Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-12-29
TIE MINISTER'S SAY;SO
Rev. Parsons and Rev. Mason Dis.
cuss Local Politics at
Length.
DR.. Parsons Makes His Final Reply
to His Critics and Cummins'
Advocates
Rev. Mason Says Sentiment Of Mar
shall County Is for Some
Third Man.

In writing the above heading an idea
possessed the head writer to compose
the startling line Preacher Politics.
the long standing fancy for ALTERATION
in head lines was almost too much for
him but for fear of being misunder-
stood as discreditirg that kind of poll
tics, his natural impulses had
To give way before the dictates
of his judgment. At any rate we
have today the expressions of two
preachers who are in politics and very
good politicians have they made too.
DR.. Parsons delivers his closing argu-
meat in an interesting debate. DIR.
Mason expresses a very fair minded
judgment as to what he considers
the political sentiment of Marshall.
county. 1t is understood that both the
Gear and Cummins advocates have
now been sufficiently heard and are
willing to allow their case to go To the
jury. OF course no verdict can be ex-
pected as the jury of public opinion can
be depended upon TO disagree in this
case, but the mes-Republican hay-
ing extended every courtesy in it's pow
err to allow each side a full opportunity
for expression will ask respectful con-
sideration in tomorrows issue for a
statement Of its position, its findings
and It's views. 1t is the wish of this
paper as we'll as all republicans who
have The welfare of their party at
heart that the debate be then closed.
DR.. Parsons says:
Editor Times-Republican: I am all
ways delighted with Mr. Sears letters.
l enjoy them. There is an undertone
of sarcastic humor in them that gives
of Mark Twain A lady once said with
Icould never tell when he was joking
Now the way to enjoy Mark Twain is
to consider that he is always joking
and never telling-well, always joking.
am glad also to learn that Mr..
Sears is opposed to combinations of
capital and trusts. feel that it is a
great point gained to have man of
Mr. Sears ability arrayed in opposition
to trusts and large combinations of
capital There is one point in that
connection, however, that somewhat
troubles me. In the same paper where
Mr.. Sears opposes MIR Gear because he
is supported by the railways / lind a
weighty memorial in favor of MIR. Cum
Minis, and in the list of names of those
most respected citizens ] find the name
I of one of the best railroad men in the
state, a most thorough railroad man,
a man that looks We'll after the inter-
lsests of the company thai he represents.
And then l recall the name OF Mr..
| Wentworth. Can his equal be found for
a railroad man in his line? How many
j3companies does he represent: And then
! / recall that other list of names and
among them the names of two men
whom to lose railway company would
1 consider great misfortune. The only
| way that reconcile these things Is to
remember Mark Twain.
| am also glad to have Mr.. Sears
speak so highly of Mr.. cummins. 1t
may be that Mr.. Cummins will be
elected to the senate. l do not know
how this matter is going to turn out.
Being locked up in my study and ig-
norant of the plots of designing men, y
! cannot tell what will take place be-
fore this affair is settled If MIR. Cum
Minis should be elected shall be glad
to have a man represent us of such
high qualities. / hope that no one will
ever be called upon to bring against
him the charge of old age. l want him
to live a long time. and if my wish is
granted then of course he Will become
guilty of the high crime. but / do not
want the friends of his youth to turn
against him in his old age and tell the
people what mistake they made when
once they spoke his praise.
Agata. l desire to acknowledge that
it isl ae, as Mr.. Sears says / did not
repeat the wicked things that are now
being said about MIR. Gear, because the
men that are now praising Mr.. Cum
minis once praised Mr.. Gear. / wonder
il the men that now condemn Mr. Gear
are the same men that once taught us
his virtues, the men that said hurrah
for Gear and we tossed on high our
ready caps, the men that once said
speak his praise, we taught our tongues
to utter the words, "Old Business"
Now, my friends, charge Mr.. Gear with
being an old man If you so desire, but
do not tell US that when u few years
ago you We're speaking so highly of
him you We're just Joking. and that you
did not mean what you said. 1t causes
US to lose confidence in our party lead
ers. We do not want to fall into that
low condition. We desire TO retain our
confidence in our fellow men. And
then still another reason was that did
not especially desire to praise or con-
denim either one of these men of whom
seek to have the highest opinion.
They both aspire to the United States
senate and desire to think we'll of
them. 1 am not of the number. and
will not be. that think a man is alto
gether bad because 1 differ with him.
To besmirch u mans character has but
little weight with me in influencing
either my vote or action. i turn a deaf
eaE to rumors derogatory to any man.
Moreover. that was not the question
under discussion. The question was
this: What is the desire of a majority
Of the republicans with reference to
senator? 1t Is true that / did take the
opportunity to say a word In praise of
n man that the republican party has
honored, but that was incidental and
subordinate to the real question at
issue. | have no desire to champion
the cause of either candidate, but 1t af-
forded me fine opportunity to en-
phasize the fundamental principle of