Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-06-04
LETTER FROM THE CAPITAL.
The Death or n Distinguished lowan
\ Conspiracy 20 Dcfraud tho
Government Equal Freedom
Clubs Crop Prospects
The Hcnncpin Canal

~ SOnSplrNtF TO ptlrauu tuC
Government Equal Frecdom
Clubs Crop Prospects
The Honncpin Canal.
Dcs Moinoj, juno |. (Sro,ial Cor
rcspondonco) Tho most notable death
so far in Iowa this year Is tina, of
Judge Edward John5tonc, OF keokuk,
Iowa, who dipd u we,S ago or moro.
Judge tombstone wal po,neer in tho
state; had boon u member of the gon-
eral assembly ut various timos, and
baon speaker OF th1 Iowa HOUSE, OF rep
rosentativos. lie had formerly lived
at IT. Madison bat in his later years
had lived ut keokuk Personally no
was ono of the most distinguished OF
men, lie was very lnrgo, and had ~
grand an Appearing hcud as ever rested
on the should ~ of man, His personal
appearance, was =, striking ~ TO NJ
tract attention cverywhorn, aud IL Is
said that at kcokuk ho never entered
n public moeiing before its organi2a-
ton that he was not intuitivcly called
upon to pre- side. lie came OF u family
of distinguished men, being one of
twelve children. Ono brother was
was governor OF PENNSYLVANIA; another
was killed while leading his command
in u gallant charge IN ono OF the
BATTLES In Mexico; anotlcr was n dis
tinguishod minister; others were dis
tinguishcd In still other professions
Tho deceased was not only largo physl-
cnlly, but large mentally. A, the time
of his death he was president OF tho
Iowa Columbian Commission, and also
president Of the Pioneer Lawmakers
Association Of Iowa,
During tho recent session of the
United States grand jury in this city
an indictment was found against a. {.
Newton, vicc-prosidcnt ana general
manager OF marrow gauge road
known ms the Dcs Molnes a. Kansas
| Civ. Tho indictment charges that
| Dr. Newton conspred with others TO
send false and fictitious mail matter
over his limo of road during tho month
| that the government was engaged IN
Weighing the mail 10 tx bass Tor lu-
turc compensation for carrying the
mail. II l. charged and quito we'll cs-
| tnblished that great sacks OF old news
papers were Hhippcd back aud forth
over the road OF which Mr.. Newton IS
manager, and were wei shcd, or intend
cd TO be weighed ~ they passed up
and down tho road. Tho evidence
was very strong and CLEARLY shows the
intent OF tho accused. II being PEE
cuiar offence however not specific
ally dem ID in the United States stat
utcs. II may be dillicIlt 10 convict II
can be dealt with ns u conspiracy to
deiraud the government The whole
case was worked up by George M.
Christ an. from Grinnoll, special agent
OF the post office department, assisted
by Postmaster Brandt and other OH
cals Of this city. Since this lndict'
ment was found inquiry has been made
ana facts learned indicating that there
was quito general conspiracy in the
northwest among certain railroads tt
load the mails during the month oil
April when weighing wns in progress,
but in other instances persons engaged
in the conspiracy were moro Judlclous
than Mr.. Newton, and there will be ne
evidence on which to find indictment
except in his ca1a. The Importance o
these conspiracios may be judged wher
il IL said that mail contracts, when let,
are Let for -four years
In southwestern Iowa there has late
ly been introduced in some communities
new organization known rs 'Equa
Freedom" clubs. The object OF the
organization is To afford opportunity
for FREQ and candid public discussion
of political and religious questions en-
tirely devoid Of bitterness on anger
One OF these clubs IL in full progress
M Crcston, and few evenings age
discussed the ever-prescnt Iowa qucs
ton Of prohibition. Tho disputants on
this question were cx-United state
senator j. w. McDill who defendet
prohibition ms both right and cxpedt
cnt, and merchant. Col. John O'Kecfc
who took the opposite ground. Tbcs'
discussions, although animated wer'
characterized by the highest courtcs,
on all sides. They mark II new feature
of the town meeting.
The condition of Iowa AT this time
with regard 20 tho crop prospects i
fully rs encouraging ~ the average
season. Tho sowing OF small graii
took place at the usual time withou
hipdrancD from rain. Corn plantn,
went on in tbs first ten days OF Ma.
: without interruption, and then whcl
everybody feared long drouth thor
came thro ghout the state copiou
rains. and thorc has been nothing Il
east u gloom over the bright prOspec
of immense crops. except tho woatho
has been too cool for the sprouting o
: corn in the ground. Re-planting ma.
be necessary in some parts OF Tn
state. However, in Iowa some OF tn
: best yields Of corn come from tn
fields that are replantcd
none feature that will play some par
in the future development OF Iowa vii
: b, the Ilonnepin canal which vii
some day connect the Mississippi Wit
the Lakes, and enable water shipment
from Chicago Buffalo, and other LAX
points. to Davenport, Muscatinc, AN
other Mississippi river points. Tn
completion OF the canal will give thes
Iowa towns on the Mississippi renewe,
growth. At present as the situatio
: is, the city of DeJ Moinc3 is cnjoyin
: more rapid growth than any othe
: Iowa town. or in fact any OF the cor
, siderable towns in the west. This
due to the fact that Des Moines ha
, never had boom, or never assume
= to have one, but has, through all tn
years, enjoyed a steady, uninterrupte
growth and development, there hav
ing been fifty new manufacturing cor
! Germs located in Des Moines during tn
/, past year.
+ The sheer mu tIns, with III ir gay flower
| In.ith N La, 4 N 4.