Clifford Eichel-
berger. also ready to be discharged
from the United States army; Charles
Beck, owner of the Illinois laundr..;
Ned leland, senior member of the
abstractor firm of Leland 4 Wilson
and others Any of those mentioned
would be desirable candidates to the
association it was pointed out. Black
horses not mentioned at last nights
gathering may be trotted out into The
running in case any of the men sug,
eested should not consent to make
the race.
The creation of a plan that prom
ises to spread all over the city was
one of the important topics discussed
It was agreed that in their selection
of candidates the South Side resi-
dents would consent with the North
Side Improvement Association as a
body, asking their advice as TO the
capabilities and worthiness of candi-
dates. The same plan will be fol
lowed out on the west and other sides
of town.
i This program will be followed in a
hope Of uniting the various assOcia-
tions behind men who are qualified to
serve the city rather than for their
qualifications to make and get votes.
BY organizing the city into a CLOSE
political organization" candidates will
have to curry favor from all the bodies
before they will have any chance
whatsoever at the polls.
| The meeting adjourned to meet
again Friday. Jan. 81, at Shabbona
! School at which time the ladies will
be especially invited to be present
/ as they will be entitled to vote at
both the primary and election.