Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-02-15
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL
\ Dcs Moines, February IL. i

g. +. Wennerstrum, state commits.
sfoner Of labor, has just returned
from trip through northern Iowa,
where he inspected the tow mills Of
Mitchell, Howard and Chickasaw
counties. lie finds them in prosper
Gus condition, but the proprietors
are all complaining of the difficulty
of securing flax. The farmers Of
northern Iowa put in fax ten and ff-
teen years ago and made a great deal
OF money, many paying for their
land the first year. 1t was soon dis
covered, however, that flax was, very
hard on land. Since then the amount
of flax raised has steadily decreased
At present it is put in occasionally,
but no one farmer tries to- raise it
on the same land every year The
custom at present is to allow two or
three other crops to intervene. This
has materially decreased the output,
which the two factories say is not
great enough now to meet their de-
mands. AS result of this they have
formed a sort of informal associa-
ton, the duty of which is to induce
farmers to raise fax. The tow fac
tories are located at New Hampton.
Elma, McIntire and Cresco. ,-'s
Justice +. T.. Duncan has rendered
an important decision in the case of
the state of Iowa VS.. J. c. Hansen,
charged with Infringement Of civit
rights, declaring the defendant to be
not guilty on the novel grounds the
sale of liquor even under the pro-
visions Of the Martin mulct law is il.
legal. He holds, therefore, that Han
sen cannot be held liable for an act
that, had he performed it, would have
been the means of causing him to
break the law. William Graves, col
ored man, went into Hansen's saloon
in East Des Moines some time ago
and, it is alleged, was refused liquor
after having rendered Mr.. Hansen the
price. for it and requesting the latter
to sell it to him. He swore out
| warrant for the arrest of the saloon
keeper on the grounds of discrimina-
ton. The defendant was brought be-
fore Justice Duncan, who held to the
above theory. Justice Duncan bases
his assertion that the sale of liquor
| under the provision of the Martin law
is illegal on sections 2447 and 244S of
the code, which says: Nothing con.
tanned in this chapter, so far as it
relates to the mulct law, shall be in
any way construed to mean that the
business of the sale of Intoxicating
liquors is in any way legalized.''
From this section the justice holds
that it is clear the law does not con-
p. template that the sale of liquor is not
a crime, but that those who comply
with the provisions of the mulct law
are simply protected from prosecu-
tions.
Sidney A. Foster, of Des- Moines,
mas announced that he is candi-
date for the republican nomination
for governor of Iowa. He states his
position in the following open let
ter:
Through the Press to the People
of Iowa: [ desire to be the repub-
lean nominee for governor of Iowa
at the coming state convention. l
ask for the nomination because I
want it, and submit the candidacy
upon its merits. ...ss.-
'If nominated shall be faithfhE
if the nomination goes elsewhere ]
shall support with loyalty the nomi-
nee.
This announcement is made with
out advice, suggestion or promise
from anyone, is backed by no bureau,
organization or combination. The
method is unusual, but after a res
idence of more than a quarter of
a century in Iowa, my belief has
been strengthened that the people
are always worthy the fullest con-
, tidence of citizen.
(Signed Sidney A. Foster
The state board of control has
been notified that on motion of the
DEFENDANTS attorney, John w. Stone
had been discharged in the district
court at Mt. Pleasant as feeble-mind
ed and irresponsible in the case of
alleged embezzlcmcnt of $50 worth
of state hospital goods last summer,
1