St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-13
LETTERS FROM The PEOPLE
Tribulations of An Iowa Independent.

member of congress, Hon. 1. S. Struble, has
It seems-like many other Republicans-read
the Democratic platform without spectacles,
for in his little speech here last week, at the
time the Blaine and Logan club was adver-
Used to be born, he said that remarkably long
document didn't mention the soldiers from
beginning to end, but Democrats and indie
pendents know better.
He was of opinion, that all soldiers should
have pensions that needed them, as for sol
dter boys, strong and hearty like himself,
they could get along without. He is an ex-
soldier; who idiotically thinks he can get
along without pension, but pc rhaps the five
thousand dollars a year he gets from our
non partisan Uncle Sam makes it little
easier for him, than for some of the boys
of 61-5.
Another speaker. was P. R. Bailey, CT
Sheldon. He is called ''the major" and 1t
seemd saw considerable army experience.
The major did find one little spot on the
platform. He thought Cleveland was but
little known, and didn't know much but Mr.
Blaine was one of the great men of America,
and such splendid record you know. Logan,
however, was his principal subject; his
bravery, July %, '64 and his magnaminity
in not relieving Pap Thomas at Nashville.
Just how Baine's briliancy, and his defiance
Of southerners in congress (by the way was
at Pittsburg in '64, and think there was
the place to stand up and battle the SOUTH,
make him so eligible for president, 1 do
not see. Logan too, because a good
soldier and general is not nee
essarily the better man for vice president.
Of course some hard things were said about
Mr.. Hcndricks-lived in Indiana, and didn't
20 to the war, and talked about the govern
ment.
Iowa may be close state this fall on the
national election. If the revenue reformers
had an even chance to get their views before
the farmers, it is very doubtful if the Repub-
lican leaders could hold them in that party
TO election day; but the press of the state is
largely Republican. It is also very partisan,
and gives a Blaine-Logan coloring to its
stock in politics. Blakson, Of the Register,
at Des Moines, is a boss. Perkins, of the
Jola7aal, at Sioux City, is a boss. Perkins is
United states marshal for the northern dis
riot of Iowa. When it was uncertain
thether it would be Arthur or Blaine, he
1edged most beautifully; but when it was
decided Blaine should lead the leaders for
ward toward another four years Canaan of
ofiice-holding, the editor was frantic with en-
thusiasm. For year or two past Perkins
has had great deal of trouble with your cor
respondent Last year | ran as an indie
pendent prohibition candidate for state sena-
tor and obtained very respectable support.
The Joo0nal EDITORS position on the temper
ance question has never been defined. 1t
seems to be, however, prohibition party
tenet, but not prohibition per Sc. He there
fore can advocate the theory, or rather lash
The Democrats for opposing it in state poll
ties, and can at same time oppose its prac-
tice, by showing it does not prohibit.
Perkins is a type par-excellence of the
pharisaism of the Republicans of the Hawk
eye state. Because l ran as an independent
candidate in a strong Republican district, he
claimed it impossible | could be elected,
hence that | must know it was not possible
and therefore that my candidacy sprang
from dishonest motives, and candidate and
tanvas must be crushed, which he proceeded
10 do by means of his daily paper, and so en-
crossed did he become in his fight against
ne that in his own senatorial and represen-
tativc districts, which were close, he neg
lected proper attention, and the Democrats
bagged both districts-all which of course
made him madden than ever. From char
acterizing me as a knave, he gradually came
down to the milder epithets of crank and
fool, but now that l have concluded to sup
port the Cleveland ticket he returns to his old
charges of dishonesty.
And who is this man Perkins, and who am
that | should be bounded by hims He is a
Republican, and | am an independent Re-
publican, supporting the Democratic national
ticket. He is proud to consider that he is
Self-made made man, who has attained
riches, influence and honor, and yet it might
be as well for him to remember that about
the only elective office he ever held in his
life, that of state SENATOR he needed my help
very badly, and received it, both on the
informal and formal ballots as one of the
menty-eight delegates in n convention Of
Ity-tive-had thrown my vote to the other
tide he could not have been senator. Then,
too, as a member of the Sixteenth
iowa assembly, / cast my ballot
for Gov Kirllwood for United States sena-
tor partly because Mr.. Perkins so much de-
tlitu upl INV tSICIu Iowa SuOulu Ue SOllu
the old war governor.
The specific charge Mr. Perkins has made
against me is that last year | should have
been paid a sum variously estimated at from
one TO two hundred dollars, aud in turn adj
mitted that had been paid by parties, op-
posed to the Republican candidate, one hun
dred dollars as n campaign fund, and that
they were willing to furnish me another
hundred. Please bear in mind that | en-
tered the canvass on assurances of support
at the polls, and the loud protestations of
influence that they would not support either
Of the other candidates, on the score that
they were license men. Mr.. Perkins is a
straight Republican; am not therefore, l
am as bad as the Democrats that his party
has been railing al for twenty years. During
Gov. Gears term of Office Perkins received
The appointment of commissioner of immi-
grafton, at 81, 200 per aunum for two years.
lhe balance of ten thousand dollar appro-
priaton TO be refunded, or so much as
might be necessary. Its queer-it was an
office think only for that term
he supported Gov. Gear for United
States senator and failing of
denomination his friends offered him for the
lower house, but he was not accepted by his
party. He early began very warm advo-
tHcS lpT u tulru term Tor senator Allison.
After the election, much to the surprise and
shagrin of several applicants for the place,
ne was appointed United States marshal, re-
.eiving the appointment as is reported on
what seems very creditable testimony, largely
through the influence Of Senator Allison.
should certainly despse myselfifI did not
truly and honestly believe that am fully as
honest aud conscientious as Geo. d. Perkins
who for year past hes been making war
upon me in a savage and malicious manner.
As | have concluded to support the Cleve-
land and Hendricks ticket | thought it as
unll IN mritn IN q Dnrnncrntic r,nrn- AID ..m