Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-03
ADJOURNMENT APRIL 9
Iowa Senate Takes Another
Step in Direction OF Final
Adjournment.
Lewis Resolution Passed But
May Be Reconsidered.-Gov-
ernor's Salary Raised.
Wesley Elkins Pardon Case Ia.
ken Up in the House
Today.

morning took another step In the direc-
ton of reaching final adjournment, anu
naasod thp Lewis resolution for ad-
journment April 9. But a motion to re-
consider was Immediately fled so ag 10
II hold Il In the control of the senate. Hes-
olutions eulogizins the late Senator
Rolter were reported and adopted. Ihe
final report In the Nolan Crawford case
adopted. The house bill to raise The
governors salary to $4,000 a year was
attorneys to appoint their deputies was
recOnsldered and passed. The BARRIERS
bill was defeated. The bill for fixing
county .superintendents salaries at yl,-
| ESQ O year was passed. The bill to per-
nit changes of ward boundaries by
RESOLUTION was amended and then In
definitely postponed.
The house devoted the entire fore
noon to the Elkins case.
There has not been before the leglsla-
ture any subject that has drawn out
such spirited speeches as the Wesley
Elkins pardon case in the senate. Sen
ator whipple presented the case fairly
land stated all of the material facts on
which the senate was forced to act. He
made no attempt to justify or palliate
| the double crime. He spoke for a par
ole under the severest restrictions, that
the young man. one-half of whose life
has now been spent in prison, might
have a chance. There were able adj
dresses by Senators Hubbard, Healey,
Hartman and Trewin for the pardon,
while others spoke against 1t. Senator
Bishop was accorded unlimited time In
which to present his views, or what
may properly be called the views of the
people of Clayton county, for unques-
ttonably the senator voices the senti-
renes of nearly all who lived near
where the crime was committed. The
vote was taken and twenty-seven voted
for giving Wesley Elkins a chance to
show what he is. After 1t was over
Senator Bishop expressed himself as
glad that the case was disposed of.
II will sleep soundly tonight" he
said, "in the thought that have mere
| ly done my duty in this case. have
opposed the pardon because believe
he is one who can not be trusted and
who is not safe person to be at large
in society. do not fear Elkins. If he
is released shall take him by the
hand and if can do so will help him.
| Something was said here to indicate
that when the case was up four years
ago Senator Everall gave the senators
to understand that If they would pass it
over then the people of Clayton county
would be reconciled to the pardon at
this time. know nothing Of that.
have made 10 promises. Ieknow that
the people of Clayton county do not
desire that Wesley Elkins shall be par
doned. can make no promises for the
future. I may be for the pardon at
some future time. But have done here
what believe to be right"
r During the somewhat extended ad-
dress of Senator Bishop on the Elkins
lease a pretty incident occurred, which
| was so unexpected that it brought forth
unavoidably the applause of the SEN
ators and the visitors. The senator
| from Clayton had paused in his dis
course. when his little child, a girl of
or 4, ran from the visitors seats out
into the room and, jumping up and
down, exclaimed:
There's papa: there's papa righ,
over there"
\ I, vasc a. Of
ton that way. Mr.. Bishop was slightly
confused and assured the senate that
he had not arranged that little y-play
| in advance.
| In conversation with your correspon-
dent afterwards the senator spoke free
| ly of the senior Ellsins who was the
victim of the murder John Elkins
was one of the pioneers who came tc
Iowa to make state" said Senator
Bishop. HE was a typical Iowa pio-
neer, diamond in the rough, whole
souled and hospitable. / was born there
in the Fayette county colony fifty years
ago. 1 knew these old pioneers. How
different their dress and manners anG
their ideas from ours! Among no peo-
| pie has love for the parents beer
stronger than among the children OF
these pioneers. John Elkins was the
hunter for this colony. Many knew him
and loved him. The mother of Wesle,
Elkins, on the contrary, was of diff
ferent type; she was plotting the muir
der of John Elkins, her husband, while
yet Wesley Elkins was unborn. AnG
thus murder was born into-the heart OF
Wesley Elkins, and while we believe
/ that he is thus a born criminal, he is
and was shrewd, highly intellectual
person, abnormally developed in some
ways and deficient in some of the
qualities necessary to good citizen
ship
There We're many compliments on the
speech of Senator Bishop. Good law
cred the ground as thoroughly and as
logically as any lawyer could have
done, and he is not lawyer.
The only bill which has been recon.
sidered after 1T has finally passed the
Legislature is the Hayward bill in rela-
ton to making change in registration
methods. Senator Hayward has beer
working zealously for this bill all ses-
sion. 1t makes an amendment to the
present law In the matter Of registra.