Omaha daily bee., 1883-06-25
The CONFLICT IN IOWA.
The ProhihiiOnStS Virtually Control
the Republican Convention.
FOR Governor and SUI
premc Judge-Railroad Matters
A Tumble I'm Barbcd Wire.

DEs MONIES, June "a. Thirty county
conventions have declared for prohibition.
The expectation ia therefore warranted
that the republican state convention will
declare in the same manner. The con
test, already heated and bitter in the
primaries, will probably continue SO until
the polls are closed. With this falls
election the temperance people intend to
settle finally the constitutionality of pro-
hibition by choosing a legislature that
shall doctor the constitution until it can
legally assimilate the vexing doctrine
thoroughly and effectively. While the
prohibitionists have seized the republican
party organization to accomplish their
purposes, and they airs identified with
that party so thoroughly by preference
and tradition that their failure would be
a republican overthrow, here and there
democrats have come out for prohibition
as the only thing that will settle an ire
pressible conflict.
IL GovERNoRsHIP.
The opposition, which was rife against
Gov. Sherman early in the year, appears
to have subsidized. In the light of present
events, it must be conceded he was wise
in the course he pursued in refusing to
yield to the clamor of a few over-zealous
persons. He evidenced far more stamina
than most people supposed he possessed.
The people will yet learn that he has
more sand than they supposed. Time
and good judgment are turning those
who a few months & were %denouncing
him, to his favor. There is now no
opposition to his denomination, and he
will probably have none in the state con.
vention. Efforts are being made to draw
him into the supreme Judge contest, but
without success. He will have nothing
to say or do in with the matter, and
herein again he evinces his good jugd-
ment.
H r
is hotly contested. In Des Moines
township, which comprises the west half
of the city, there was a direct contest for
and against Judge Day, and a large vote
was polled. The anti-Day ticket won by
a majority of 261 in a total vote of 9O4.
The county may therefore be set down
for McDill. John N. Rogers of Daven-
port positively refuses to permit his name
to be used as a candidate for supreme
judge. He has been mentioned quite
prominently, and is one of the ablest
%jurists in the state. The indications are
that Judge McDill will get it, though the
friends of Judge Reed of Council Bluffs
are coming to the front strong. They
will join issues squarely with the friends
of Lieut.. Gov. Manning, and claim there
is no precedent in the history of the
party for giving that Office two terms to
the same person. But they will have to
contend with one of the most popular
men who has held the place.
RAILRoA TALK.
1t is rumored that the l., B. & w. is
backing the Central Iowa for a Union
Pacific connection at Council Bluffs. The
Central is only waiting the completion of
the bridge across the Mississippi at Keiths-
burg to have an unbroken line from Peo-
ria to Oskaloosa. The l., B. & w. con-
meets with it at Peoria, and, it is under
stood, will join the Central in extending
that road from OskaloOsa to the Bluffs.
The wholesale merchants of this state
complained to the railroad commissioners
that the rules of the railroad companies
for charges for excess of baggage were
unreasonable and excessive. The board
hold that railroad companies are not
obliged to carry sample trunks of travel
ing men on passenger trains at all if the
weight is in excess of ordinary baggage;
that such trunks are properly freight,
and may be confined to freight trains.
If carried on passenger trains, the CON-
panies are entitled to the same rates as
are charged by express companies for
freight carried on passenger trains. The
rules of the companies as TO excess bag
gage are not excessive nor unreasonable.
THE BARBED WIRE
The barbed wire monopoly have taken
a new departure. Probably worried by
the recent decisions of Judges Treat and
McCrary, of the federal court, and the
numerous actions since begun by licensees,
who refuse to pay further royalties, they
have given notice of a reduction of the
price of wire to ST cents per pound, or a
decline of nearly 20 per cent. One of
the most formidable contestants of this
monopoly is the Iowa Farmers Protec-
tive association, which has been making
wire right along, refusing to pay license,
and selling wire nearly 3 cents a pound
less than the monopoly. This association
says it is ready to meet the drop in prices,
and then make a profit. 1t is evident
the monopoly is badly wounded. The
farmers can stand it.
LOCOMOTIVE FIRES.
The board of railroad commissioners
have just decided a case of interest to
farmers and railroad companies. Oct. 20
Engine o set a fire to cut and dried weeds
weeds along the track near Esterville,
Emmett county, on the Burlington, Cedar
Rapids IL Northern road. The fire ran
north fifteen miles into Minnesota, when
the wind changed and drove it back, des-
trying property of A. N. Haskins valued
at Sl44. 10, three miles southeast of
where the fire started; for which he asks
compensation, and sets up the statute
which says any railroad corporation shall
be liable for all damages by fire that is set
or causedby the operatingof anysuchroad.
The board hold that, under the language of
the statute, a company would be liable for
any damage, however remote, and that
lack of negligence cannot be shown.
They hold that the company may show
that they were guilty of no c~ontributory
negligence within their right of way,