The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-11-13
THE SANITARY CONVENTION.

any sufficient reasons for the call of ,
State Convention at Des Moines. There
was one held but recently at Muscatine
and if convention, are the proper mede D
settling sanitary matters, that should hav,
answered the purpose for the present sea
son. Bat tn, echoes of that convention
had scarcely reached beyond the border,
OF the State, before another State Conveu
ton, entirely ignoring that, is concocted,
It's prellminaries manipulated, and the
friends of the soldiers required to assem-
BILE in hot haste and on short notice at
Des Moines.
The perfect preparedness of thu pro-
gramme, the array of distinguished names,
and the evidences of manipulated con-
cert OF action, leaves no doubt that the
whole movement owes its origin to sin
gle will, and that will actuated by one
definite purpose.
Under this state of things, those who
are interested in sanitary matters are COM
PEELED, whether they would or not, to at
tend themselves, or send delegates to De.
Moines, not to effect any good, but to
prevent any evil to the cause.
We learn from letters received from the
northern part Of the State. that the i'm
preston prevails there that the Conven-
vention was called through hostility to
Mrs. Wittenmyer, and the object is to kill
her off by fair means or foul We be-
lieve that there are persons also in this
part Of the State who entertain the same
impression, with what justice we cannot
say.
Why people should be hostile to Mrs.
Wittenmyer, we cannot say Whether it
is because she has acquired fame for
good deeds which they envy, or holds
a position which they covet, or is not
amongst the titled of the land, we cannot
say. Aristldes was ostracised and ban
ished because his fellows citizens became
tired and disgusted with hearing him call
ed "THE JUsr ;" aud even one of our ow n
distinguished fellow-citizens has been
bounded down for months by men abroad
as well as at home, for no better reason.
We used pen IN his defence, because
he was our fellow citizen, had done the
country service. and was unjustly assailed
and We cannot do less than enter our pro-
test against the more unjustifable and
merclless warfare now waged against Mrs.
Wittenmyer
We know that Mrs. Wittenmyer de-
voted ber time. energies and means to this
"holy cause" in its feeble beginnings in
our Safe, when it presented no other at
fractions than the hope Of doing good aud
relieving the sutferngs of our patriot sol
dIers. She was the organizer, and the
mlnlstering messenger of the infant Aid
Societies, and charged them nothing for
her services. She won the gratitude OF
the soldiers, and the admiration Of the
public at her own cos. and charges, and
the Governor and Legislature recognized
her services in fitting words of aeknowl-
edgement, and apr ointed her to her pres.
ent position. We believe that she has
filed the position and discharged its on
erous and responsible duties with sell
sacrificing energy aud efficiency. rarely
equalled and never excelled. 1t is not il
the power of this Convention TO remove
her, and any attenpt to do so, or t
change, or add to the Sanitary organlza
tions can only result in embarrassing the
friends of the cause, and diminishing the
effective aid rendered the soldiers. There
fore, it not presumptuous in an early
friend of the Aid Societies, we woulc
counsel the Convention to let we'll enough
alone, and if they have any complaint,
against Mrs. Wittenmyer, make them il
due form to the Legislature, which ap
pointed her and may remove her.
sBr Furniture, carpets, chairs, dish
es, dry goods and clothing will be sold a
auction on Friday morning, m at Williams
auction rooms.
AN ACCOMMODATING JUDGE.-Or
Monday, in the Court of Common Pleas
New York. two lawyers got into ''scuf
fe," for which Judge Hilton fined eaci