Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-08
HELP FOR DEMOCRATS
The Faithful In Iowa Are
Smiling and Hopeful Over
the Outlook
ARE EXPECTING OUTSIDE AID
Conference at Des Moines is Appar-
emily Harmonious, In Spite of the
Divergence of Opinion Among Those
Attending the Meetins-col. Palmer
on Railroad Assessments.

SpeclaI TO IlmeS- puDllCaH
Des Moines, Aug. S.-There will much
outside help for the Iowa democrats
than for many years. The democrats
who We're here attending the confer
ence yesterday were all smiling and
hopeful, and are confident that they
will make a better showing against
the republicans this year than for many
years. Jerry Sullivan was here and was
conspicuous figure at the conference,
quite equal to Congressman Wade, and
towering above Charles A. Walsh. The
feature of the conference was the fact
that democrats who have been classed
as opposed to each other in factional
matters We're unwilling to consider fac
tional matters at all, but are plainly
working together in better harmony
than either last year or the year before.
There was Uncle John Stubenraugh, of
Pella, who brokenly declares that the
best thing that has happened in Iowa
this year was the burial of reafhrmation
at the state convention, and there was
George Rinehart who made great ef-
fort to organize the state for reaftirma-
tion and is now and forever reaftirma-
tionist-and both are working for their
ticket this year. There Is wide differ
ence between Wade and Sullivan, per-
sonally and between Jackson and
Walsh, and yet to all intents they are
of one mind as to what to do this year.
In this respect they are able this year
to do little In the way OF example
setting for some others of Iowa. But
the hope Of every one of the democrats
who attended the conference is that by
reason of conditions as they are In
Iowa democrats Of other states VIII be
willing to give some aid. For several
years Iowa democrats have been help
less. AS one of the conferrees said Iowa
has taken definite stand, shows ability
to be independent, is ready to cast off
, s.lvsrism. and there Is every reason to
hope that the democrats in other states,
especially in the east, will look with
favor upon the present organization and
present policies of, the party and give
financial and oratorical assistance to
the party here. In short, there are many
democrats who would be glad if the
democrats of Iowa could this year
make an unusually fine showing, for
they would be able then to ring the
II told you So" story on all who wanted
reaffirmation. Outsiders will help Iowa
democrats on the theory that a good
showing in Iowa this year will help
to put to sleep forever the free silver
ideas that thrive all around Iowa. The
campaign in Iowa will be short and ag-
gressive. Sullivan, Wade, Van Wagen-
en-, Sharon, Caldwell. Butler, Rinehart,
and many others will go on the stump.
There was no speaking campaign last
year aside from what was made by
the candidates for congress. This year
the democrats believe there will be
time for speaking. Indeed, the hope
fulness of the democrats at this time of
the year, is perhaps a little above the
average.
Col. D. j. Palmer. Of the Iowa rail-
road commission, was chairman OF the
committee which reported to the ma
tional association of state railroad
commissioners on the subject Of rail-
road assessment and taxation. He
prepared the report of the committee
which was adopted unanimously, tho
there was practically no discussion of
the matter, since few Of the railroad
commissioners have to do with assess
ment The report contained the fol-
lowing statement Of the general prin-l
cipies which should be followed in ar
riving at the value Of railroad prop
erty for assessment and taxation:
'"rhe building of railroad enhances
the value Of farm land and other lands
thru which it goes. This increase In
the value Of property is wholly un-
earned, hence when railroads have so
greatly benefited the public generally
they are in a position to ask for fair
and considerate treatment at the
hands of an assessing body which rep
resents the public. Therefore the duty
of the assessing board, in the opinion
of the committee, is to take into ac-
count all the elements that enter into
the construction of railroad. From
this, all that is tangible can be found,
and the approximate cost per mile and
present value be ascertained. In ad-
dition, the gross earnings should be
taken into consideration only so far,
however, as they do in truth and III
fact affect the value of the railroaa
property, and furnish an additional ele-
ment in arriving at the actual cash val
ue. The fact should also be kept plain
ly in view that the cost of construction
frequently exceeds the fair cash value
of the railroad after construction"
$50
The Western Union Telegraph COM
pany has brought suit to enjoin the
state auditor from certifying the as
sessment which has been made against
the telegraph lines along the Burling-
ton route in southern Iowa. The hear
ling will not occur for some time.
neither will the certificates be ready
for several weeks. But even If the
injunction is allowed this does not
mean that the state and the counties
will be deprived Of the taxes on this
line. 1t is pointed out that the execu-
tive council found the value OF the
telegraph line to be $500 mile and as
sessed 1t at s75 mile. The assess
ment work is all complete. The COM
! pany wants to estop the auditor from