Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-05-19
The Game Of Thimble Rig by Dis
%ineuished Professor.

The Game Of Thimble Rig by Dis
tinguished Professor.
About the first week in April the
Cedar Falls Gazette brought out
with considerable flourish the name
Of Prof. Jerome Allen as candi-
date for Superintendent of Public
Instruction. For season this sug-
gestion went swimmingly through
the columns of the press and every
thing looked as though Prof. Allen
might have considerable strength,
if not be successful, at the State Con-
ycntion. But now, after the expi-
ration of nearly two months, there
seems to be an uncertainty respect
ing the candidacy of that gentleman;
an uncertainty for which he is
mainly responsible. The presump-
ton that he is a candidate and that
he is not a candidate are equally
we'll proven by his own givings out.
In short, the Professor seems to
be playing = nice little game of po-
litical thimblc rig, the object of
which it is difficult to discern, and
the effect of which will notassured-
~ rebound to his reputation rs
man or his success as a candidate.
Our readers are aware that the
name of Prot. Palmer, of this city,
has been suggested as candidate
for the State SUPPLEMENTARY. This
was not done until the most positive
assurances were received from Prof.
Allen and Prof Piper that they
would not be candidates for tine pc.
sition. Prof. Piper's declcnsion
was made through the public prints,
and there could be no question
about its good faith. even were Prof.
Piper not the man of honor and
truth that he is. To prove that
Aliens withdrawal from the can
vass, if not as manly and open,
was not less unambiguous We select
some extracts from his letters to
parties here and elsewhere. Under
date of April oath Prot: Allen wrote
to Prof. Palmer:
Please say to any who may ask, that am not q
candidate for the office of Supt. of Schools. My
name was brought before the people without my
knowledge, and have mott positively refused to
permit its misuse any longer.
Again on the soth Of April, in
reply to letter from Prof. Bidwell,
~speaEag Of this matter of his con-
,didacy, Prof. Allen writes:
81 thank YOU eres, vay bes-t sor your words of
encouragement in reference to the nomination.
aSutiufact, have no idea of being candidate"
previously to both the letters
quoted front, to-wit, on the goth day
Of April, he wrote to Prof. Bidwell
in reference to the Normal School
at Icwx Falls: eff X. is elected the
whole thing is gone up. lam work
ing for Piper" May 10th, after
Piper's withdrawal, Allen wrote to
Prof. Palmer:
II shall be most happy to do all in my power for
You, and during the past week have been using all
my influence for you"
Thus it will be seen that from the
goth of April, two weeks after he
was brought out by the Gazette, I'M
til last week the whole tenor OF
Prot. Aliens letters was not only
that he was not candidate himself
but that he was ready and willing
to work for other gentlemen in
Northern Iowa who were candl-
dates. Imagine then the surprise
OF those who had believed that
Prof. Allen was acting in good
faith when they read the following
in the Cedar Falls Gazette of the
10Th of May, but two days after his
letter to Prof. Palmer from the
same place. There is every reason
to believe that the following was
inspired by Prof. Allen himself:
By what authority are some OF the papers an
nouncinr that Prof Allen has Withdrawn from
ton! Certainly not by any public announcement
Nf his. Il this not a plan to get GOOD man on
che tracks Since the Withdrawal OF pr9f. Per,
Mr.. Kssell IN the State. Now we know that ne
has not withdrawn from the field as many of the
papers are announcing.
Mr.. Allen was brought out by his friends with
ont his knowledge or solicitation, and until he
publicly withdraws, we shall work for his nomina-
son believing that he would ll the office accept,
ably and credtably to the educational interests OF
the State. The ''rine" R,dy tost Mr. kissell again
npou the State. but we hope to do our utmost to
avert such calamity.
In further proof Of the fact that
Prof. Allen is playing the game of
a deinagoguc we have an extract
from a letter written by Supt. Har-
wood, Of Wavcrly, to Prof. Bidwell,
under date Of May 18th, as follows:
~ do not understand that Prof. Allen has
withdrawn. lie was here the first of the week,
and spoke here. anh learned from ham that he
WAS s6lH In <fie field
Another eridenee of Prof. Aliens
lack of manlincss and honor is his
intimation in his letter to Prof.
Palmer of April oath that the Gu
zette's very appreciativc suggestion
of his candidacy was a "misuse" Of
his name. This disposition to kick
the last friend he had was simply
contemplate in view of the nse he
at first made of the Gozette's article.
Prof. Allen wrote to gentleman
d . s<h;S c;ty inst fOur DAYS after the