Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-02-16
IOWA CONDENSED.

1t is asserted that the enemies OF
the saloon as represented in the Iowa
Anti-saloon League want the question
of prohibition sent back to the people.
If the legislature will grant this, well
and good, but if it refuses, the Anti
saloon League leaders say that they
will take advantage of the constitu-
ton, which provides that every ten
years the people shall vote upon the
question "Shall there be constitu-
tional convention called?" They pro-
pose to stump the state in 1900 for such
a convention, as provided by the con-
stitution and laws of the state.
At Des Moines recently Judge Wool
son made an order in the matter of the
receivership of the Indianola water
works that may result in closing down
the plant. At present the city refuses
to pay water rentals and the works
have been compelled to depend on
private consumers for revenue. 1t has
been shown that the amount of rev.
enues is not sufficient to pay the oper-
ating expenses. The order of the court
is that Receiver f. II. Hunter shall
give notice to the city of Indianola and
the citizens for one week that guar
anteed revenue of 500 month must
be pledged or the works will be closed
down.
A shooting affray bordering on a
duel was enacted few days ago
near Sexton, in Kossuth county. Bad
blood existed between Albert Rahm
and Herman Neckar. The principals
decided that there was no other way to
settle matters but by bullets. Each
watched for the other. Rahm, it is
stated, attempted to get the drop on
Neckar. Neckar was little too quick
for his assailant and plugged bullet
into him in the region of the heart.
Rahm was dazed, but managed to re-
turn the compliment with bullet
which lodged in Neckars abdomen.
Both are still living, but are seriously
wounded.
Fire was discovered in the general
store of f. Y. Winery at Union re-
Gently. It's origin is not known,
but it is not thought to have been in
cendiary. The flames had made such
great progress when discovered that
nothing could be done to save the
Winery building or contents. The
restaurant, which stands just east,
soon caught fire and was burned, but
little of the contents being saved. 1t
was occupied by WILDER Adams, and
he had no insurance. The fire depart
ment turned it's attention to the sur
rounding buildings, and the flames
were confined to the two buildings,
but the damage by water to many
merchants is great. The fire is severe
blow to the town. The total loss is
not far from $40, 900, and the insurance
is probably less than half that amount.
Ottumwa dispatch: Probably the
largest private party from this section
of the country to visit the Klondike
gold regions met in st. Paul yesterday
and left for Seattle to embark for
Skaguay. The party is not only large
one, but it is composed entirely of
prominent business and professional
men of Iowa, South Dakota and Wis
consin, many of whom are wealthy
and all are influential citizens. The
party is headed by Charles A. Walsh,
secretary of the democratic national
committee, and one of the most prom
inent leaders of the silver forces in the
United States. The party formed
themselves into a company to be known
as the Iowa-Alaskan Mining e. Pros
pecting Co., which is really the party
organized by G. M. Starbuck, of Cher
okee Mr. Walsh is secretary of the
company, which consists of thirty
seven men and one woman, Mrs.
Thomas, of Chippewa Falls, Wis, wife
of one of the members of the party,
who will act as cook.
Des Moines Leader: Governor Shaw,
according to u report whose anthem
ITCHY is vouched for by several mem
bers of the legislature who have inter-
ested themselves, has refused to sign
any manufacturing bill. The gov
ernor, according to the report, was
asked about his attitude by persons
sent to him by friends of a more lib
eral manufacturing law. He replied
without equivocation that he would
sign no manufacturing bill; that he
had conscientious convictions such as
would make it impossible for him to
sign such measure, and useless forit
advocates to argue with him.