Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-01-30
The win-overholtser Controversy.
CAPT. D. s. FOSTER REcITEs THE FACTS IN THE
CASE WITHOUT CRITICISM.


AUDUBON, Iowa, Jan. %, 1880.
EDITORS REPUBLICAN.-With no small degree
OF surprise noticed the charge In last weeks
Advocate, that our fellow townsman, Hon. j. A.
Overholtzer, had been guilty of "trickery" in
the matter OF Mr.. Wits aspirations for position
as assistant doorkeeper in the house OF the pre-
sent session of the legislature. The article goes on
to state that Mr. 0yerholtzer told Mr.. Walker
our representative-that "Mr. VIII would not be
there" Now to my certain Knowledge this
could not have been true for / heard the two
gentlemen, In conversation together, wonder
where Mr. VIII could be and what could keep
him away.
The facts are these. Mr.. Oyerholtzer was In
Des Moines from January sth, until the 18th, at
noon, and during that time was the acknowledged
period for doing telling work for such positions
as the one sought by Mr.. VIII. But with Mr..
VIII being absent he could do nothing, even
Representative Walker did not put In an ap-
pearance till Friday the 10th, so with both Rep
rescntative Walker and candidate VIII absent,
what could an outsider like Oyerholtzer do, how
ever much he might wish to.
| was there looking over the chances in the
senate. On Saturday morning the 18th Repre-
sentative Walker, Ovcrholtzer and myself held
Il conference and each Of us was of the opinion
that Mr.. viii must have given up coming and In
view of that fact II was decided, II Mr.. VIII was
not there Oh the afternoon train of that day,
that would take the chance left vacant by his
absence, and that Mr.. Walker would give me his
undivided support. But 1 said further that
should Mr.. viii come at any time | would yield
in favor of that gentleman whatever advantage
might have obtained. Mr. Oyerholtzer left on
the noon train for home. After the arrival of
the train from the west that day, Mr.. VIII still
absent, and the caucus was to be held before
another train from Audubon could arrive, be-
gan my candidacy in the house and Mr.. Walker
supported me as best he could.
Sunday morning the 18th at breakfast Repre-.
sentative Walker SAID he had received petition
signed by the citizens of Audubon, in favor of
Mr.. viii, but no letter or other word, but the
fact that the petition had been sent was taken as
evidence that Mr.. Will intended coming, so I
stopped my candidacy and from that time moth.
ing was done for me or by me at Des Moines to
further my chances.
On Monday, Representative Walker got tele-
gram for me in his care. This was the telegram
from Oyerholtzcr, stating that Mr.. VIII had fal,
len and was seriously hurt. And by the way
Shoh" ho' H. mehuehnal also DE helu up TOT
cenSure equally with Mr.. Oyerholtzer for In a
letter to John LcnoX he told Of Mr.. Wills acct,
dent in nearly the same words.
Now to conclude cannot see how Mr.. Wills
chances could have been injured by Mr.. Over
hotter even though the latter gentleman had
tried, for OyerhOltzer left for home at noon Oh
the nth, the telegram was sent the 18th, but GU,
no figure whatever, and further it was not unit
the evening of the 18th that Mr.. VIII put in al
| appearance in the city.
Respectfully,
E. S. FOSTER