The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-08-11
Sample ofshaw's weakness(?)

We devote portion of our space on
page six to the publication of letter
written by labor agitator of San
Francisco, and the answer written by
Governor L. M. Shaw.
The labor agitator protests that it
will be harmful to the interests of the
laboring men of San Francisco if the
5lst Iowa be discharged from duty at
that place.
AS will be noted in his letter, he says
the result will be first, grand carnival
of debauchery, and second. large
number of bankrupt ex-soldier tramps
thrown upon the labor market of the
city, or compelled to bum their way
home over the Trans Continental Rail
ways.
The reply of Governor Shaw is well
worth reading, for man who has con-
Quoted weak, vacillating administra-
ton as the democratic county resolu-
lions indicate. the letter is surprise.
Not since the days of Kirkwood has
any more stirring and patriotic docu-
ment been issued from the executive
department of Iowa.
Governor Shaw defends the Iowa
boys from the charge that they are of
low moral character. He states that
they are no more apt to be led astray
by the temptations of San Francisco
than would any other body of men. He
states that they will be supplied with
money by the government sufficient to
enable them to pay their transporta-
ton to Iowa where loved ones are
anxiously awaiting them, and that he
does not believe they will long delay
the time of their home coming.
Much pressure has been brought to
bear upon the governor to have the 5lst
regiment brought to Iowa with their
organization intact in order that they
may be discharged from service at Des
Moines. The government has decided
tha9 they shall be discharged at San
Francisco. The only possible way they
could be brought to Iowa as a regiment
would be for the governor to take upon
himself the responsibility of expanding
from fifty to seventy-fve thousand dol
lars for their transportation without
warrant in law, and to trust to the
generosity of the next legislature to
legalize his act.
1t is easy enough for those who have
no responsibility, to urge this course of
action upon the governor. But we
doubt if any of the petitioners would be
willing to take the risk themselves, for
should the legislature conclude the ex-
penditure to have been unwarranted
and unnecessary, there would be but one
course for Mr.. Shaw to pursue, and
that would be to pay the money from
his own pocket.
We believe that if there was any
pressing necessity for this action, If the
state Of the country were in danger; if
the welfare of our people or the integ-
rity of the Union depended on such &C
ton, Gov. Shaw would not hesitate a
moment, even though he fully believed
that he would finally have to make the
payment himself. But as it is only a
matter of sentiment, as the United
States government supplies each mem
Der of the regiment with sufficient funds
for travelling expenses, there is no rea-
son or justice in the demand which is
being made.
We ask our readers to peruse the gov
ernor's letter carefully; not only does
he defend the honor of Iowa soldiery,
Of the volunteer regiment that was last
to leave the firing line. of a regiment
which all authorities unite in saying
was one of the bravest in the field, but
he offers many suggestions to our own
people, which it would be well to fol-
low.
Especially do we commend this letter
to those who subscribed to the opinion
that Gov. Shaw's had been weak and
vacillating administration,
AS fushion is to be barred from the
ballot hereafter, our democratic friends
are seeking to find fusion personifed,
and they have found it in Rev. S. Ii.
Bashor, of Neutrality-suspicious., pop
H. .