The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-09-09
JUSTICE TO GOV. SHAW.
Davenport Democrat,

w.
The republicans, IN their Dubuque
state platform, paid d warm tribute to
Gov. Leslie NJ. Shaw of Iowa. for his
efforts in behalf of Iowa troops. in field !,
and camp. The Davenport Democrat |
has criticised Gov Shaw for neglect of |
his duty to these same men, 1t has |
done this in accordance with the light |
it has had; not because he was repub-
Iican, for it has made no political capt.
tai out OF any episode OF the war, at any
time or in any way; but because the
facts seemed to warrant all it said and
more. On the face of events Gov.
Shaw had not done his whole duty to
Iowa soldiers, and for that failure fault
was found.
but the Davenport Democrat has
reason to believe now that the face of
the situation bellies the facts. 1t is in
formed, from a source that is absolute
ly reliable, that Coy. Shaw fully de-
serves what the convention said of him
in its commendatory resolution. 1t is
not at liberty to disclose the channel
nor the details of its information, but
is told by indisputable authority that
Gov. Shaw has ON file i'm his office a
stack OF correspondence, relative to
Iowa men and their camp conditions,
covering weeks. This correspondence,
it is said, would make one OF the most
interesting chapters of the war If it
could be disclosed. Names cannot be
mentioned, but the evidence is accept
ed by this paper that some of the de-
mands.Of Gov. Shaw for better treat
ment for Iowa men We're as sharp as
any that have been penned anywhere,
and that they not only used plain lam
guage, but considerably antedated Ike
action by any other governor. The
amelioration OF the state of our men in
hospital is directly charged to one or
two messages in particular; one to
Secretary Alger, and one to Gen. S,ern-
burg.
The Democrat hastens, at the first
opportunity since receiving this intelli-
gence, to make this statement. 1t has
been honest and sincere in its criticism,
and now, without even a suggestion
from any quarter, or any knowledge OF
its course on the part of the subject of
the criticism OF the past, it states the
other side, the inside facts in the case.
If the truth is as told this paper, and
it is unable to doubt it's informant,
Gov. Shaw owes himself the duty of
giving enough publicity to this cores
pondence to clear his record of the
charges laid up against it.
1.-The Democrat is democratic. 1t
aims also to be fair and tell the truth,
and when injustice is done it would
rather be sneered at for an honest error
than keep silence and permit the wrong
to go unrighted. 1t cannot hope to
have much influence with Gov. Shaw,
but it trusts that the republican papers
: OF the state that do have influence with
him will unite in an appeal, if need be
demand, for the production of the
evidence in question. Gov. Shaw will
probably feel disinclined to give it out,
but he appears to be under no obliga-
: lions 60 either Mr.. Alger or DIR. Stern
burg, and he is under some obligations
, to himself and his state. Let the rec
! ord appear"
That Governor Shaw interested him
self in behalf of the troops is proven by
, the fact that he made a trip to Chicla-
: maIloa and Tool copv;l1o ~, +bo l,a++o,%
, season of the year; that be saw condi-
tions that could be improved upon is
manifest because he left his party at
i Cincinnati and went to Washington in
Y the interest of better hospital service:
y that his efforts were not fruitless is APP
!. parent from the fact that the boys from
all the regiments testify that the hospi-
; tai service improved very materially
from about the time of his visit. 1t is
not likely he will publish the cores
pondence referred to in the Democrat
article, and it could serve no good pur
pose. if published. The people OF the
state fully understand that the Cover
nor has done every thing within his
power i'm the interest OF the low.
p troops, and the few criticisms INDUCED
. in have either been for political reason.
or because the authors had not takel
, occasion to inform themselves.
A SWINDLER IN LIMBO.
a The fact that you cannot get some
thing for nothing was one of the fire.