The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-09
IOWA
A MAYORALTY FIGHT
"Big Jim Brenton to Have Some
Strong Opposition in the Cap
ital Of Iowa.
Two Former Mayors, Macvicar and
Hartenbower, May Enter Lists
Against Him.
special to Tho Journal,

Special to Tho Journal.
Des Moines, Iowa, June 9--The outlook for
the Des Moines municipal campaign of next
winter and spring is becoming extremely inter-
esting. Candidates for the republican nomination
are becoming numerous. Those already in the
field are ex-Aayor John MacVicar, James q.
Stout, ex-sherif and ex-member Of the board of
public works of the city, Police Judge l.. l. Sill
yara and Mayor James Brenton. All are strong
candidates and able politicians and there is no
doubt of one of the hottest contests on record.
The situation is made the more interesting
from the fact that ex-Mayor J. J. Hartenbower
is threatening to emerge from retirement and,
although democrat, to run on citizens ticket
If Brenton is renominated Another candidate
whom the democrats are talking of is Supervisor
Frank Bennett.
Hull May Save Brenton.
Brenton's administration has, in the eyes Of q
lOge element Of the republicans, been failure
and it looks now If his turning. down was
assured However, the mayorship contest will
undoubtedly become mixed up with the congress
sional campaign that will be waged between Hull
and Prouty, and it is possible Brenton may be
able to make deal with Hull that will pull
him thru. The fact that ex-Mayor John Mac
Vicar will run does not detract from the edify.
Ing nature of the situation MacVfcar was
twice mayor Of the city and is counted one Of the
shrewdest and ablest organizers in Iowa. He is
a, rock-ribbed municipal ownership man and II
was largely thru the crusade which he led several
years ago that concessions were forced from the
water company and other franchise holding cor
ure to the public demands. MacVicar's candi
dacy will, in all probability, witness a revival
of the municipal ownership movement that was
SO strong in Des Moines in 1895 and for two OF
three years following that date.
Police Judge Silvara is recognized as a strone
factor in the situation. He and Brenton, tho
both republicans, have been in a bitter quarre
since the present administration opened, ove
questions arising from the policy to be pursued
in dealing with the gamblers, resorts and thu
like.
Increase in Assessments.
The abstracts of assessments from the counties
are beginning to be sent in to the auditor O.
state from the county auditors. They indicat,
striking increase in assessments, both on realt,
and personal property, but more especially on tn,
real estate If the ratio of increase shown b,
the first ten counties to report is kept up th
increase. in the real estate assessment this yea
will reach nearly three hundred millions break
Ing all prior records. The effect of such an in
| crease will be far-reaching. The state lev,
will be lower because of it and the railroa,
assessment will be higher, by from five to tel
millions.
One of the most unique parole cases that "a
| come to the notice of the governor for some tim
| is the application for liberty by Alice Miller
who is serving a four-year term at Anamoss
Alice gives as the foremost reason why sh
should be given her liberty that there is goo
man at Boone waiting to make her his wife tn
moment she steps outside the prison walls TIL
man Is James Nilligan,, laborer of Boone VIII
i has placed the case in the hands of local al
! torney and has asked him to employ every effor
1 In getting the young Womans freedom