Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-11-04
AMENDMENT BEFORE IOWA VOTERS
Resolution to Appear Separate Ballot at the Polls
Place Corn Crop at SOC. 100000 Bushels-Plan
on Foot to Raise Insuran nee Rates
Last Chance to Register.
Especial Correspondence
Des Moines. Ia. Oct.

DeS MONIES, la. OcC. ~.
During the past week or ten days
considerable interest has been developed
In the state over the biennial elections
proposition. -Four years ago this ques-
ton was voted upon by the people and
the constitutional amendment was
adopted. This year the opposition to
It is much greater than 1t was at that
time. One Of the arguments in favor
of the amendment has been that 1t would
reduce political strife in the state and
cut of large amount of the expense
occasioned by political disturbances.
The experiences of adjoining states are
now being quoted to show that this is
not the case. In Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Nebraska, Kansas and Illinois, which
have biennial elections, the political
agitation appears to be continuous, and
in all these states, except perhaps IL
linois, there is now the most bitter fac
tional strife over state affairs which
threatens the defeat of the dominant
party. 1t is argued that these local
Issues should be settled in a year when
national questions are not involved, so
that both questions might receive bet
ter consideration. A majority, probably
three-quarters Of the county papers in
the state, are opposing the amendment
on the ground that it will give manag-
ing politicians too much hold on the af-
fairs of the people. On the other hand
politicians, many of them, are opposing
the amendment, because they say twill
be impossible to keep up political or
ganization in an effective manner if the
campaigns are two years apart. There
is, however, a strong support for the
amendment on the ground that it will
reduce the expense of elections, and that
1t will relieve business from the annual
disturbance which the elections, it is
claimed, cause at present.
New System to Be Used.
Friends of the amendment count on
the fact that the amendment will this
year be printed on a separate ballot for
the benefit of the voters to help carry it.
In 1900 it was printed on the same bal
lot with the ticket This year each
voter will be handed a separate piece of
paper colored canary yellow which
will call his particular and special at
tention to the amendments to be voted
on. In this way it is thought there will
be more voters who will vote one way
or the other on the proposition. On the
theory that a majority will be for it,
based on the result in 1900, the majority
for 1t will be larger than If fewer people
vote for it. In 1900 over $4,000 votes
were cast for presidential electors But
only 341,0 900 votes were cast for and
against the amendment, which carried
by majority of 30,599. If every one
had voted for the amendment, the ma
Jority for 1t in 1900 would have been
approximately 50,000 1t is figured that
practically all of the voters are in
duced to vote on the amendment this
year, therefore, its chances will be MAJ
terially enhanced. Sixty-eight counties
voted for the amendment in 1900. Wood
bury cast the largest majority for 1t,
nearly 5000.
Fears Of Crop Shortage Baseless.
The fears of shortage in the corn
crop, caused by a few early frosts and
the late spring, do not seem to have
been well founded. The best estimate
of grain men and of Director Sage, Of
the Iowa weather and crop service, are
that the crop this year will amount to
300, O0O, 900 bushels. The grain men, par
ticularly in the northern part Of the
state, say that the husking and shocking
has proceeded very well, but that more
than another month will be required to
gather the crop. There will be very lit
tie soft corn. Samples from the worst
frost-bttten localities show but little
damage. The favorable weather of the
present and the past few weeks has
given the farmers good start and the
harvest will be well completed before
SHOW flies. A large gain in acreage was
made this year over last year. The
acreage in 1908 was about 1000, 900
acres, which was falling off Of over
q million acres from the previous year,
occasioned by the floods, which rendered
much land unfit for corn planting. The
crop last year amounted to about $780,
100000 bushels and Its value was $685.
100000. This year the price will be fully
as good as last year, If not better, and
the returns to the farmers will be very
satisfactory indeed.
Fight Insurance Rate Increase.
Business men Of Des Moines are maxi
ing vigorous protest against the
proposition to raise insurance rates in
the city about 20 per cent. The insur.
, ance companies in the combination OF
} association whereby an agreement as tc
| rates in classification is maintained, has
! declared that the fire protection in Des
Moines Is so poor that the risk is greater
, than the present rates will pay for. The
fact is that Des Moines has been without
, big fire for number of years, whdle
the water works system was never in az
/ good condition as it is at present. Il
this increase is affected it will be the
second raise within three years, or since
/ the anti-combtne lay was declared I'M.
, constitutional. It Is anticipated that an
increase will be made generally over the
state before long. Insurance companies
j escaped from any serious legislative in.
reference at the last session Of the leg.
j tslatur and 1t is said they feel more con.
ddent Of their position, and more ready
to take steps that will give them
greater profits. They claim this increase
is only to force better fire protection.
Last Opportunity to Register.
The registration Of voters for the cleo
, ton Of November commenced last
Thursday, October 81, and continued fol
two days. Another opportunity will BIZ
] given to register the Saturday before