Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-22
'DAVE BRANT'S RECORD.
Clinton Democratic Newspaper Tells
How He "Flopped" From the
Prohibitionists.
Story Sounds Funny When the Facts
Are Known-His Legislative
Experience.
senatorial Fight Growing Warm in
Scott County The Histor.
ical Society.
Special to Times-Republican.

Especial to Times-Republican
Des Moines, Sept. 22.-One of the deli
cate humors of the campaign has mani
tested itself down in Clinton county.
! One of the democratic newspapers there
has been assaulting Dave Brant. editor
or the Clinton Herald, charging that
he was prohibitionist all his life till
he, went to that county; when, finding
the community the other way, he
Hoped. Dave represented Linn county
through two sessions of the legislature.
in the lower house. Then he went to
Clinton, and the republicans there have
nominated him for the house. He has a
democratic majority of 500 against him,
and hard fight. But it seems funny
to see him accused of being a prohibi-
zionist, and perhaps, just to, keep his
tory straight. one incident of his legis-
lative career may profitably be told.
Mr.. Brant was one Of the recognized
leaders in the house, and there was not
more practical, capable, far-seeing
Legislator in either branch. In addition
he was a shrewd manager. When the
manufacturing bill was up for consider
lation he took the leading part in its be-
| half, and was recognized, together with
| Representative Dowell of Polk county,
as the most active partisan of the meas
lure. He worked for weeks for it. When
the fateful day came, and the bill was
to be voted on, there was dramatic
scene on the floor of the house. All day
I the fight was waged, and "oodles" of or
| 1atory We're poured forth on the devoted
heads of the spectators who crowded
the hall. The bill was taken up section
by section, and all went we'll till it came
to the roll call on final passage. There
was a general feeling that it would be
vote short. Fifty-one votes We're needed
| to pass it, and not half dozen men in
the house could possibly have told
whence they We're to come. On the roll
call Ladd of Butler voted NO., Some
people looked surprised, but Brant
wasn't one of them. Ladd had been
Icounted on to vote for the bill; at least,
he was conceded to be necessary to it's
passage, and when he voted against it
defeat was considered inevitable.
/ But there warc a few men who knew
differently. Dave Brant was one of
them. He never turned hair when
Ladd voted, but went on diligently
keeping mis- tally. The instant the roll
was completed he knew that fifty votes
had been cast in the Affirmative. He
/ jumped from his seat and went over to
Ladd's desk. The clerk was verifying
| the roll, which gave a minutes time in
which to maneuver. There was hasty
lconsultation between Brant and Ladd
Then the trick was turned. Ladd had
agreed in advance that he would vote
for the bill II his vote was necessary to
save it; but not otherwise. While the
roll was being verified he looked over
Brant's tally, which agreed with his
own, exchanged a few words with
Brant, and then rose, just as the vote
was about to be announced.
MIR. Speaker he began. The speak
| er was not slow to catch his eye.
THE gentleman from Butler was
recognized promptly, while every spec
tator held his breath. Something was
about to happen.
II desire to change my vote, and cast
lit in the Affirmative" announced Mr..
Ladd. 1t was SO recorded, and the bill
was passed. Next day it went to the
senate. and after long and hard fight
lit passed there. and by single vote.
Dave Brant was given the credit in the
Des Moines newspapers Of having the
chief part in passing that bill; he fur
nished the diplomacy, the finessing. the
hard work, the tireless energy. And
that is why the efforts of the Clinton
county paper are accepted by people
who know as among the humorous
things of the campaign.
The Gear people are reported to be
making fight for Gear instructions in
Scott county. In view of the claims
that have been made. it would seem
about as reasonable for Cummins to
fight for instructions in Des Moines
county. But then there have been some
surprises lately, and some of the Gear
people say victory in Scott would be
no greater surprise than some other
recent results. Then there are rumors
of Gear effort to capture Plymouth's
convention. which will be held at the
close Of the month. Plymouth. by in
Istructing for Gear, would nail Senator
Hobart down, and leave him little ex-
cuse to vote for Cummins, which it is
said he is liable to do if matters remain
as they are now.
N. NJ. Hubbard, Jr., of Cedar Rapids,
is in town today, and talked about the
prospective candidacy of Col. Dows for
speaker of the house. "Mr. Dows is too
wise to become a candidate for speak
er before he is elected to the house."
said Mr.. Hubbard. Too many candi-
dates have tried electing themselves to
the speakership before their constitu-
ents had rendered their decisions, and
found at election time that they We're
entirely out of it in the first round. OF
course there is no probability of such
Il thing in Linn county, but it is just
as we'll to be modest about such mat
ters. If the Gear strength is what is
claimed for it, we may assume that the
house will be organized along senator
ial lines and that Gear will control In
that event it would certainly seem
that Col. Dows would have a good
chance to be chosen speaker, should he
be candidate"
A country editor who has been read
Ing the Times-Republican demands 70