Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-21
1HE y[1 CHAIRMAN
LiH oto Be Successor of
4l1nsn Hancock.
Latter's Decision to Resign Sur.
prise to the State Central
Committee.
Populist Platform and the State
Tax Levy Convict Labor
and Politics.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Aug. 21.-The refusal of
4 Chairman Charles T. Hancock to be-
come a candidate for election to the po-
sition another year has come as sur
prise to many of the party leaders Of
the state. 1t was known that Mr.. Han
cock had been seriously considering the
advisability Of declining another term
of office, but the declination was not ex-
pected at just this time. The committee
will meet within ten days to name an
other chairman. The indications are
that H. o. Weaver Of the First district
| will be the man. If not Mr.. Weaver,
then r.. H. Spence of Mt. Ayr, in the
Eighth district, will be the man. Either
of these committeeman. 1T is admitted,
would be satisfactory to all parties and
are possessed of the executive ability
and acquaintance with the issues to
make an excellent chairman. Mr.. Weav-
er is the oldest member of the commit
tee in point of service and for that rea-
son is deemed probable that he will
be named. The resignation of Mr.. Han
cock is entirely because of the opposi-
ton of his family to his longer devot-
/ ing the time necessary TO be the eXecu-
tive head of the committee and direct
the campaign in the state this year. and
The talk of certain interested newspa-
pcrs TO the effect that the refusal of Mr..
Hancock TO serve another year as chair
man is due to differences of opinion be-
tween him and other members of the
comittee is the veriest bosh. Mr.. Han
cock was assured Of unanimous cleo
4 ton if he would allow his name to be
used. He had no opposition, but was,
on the contrary, strongly urged to all
4 low his name to be used. His term OF
Office, as committeeman. does not eN-
4 pire for one year yet, and ne Will prob
ably remain u member of the commit
tee, at least, during that time.
4 There is a famine of building materi-
ais in Des 8Toines. Prices on all build
! ing material have advanced from 10 TO
! so per cent. Even labor is much more
iexpensive than at the beginning of the
season. This condition is due to the
large amount of building. Some classes
of builders supplies can not be had in
/ Des Moines al the present time at any
i price. All the brick manufactured in
/ the city have been contracted for up
until Sept 15-These brick have been
i bought by one firm for legitimate pur-
j poses, because of large contracts the
firm has on hand. Structural iron has
tripled in price and some building is be-
ing abandoned until next year because
of the cost of material and labor. Lath
/ has nearly tripled in price Lumber of
Ian kinds has advanced rapidly. The
outlook for building during the remain
der of the season and next year indi-
4 Gates that the high prices Will continue
i for some time.
/ The state board of control is going to
i Duluth the first week in September to
I attend a convention and conference on
4 icharities and correction. All the mem-
bers VIII attend. on its return trip the
Il board will stop at Saltwater. Mimi, to
Il investigate the twine industry at the
state penitentlary.
4 The populist platform adopted in the
4 aconvention of twenty men here last
"wednesday gives the republican party
J. credit for reducing the state tax levy
and for eliminating the state debt. but
condemns the party for being RESPONSE
] ble-according TO the piank-for in
81 creasing taxation on farms and reduc-
ing it on corporations. This is so ridic-
ulous that the opinion prevails that the
author of the plank is an ignoramus.
/ When it was read by E. II. Gillette,
however. Gen. Weaver smiled signifi-
cantly as if with pride over the con-
struction of plank which is the quint-
essence of ldemagoguism, and the reader
couldn't help laughing little himself.
The facts are that the railroad assess
ment was increased this year about
S200,000 While the assessment on real
estate is decreased almost $4,000 600.
4 The assessment of live stock is about
S6,000,000 less than it was two years ago.
+ So much for one populist lie.
!, Another plank on which the party OF
demagogues will seek TO make votes
this year is that in the democratic plat
form against contract labor at the peni-
tentiaries, falsely claiming it is in COM
petition with free labor The Second
district delegates got this plank insert
ed. fDf several weeks MALICIOUS
i statement has been circulated to the
4 effect that 125 men at Ana,nosa had
been contracted for twelve years The
number is but twenty-five and the term
is indeterminate. The thing has been
taken up as an experiment. to help pay
the expenses of the institution at Ana
mosa and by so much reduce the taxes
necessary to spend on keeping the GRIM
inals. The system has been recommends
ed by Judge Kline, who is the demo-
cratic member of the state board of
Ecoatrol, for it is necessary to furnish
men in confinement something to do or
they would become maniacs Judge
Kline investigates labor in state insti-
tutions in twenty states. investigating
200 institutions, and recommends the
employment of such labor in the inter-
ests of the inmates as we'll as for the
benefit of the tax payers, whose taxes
are reduced by whatever amount is
produced for the credit of the state at
the institutions. Objection could as
reasonably be made to the growth of
100000 bushels of potatoes at the insti-
tutions this year. which will save the
! taxpayers from $4,000 to $4,000.
49, s