The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-04-11
Subsoription Rates:
RAILROADS IN POLITICS.

RAILROADS IN pOLlIlCS.
In Iowa, when our republican bretb.
ren meet in state convention Of late, the
battle of the campaign in the state is
usually fought out, so solidly republl-
N can is the state. A few years ago, when
the republicans of the state revolted
against the action of their party on the
prohibition issue, democrats won several
state elections. 1t was then that the
railroads Of the state, through their
Hunters, Duncombs, Martins, and other
railway agents, worked their way into
the democratic party to control Its
+ gatherings as they had done the repub-
&, lican party through their Blythes and
Hubbard. Democrats were too indepen-
dent to be long dominated by such cor
D ,ration agents, and soon these gentle
men. who we're in the democratic party
of Iowa simply to control it for the cor
porations they served, we're driven out,
and the party freed from their contain
mating influences.
turned their entire attention tc the re-
publican party, as the democratic party
was too hopelessly in the minority to
need any attention from them. Since
that time, while the republican partv Of
Iowa has been polling its tremendous
maiorities in the state, the railroads
have dominated most of its nominations
: for state officers, as we'll as dictated lts
election of United States senators, and
]. looked after the legislature. They have
had their Jackson, and their Shaw, in
the governors chair, and most OF the
other officers of the state. What do
they want these officers for, some one
asks? Because the executive council.
composed ex-governor, secretary, auditor
and treasurer of state, assess the rail-
road property of the state, and with
their willing tools on the executive coun-
Gil, the railroads have Jared most excel
.lently during years past in the mat
tsr of assessments for taxes
IA few years ago, State Treasurer
Herriof reyolted and tried to force an
4 honest assessment Of the railroads Of
! the state. He was overruled, and the
assessment was properly fixed, he was
condemned to political exile by the rail.
road bosses of the republican .,arty of
\ Iowa, and defeated for denomination.
Down in this section Of Iowa, where the
q. B. & @. dominates the politics for the
innocent farmer. who is not supposed to
know anything about railroad assess
ments, the railroads, especially the O.,
had found trusted friend in the per,
son of w. w. Morrow, one of the lead
ing spirits of the republican ring in this
county, who served them we'll as mem.
ber of the railway committee of the
house, during two terms of the legisla-
ture, and an effort was made two differ
ent years to secure fol him the nomina-
ton of state treasurer, but in both they
failed.
Some years ago, when the great and
good M. l.. Tremble, of Osceola, was in
the legislature, he got gay, and receiv-
ing the proper recognition from the
nominating powers, introduced what
4 was was known as the Temple amend.
ment, measure directed at the Bur
lington Relief of the Burlington road.
The measure gained prominence, and
was supported by Martin, from Adair
For this audacily Temple and Martin
were both defeated for reelection
Martin had gained some notoriety over
the state as father of the Mulct law, and
he entered the race for secretary Of
state, from Morrow's locality, and
& f1rmed a combination with Gilbert fol
treasurer from another portion of the
state, both known as anti-railroad can
didates, and battle royal was on
1t is we'll remembered. All of the rail
road organs Of the state took a hand
but the ants won out and this yeal
when the executive council met, We wit
messed the spectacle Of two anti-railroac
members attempting to get proper as
sessment on the railroads but not hav
ing majority, they could not win out
The Des M oines Leader, always stauncl
anti-railroad journal, being on tn
ground at the capital, has the followin!
to say of these two worthy officials O
the state:
Secretary Martin, at the beginning o
the assessment, publicly offered a res
olution which called for a "substantia
4 increase" of the railroad assessment
and Treasurer Gilbertson joined in tn
support Of this resolution, which wa
not adopted, two votes not sufficing t.
secure affirmative action in body o
four. In this resolution Messrs. Martil
e and Gilbertson put themselves squared,
on record.
The campaign has already begun il
the state, among the republican breth
re i, for the nomination of governor ant
auditor of state, and the fight is on be
tween the railroads and the antis, an,
the republican organs Of the state
among them the Creston Gazette, hav
been bowling down every man who ha,
Y a hand in defeating the railroad com
bine Of last year, and as many candi