Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-03-25
TICKETS IN RED OAK REFLECT
OLD FEUo GROWING OUT OF
vlLLIscA MURDERS.
NO OTHER QUESTION
INVOLVED IN CONTEST
Four Years Flame Of Antagonist, Kept
Burning and Former Friends Are In
Volved-lssue Not Raised Openly
But Faets Are Poorly csmouAassd--
Fitness Not Considered.

Red OAK. March ?5.-Electlon day.
March 81. promises TO be interesting in
Red Oak, as indeed most elections in
this city and county have been for the
past two or three years.
Two tickets are in the field, one
known as the citizens" and the other
the republican ticket. The former
was nominated by petition and COM
prises the following named candidates:
For mayor Bernard Peterson; for al
dernen at large.-W. T. Carmichael and
{. w. Runoerg; for councilman, First
ward, l.. ID. Pratt: Second ward. A. W.
Faust. and Third ward. George c.
Boilead.
The republican candidates are: For
mayor, Claude owens: for councilmen
at large linda Stevens and E. G. Knight
for councilman. First ward. Carl Lag
ergren; Second ward Lou Warrington.
and Third ward, K. o. Anderson.
On the surface there is no particular
issue. but the election seems 20 hinge
entirely upon the personal popularity
and following OF the individuals. There
is no program OF promises. no pro-
sressive or economic platform.
All this is the surface situation, OBJ
rious TO all, and 10 the uninitiated.
this is all there is to il. Fortunately.
Cor perhaps unfortunately there are
few people in the city who are not
familiar with the undercurrent-a
seethirg intensity or deep and appar-
ent undying prejudice, which. traced
back to its origin, can be described and
labelled and the whole story told by
the one word, "WiIkerson.'' The A.
year-old battle which has kept our city
and county in a turmoil OF contention
and political unrest still goes on. and
it is these opposing elements. mildly
camoufiaged, which really oppose each
other in our municipal election.
Fight Bitter One.
So the fight Is. after all and under
meath all, bitter one. Each faction
feels that upon the result rests the
vindication OF a principle and the pres
ervation Of their prestige. And that is
absolutely all there Is to II. The good
of the community ie not the issue. No
public veal or woe Is at stake, and it
Is not question OF efficiency. quail
ficatfon or other merit Of candidates so
much as it Is a question OF where do
they stand in the great controversy.
The situation in this city and county
has been one to be deplored during the
reign of contention" of the past four
years, and many had begun to hope
that the worst was over with the re-
mopal OF the cause Many would like
to forget the quarrel and agree to an
armlstice of some kind which would
keep the controversy out of every issue
involving public opinion. But IL seems
that the smoke has not yet cleared
away and that the non combatant neu-
trail must still be afflicted with the
noise Of the contentious elements. And
go the situation here is still to be de-
plored. The good of the community
must take its hazard upon the lesser
issue
Truly, the man who murdered the
Moore family seven years ago in Viii
lisca did more than commit the most
dastartly crime on records He caused
the disruption of community and
created an enmity and a prejudice thru
out the length and breadth Of a coun-
try full Of first class. intelligent and
law-abiding citizens and friends.