Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-31
NV REFORM SjHEN[
Dcs Moines Would Now Abolish
All Wards and Elect
at Large.
City Also Wants to Do Away
With Its Board OF Pub.
lie Works.
Grant Club Gives Cousins Up TO
the Public..Will Speak In
Auditorium.
Auditorium.
ial To Times es-Renuhlicnr.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, Oct. 3l.-Des Moines is
again restless over the question of the
right way to have city organization
so that the good people will in fact con-
troll and the bad people will be helpless.
What really is wanted is some sort of
a city charter or constitution or organi-
cation that will enable the good people
who are too indolent to look after their
affairs run the city in spite of the ac-
tivities of the bad people who are ever
alert and looking for the main chance.
Certain of the aldermen have set out
ito prepare and have go before the peo-
pie what they are going to call new
charter, in which they are going to
demonstrate to all the other municipal
reformers just what ought to be done to
have a perfect organization. Among
other things they intend TO have the al
dermen all elected by the city at large
and do away with wards and their rep
resentation. They will have Il small
body OF aldermen and they will be all
powerful and have direot and absolute
control of everything in the city. They
will not only make the laws and appro-
pirate the money, but they will spend
the money and supervise all public
works This contemplates doing away
with the board OF public works 1t is
doubtful if the city is prepared to make
any ouch sweeping changes in the meth
cd of management, hut an effort is to be
made TO bring 1t about. Des Moines has
not been hotorious!y badly managed
city, but 1t has, not been managed as
economically as it might have been. The
movement suggests the revolutionary
tendencies of dozen years ago. 1t was
then that the board Of public works was
created. 1t is strange how the same
wind sometimes blows hot and some
times cold; but the board wae created
for the very reason that 1t IS now going
to be abolished. 1t was created in order
to Keep the rascals from stealing the
city funds. The city council. SO 1t was
thai said, had become so corrupt or in
competent that 1t could not be trusted.
Now they are saying that the board is
useless, that in order to save the peo-
pies money it must be abolished. etc.
So, also, In reference to the wards of the
city. Their number was increased some
years ago in order that the people might
have. better chance to secure good
government. And the experience of the
city of Des Moines is not realty different
from that of many other good cities.
The state of Iowa has just come into
possession of a fine portrait in oil of the
late Governor Kirkwood, under peculiar
circumstances. The portrait was paint
ed by Marshall Talbot, an eccentric ge-
MUS who lived in Des Moines few
years ago. Talbot came here from some
place in the east and was distinguished
chiefly for the fact that he was an in
tense democrat and was always causing
more or less trouble in the democratic
camp. He figured largely in local poll
tics for few years and died at Polk
City in 1871 He painted life-sized por-'
trait of Kirkwood in oil, showing only
the head and bust. This canvas has
lain in a garret in the home of Mr.. Tai
bots niece for many years. This niece.
Mrs Catherine NJ Adams, has present.
ed the picture to Curator Aldrich of the
Iowa state historical department, and
he will have 1t restored to its original
brilliancy and framed. 1t will be hung
in the gallery of the historical depart
ment. The portrait which now hangs in
the historical department was painted
for the capitol and will be returned to
the governors rooms.
The Des Moines river frontiers"
threaten another outbreak of the court
house war. 1t was understood, verbally,
of course, that when the supreme court
passed on the last case all litigation
would end; but the people of the east
side now say they will bring the matter
up again in way that will be sure to
involve great deal more litigation.
The Grant Club has 80 far yielded to
the demands of the republican countv
central committee that it has decided
upon having the political meeting to be
addressed by Robert G. Cousins in the
Auditorium instead of at the Grant Club
rooms. There was much complaint be-
cause of the fact that the Grant club
had made the arrangements without
consulting any of the committees and
planned to make it an exclusive affair
Cousins will speak in the Auditorium
Saturday evening. A Cummins meeting
is to be held in the Auditorium on Mon
day evening and ex Governor Frank D
Jackson is to preside.
The written opinion of the state ballot
board filed last evening takes issue with
the ruling of Judge Wade in regard to
the time when names can be placed on
the official ballot. The reference is to
the Illinois case of similar purport. The
state board makes it plain that in ad-
mitting the name of Robert Huffchmidt
to the ballot the principle enunciated in
the johnson county case is not followed
nor approved.