The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-10-08
F YEAR

that, especially in what are called
ssof' years, the consideration OF
politics becomes more a question
of who shall be elected to the
minor offices of county and town
ship than a question of the real
policies involved in party victory.
The democrats of Iowa come
before the people this year again
asserting their allegiance to free
silver and William Jennings-Bryan.
They will not argue the question,
they run away if a discussion is
proposed, but it is in their plat
form and the democrats of Iowa
r pledged to that doctrine. No
thinking man can deny but that
his vote, if cast for the democratic
ticket, means that he is in favor of
free silver. A democratic vote
means also a vote of lack Ct conf
dence in the administration of
William Mckinley and of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. 1t means that you
do not appreciate the magnificent
prosperity which has come to this
country, it means that you are not
satisfied with present conditions
and that you would change them
for the doctrines as taught by
William Jennings Bryan. In state
politics it means that you are not
satisfied with the present manage.
ment of our state affairs. We
have asked again and again of our
democratic friends to point out a
democratic state that is as we'll and
economically governed as is Iowa.
We have failed to receive a reply.
Why? Is it not because such a
state does not exist? Iowa has a
balance in its treasury, its taxes
are lower than in almost any other
state in the Union. Its state in
stitutions are models both for eHec-
tiveness and for responsiveness.
There can be no just criticism of
the state government for it has
been above reproach. The repub-
lican party stands for equal taxa
ton for all and is pledged to that
effect. What more do you want
than justice and fairness? Do you
wish by the passage of unjust and
radical laws to drive capital from
the state and to stop the wheels of
industry? Few counties in Iowa
have benefited more by McKin-
ley's prosperity than has Craw-
ford. But a few years ago the
people of Otter Creek township
for instance were ten miles from
the nearest shipping point, now
they have them at their very doors.
The real cost to the farmers of
this township in getting their grain
and hogs to the Chicago market
has been reduced one-third by this
one thing. Do you wish to say
that Iowa is to adopt a course of
radical legislation, which will brand
us as a second Kansas, stop the
development of large enterprises
and forbid to others in the state,
the advantages you have received
because you have been brought
nearer to your markets. Under
the last democratic administration
the town of Schleswig was not.
Nowit isa thriving progressive and
prosperous community, and its
wealth and prosperity was made
possible by two things, the gen
eral prosperity of the country
which inspired confidence in CAPT
tai SO that it sought investment
and the fair and equitable policy
which Iowa has always pursued to-
ward capital. Is the railroad an
especial enemy of %Schleswig, for
instance or has it served to make it
what it is today? Mind you, we do
not claim for the railroads any de-
gree of philanthropy. If the man
agement had not thought it would
pay the road they would not have
built. If we had free silver and
unstable currency,if Iowa had been