The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-05-05
GEORGE BARNES REFUSES
TO GIVE UP OFFICE
Town Board Recognizes Barnes
While County Recognizes
His Opp0nent.-State Called
in to Settle Struggle.

BARNES, Wis.-This little town ir
western Bayfield, county Is miles
from Iron River and IA miles from
Drummond, the nearest railroad sta
ton, Drummond is torn to shreds by
political warfare which threatens te
find its way into the courts.
Arrayed against each other in op-
posing caps are father and son-add-
ing a touch of drama to the conflict
Father Against Son.
On one side is George Barnes, over
20, but still fighter, and on the
other Horace Barnes, his son, and
Will.en Pease--all three influential
in the community.
dad" Barnes is the keeper OF
Moose inn, road house more or less
famous in this section of the state
during the pre-prohibition days. In
addition to operating this lone ''in-
dustry" of the town the elder Barnes
officiated as town chairman for many
years. He also owns the largest
farm in the district, logs il the win
ter and presides over the postoffice.
Horace Barnes is also farmer
and logger, handles the rural route
mail between here and Barnes and
was assessor of the town. Pease is
the proprietor of popular summer
resort on the upper big Eau Claire
lake and on the face of returns was
elected town chairman over "Dad''
Barnes in a recent election. 1t was
this election that stirred up all the
fuse which the master minds of
law may have to straighten out.
History of the Case.
The various activities in which he
has been interested has enabled
dad" Barnes-at least up to the
recent election-to employ enough
votes to keep himself firmly in
trenched in office, according to towns
people. But, in the last year there
has been growing opposition to his
power. Some of the men are dis
pleased with the conduct OF the
towns official affairs. The women
were less concerned about how he
acted as chairman but some of them
did not like the manner in which he
ran his tavern. Like most COM
munities Barnes was hit by the
moral wave. The women folks have
begun to look askance at some of
the doings at the roadhouse. In
the past these doings were tolerated
as necessary evils.
The Women Did 1t.
It was the coming of woman suf-
frage that paved the way for the
veteran chairman's down fall. Add
edto this was a break between "Dad"
Barnes and son Horace. Just what
this was is not known but it proved
the spark that ignited the shoulder
ing opposition to "Dad's" long reign.
When the break came the elder
Barnes, waving family ties, decided
to get himself a new assessor. He
named his friend Pusey as his can
didate. Horace decided his father
still had enough votes to- control the
election and dropped out Of the race
Seeks Barnes Overthrow.
But, Pease decided the time was
ripe for Barnes overthrow and an
nounced his candidacy for chairman
Horace Barnes threw his support. to
Pease. The women welcomd the
lake mans candidacy. In addition
Edwin Strong, a number of Indians
and other old time settlers joined the
Pease forces. He became a for.
midab,e candidate with a chance OF
victory though in the Pease camp il
was appreciated that ITO dethrone
the powerful trayen keeper was nc
easy task. Barnes still claimed th'
support of the Halls, Kennedys. ant
Koesters-all good vote getters.
A lively campaign developed
marked by more or less bitterness
Horace Barnes worked like Tro
ian for Pease. Howard Barnes, an
other SON, remained neutral.
Something Doing.
It is said that one day Edwin
Strong. long an antagonist of Chair
man Barnes, nearly started a riot a
the town hall when he shouted "tt
hell nit Barnes" On another oc
casion, it is reported, the rivals
Barnes and Pease--nearly came Z