Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-10-22
Hon. George Van Houten.

Van fiouten Is the percentage Of IL
literacy which keep Iowa's educa.
tional record from being perfect. -
Harlan Tribune.
Read Van Houten's remarks to an
associated press reporter, printed un.
der the heading: Ivan Houten's
Speech No. g" Every Democrat
ought to cut it out and paste it in his
hat for use on election day.-Harlan
Tribune.
10 the above and kindred slurs on
MIR. Van Houlen, Mr.. w. NJ. Bonn
berger, the well-known horticuiturist
of Shelby county, makes an extended
reply in the Harlan Republican, from
which we make the following xlracts:
1.-THE writer has had personal nc.
quaintance with Mr.. Van Hout IN
for some time; nc have also n per-
sonal acquaintance with his estimablc
wife and family. We cannot class
HIM other than a gentleman and his
wife as a lady. They have largo
family and have had sickness to con-
tend with in raising the same, which
has not permitted them to advance in
worldly prosperity rs rapidly as some.
He has been actively engaged in farm.
ing and fruit growing and is large
apple grower. His interest in fruits
brought him into the Western Horti-
cultural Society's work, and be has
been its secretary since its birth, and
has been largely instrumental in max
ing it the strongest organization in
the state. In the election Of its secre.
tary annually we have never heard u
dissenting vote against him, and the
society, in December, 1889, volun.
tarily doubled his salary.
during the last three years Hon.
George Van Ii )uten has been secrc.
tary also OF the Iowa State Horticul-
tural Society, aud the last three vol
umes OF the state society's transactions
haze been edited by him. have had
sent to me the state horticultural re-
ports Of most all the western states,
and the Iowa report as it lays on my
table is the best, with the exception
of that from the state Of Kansas.
II Secretary Van lIouten had been
paid the same salary That the secre-
tary of Kansas gets, so he could have
employed help, he could have made
better reports than that OF Kansas.
But there is u limit to all mems en-
durance and capacity to work, and
with the limited salary and the over
taxing OF his own Strength, he has
succeeded in giving Us the excellent
reports VIC have, and these are a
credit TO the great state of Iowa and
most valuable thing in every fruit
growers home.
Mr. Van HOu'en's ability as Il
rapid writer has saved us the expe nse
of u steuogapher IN ALL our hor icul-
tural meetings. which would DO no
little sum. His ability to write rap
idly enables him to take down in long
hand any ordinary conversation or
speech llo has shown himself II
ready debater, and is good parlia-
weutarian, aud has always shown
remarkable ability to dispatch bust
ness quickly and accurately. Besides
the work he has done in our horticul.
tural societies, he has been honored
with the position OF secretary in many
other organizations in which he has
not only been Il credit to the organi-
cation, but TO himself. These organ
izaiiOns are either such as are con-
neCled with agriculture or some
branches OF 1t, or noa-partisan pa
triotic orders. We have had many
persons who arc members of the DEM
ocratic party express to us their ad.
miration of his ability.
mir. Van HOutea has played no
small part in maNtng tho fruit bust
place it has attained. He has done
this to the detriment OF his own bust
ness and because be has done this has
made friends everywhere without re-
gard to party. There is neither
rhyme or reason in the personal att
taCks made upon him and Mrs. Van
Houten and their children. The in.
! dustry that he has worked so ardently
/ TO build up, has u membership in but
! two counties that sell annually over Il
| quarter of million dollars worth of
products, and products of the district
! he represents ard that contains the
mem bership Of the Western Society
! have brought in two and quarter
millions OF dollars in this section of
the state in the last two years. We
think that instead of compromising its
| dignity, the Republican party in Iowa
has houored its ticket by giving him
the second place on it.
ITO convince the editor OF the
/ Tribune that Mr.. Van Houten is not
Il dolt, a ninny, mau that is SUI.
premely silly and as much gentle
man a. he himself. if his family is not
entitled to respect according to Dem.
Ocratic paper, we will make the fol-
lowing proposition to him, which can
be arranged formally between the
Democratic and Republican county
central committees OF Shelby county,
''If he wishes to discuss questions
of any character, whether OF state or
| national politics, agricultural. horti.
! cultural or educational matters in
joint debate with Mr. Van Houten,
we will personally pay the expenses
OF his trip here and for the use of the
opera house. All we ask him to do
is to meet him there in debate and
furnish five hundred out OF his party
| as part OF the audience and permit us
to fill the balance OF the house with
! Republicans.
NV. NJ. BoMBERGER.
Harlan, Ia, Oct. 6, 1891"