Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-04

1
will settle down into it's former chan
nels. The spring months have seen
unusual political activity, but all OF the
campaigns should now be forgotten.
The city election passed off this week
smoothly. even tho it finally rivaled
that of two years ago for interest. Inc
present administration was sustained,
despite the fight that third party
workers inaugerated in their reform
movement. This element has had much
to say publicly about conditions of civic
| life in Marshalltown. In fact Marshall
town has been pictured before the
world in a more terrifying aspect than
the average resident is wont to view II.
Citizens who have lived here many
years can see nothing now to make
them believe that crime is on the in
crease, in fact many believe that gem
eral conditions are better now than
they have been for many years. Those
who travel around in the world will all
agree that it is positive libel upon
the city to charge that more crime
exists here than in other Iowa cities OF
our size. Unquestionably too much
crime exists and any organized effort
to suppress it should be encouraged,
but there is question whether the
desired good is to come from extreme
utterances by pulpit orators and hand
bill editors in the unguarded npments
Of political campaign. More proper
ly should information and assistance
be carried to the city authorities that
will lead to arrests and the enforce
ment of law and order. However,
doubling, as some will the methods of
all reformers, in this case no one
questions the sincerity OF the motive,
and all discussion should be consider
ed as friendly criticism, rather than
las censure.
The grand jury is making aneffort
now. since the question has been rails
ed, to investigate civic conditions. 1t
is face to face with a proposition that
is not an easy one to solve. 1t is hard
to get witnesses to swear to absolute
knowledge of those conditions Of which
they may think they know. Hearsay
evidence has no weight. Citizens in
various walks Of life are being used
as witnesses, and an opportunity has
been given thru the press to anyone who
knows to enlighten the grand jury. Re-
formers who have been doing so much
stalking should now volunteer to the
grand jury the information that has
actuated them in their moral crusade.
If they have been talking without infor-
nation the public should know it.
Judge Rurnam in instructing the jury
asked for a report Of some nature.
If conditions are bad the public is en-
1aI % LIS, v,ok <1A
knowledge is also sought.
The analysis Of the city water, as
made by ex-State chemist Floyd Davis,
and received yesterday, Is very graft
flying in sense, and in another not SO
satisfactory as might be wished. Mr..
Davis says there was no bacteria
in the water that can be considered to
be the cause of typhoid fever on March
rs when the samples were taken. AS
most of the sickness In the city had
its origin before that time. Mr.. Davis
has made his analyses however, show
ing the non-presence of the bacillus
colon, which has its origin in sewage
matter. That would naturally be the
primary test, for the typhoid bacillus
is almost always obtained thru animal
matter found in sewers. Mr.. Davis an
'alyses would have been far more salts
factory, especially to the medical pro-
fession, if he had made his tests to
determine absolutely that there were no
Eberth or typhoid bacilli in the water,
and made his report with positive
statement. The colon bacillus, in itself,
does not cause harm. 1t is found,
according to psychologists, normally,
in the large bowel and is only harmful
when aggravated by the intestines be-
coming diseased. The water commit
tee of the city council is doing the
proper thing to continue the tests, and
determine beyond the shadow Of
doubt that the water is absolutely pure,
as far as harmful ingredients are con-
cerned.