The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-11-16

less inexcusable on the part OF our
lawmakers. Attorney General
Remley reEders the decision in ac-
cordance with the above statement
as to tenure of office and then rec
ommends the amendment to the
leniency of the court. The Attor-
ney General also makes an appeal
to all those whose terms of office
have been extended to make mar
tyrs of themselves. and TO forego
their legal rights under the new
amendment. This sounds nice
and is truly philanthropic but we
will wager that mighty few officials
will give UP day sooner than the
law requires and if the opinion of
the Attorney General is backed by
the supreme court those officers
who are entitled to an additional
year will take it. One officer in
this county when asked concerning
his probable position if the opinion
of the Attorney General holds, re,
piled tersely, "What do you think
my successor would do if the case
was reversed? 1t seems to me
that he would remain in office as
long as the law allows"
The opinion just rendered affects
every officer in the state, county
and township whose supposed sue
cessor was elected this fall. In
this county it would mean that
Auditor Carey, Clerk Kruger and
Supervisors Langley and Holland
would be entitled to an additional
year. In this city it would give
Justice Montgomery another year
OF office, and throughout the county
it would make difference to prob
ably fifty Office holders.
We must say that for our part
we shall not blame any of these
i officials if they retain their offices
rather than to hand in their resig-
nations. The people and the law
makers are presumed to know
what they are about, if they do
i not it certainly is not the fault of
those holding office.
1t will make queer mix-up, but
the officials are not to blame. In
this county, Auditor Rasp and
i County Attorney Shaw Van, both
had their terms of office extended
by law and no complaints were
offered, there should be none now
if the present officers decide TO
stand upon their rights under the
constitutional amendment. 1t IS
not to be supposed that Mr. Col
{ Inns, Mr.. Faul, Mr.. Molter, Mr..
Schroeder, Mr.. McLennan and those
whose interests are adversely affec-
ted will look upon this with equa-
nimity, but if they will place
themselves in the position of the
other men, we believe that the
4 majority of them would decide to
i accept the law of the state as rem
dered by the attorney general of
the state. The case of Mr.. Hol
| land is a peculiar one. We be-
lieve the board exceeded its rights
in appointing him for longer
time than until the next general
election. ust as in the case of
4 Congressman Conner who was twice
on the ticket, once for the long
term and once to succeed Dolliver
. tor the short term, so there should
have been two names on the super
visoral ticket, one to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Supervisor
White, and one for the long term
beginning in January. However,
no one was elected to fill the
vacancy and Mr.. Holland holds by
appointment. His appointment
is therefore good for as long time
as Mr.. White would have held had
he lived. AS Mr.. Whites term
would have been affected the same
as Mr.. Langley's now is, we see
no reason why Mr.. Holland should
not also hold his office for another
year. In this county, however,
the muddle is not for the republi-
cans to solve. 1t is up to the
democrats and they may solve it in
anyway they like. In another
column we quote extracts from the
opinion of the attorney general
showing his opinion relative to the
tenure of office,
A Village Blacksmith Saved His