Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-02-18

she was poorer in human units by
ten thousand, or thereabouts. For
this diminution | hasten to explain
that my coming-momentous as it
is was-was in no way responsible.
The blame or merit belongs solely
to the Supreme Court of Arkansas.
That inherent" body at one fell
blow Topped off from the parent
trunk one of its most flourishing
branches, and this town to-day is
about as lop-sided, and disconso-
late looking, governmentally con-
sidered, as a front yard tree after
the destruction of the home dwell
ing by fire. Argenta lies across
the Arkansas, but has been a cor
porate part of Little Rock for a
number of years and is closely
knitted to it by four bridges. OF
course the police and fire depart
ments and all the other governing
interests made them of one bone
and one flesh, but now, alas! the
hayward sister has gone her wilful
way-and taken her yearly $780,
600 contribution to the revenues
with her! The real Little Rockians.
with true Southern po~liteness, cry
after her, "Success and Pros
perity," but | am inclined to think
it is voiced with about the same
heartiness as is felt by the rejected
lover when he signs "God bless
you" to the sweetheart who wants
to be a sister instead of the real
thing. Yet why should Argenta
not branch out into another munich
pality. Now, there will be two
Mayors, two Boards of Aldermen,
two Chiefs of Police, two Fire
Chiefs, and two a whole lot of other
Official Things, instead of only a
measley one. Some writer on
economics has truly said, "He that
makes two blades of grass to grow
where there was only one before is
a benefactor to his race" AS
holes for official pegs are scarcer
than either grass or bulbs, the
Argentians must stand justified
before the world as they did be-
fore the Supreme Court. They
certainly are standing by their
rights as they see them. The eve-
ming of the day on which the
courts decision was rendered a
Little Rock policeman attempted
to arrest an Argentian on his native
heath, but was prevented by the
populace. The officer then 'phoned
for the hoodlum wagon and a
posse, which were despatched i'm
mediately to the seat of wal to be
in turn overpowered and placed
under arrest. So the story goes,
but | can not vouch for its being
the whole truth and nothing but
the truth. Its currency, however,
shows more of the real state of
feeling existent than do the sooth-
ing, "God-be- with-you' editorials
of the local press.
| like Little Rock. 1t is a busy,
clean, well paved and lighted city.
It's street a service is good, and
the general demeanor quiet and
law-abiding. An air of ease and
comfort prevails, with an apparent
minimum of extreme poverty.
There is plenty of ego" and the
town is rapidly extending its limits.
A number of fine business build
ings and residences have been
erected during the past year and
the future promises we'll. AS to
it's salubrity, statistics show it to
be one of the most healthful cities
in the Union, and neither you nor
| will have the temerity to attempt
a different showing. "Statistics'
often knock out the bottom of
speculative theory-if the term be
permitted-and in this instance
theory and fact and "1iggers' go
hand-in-hand. Little Rock is
"healthy," and a desirable town,
whether considered merely as a
place of residence or viewed from
the standpoint of business. The
detection of Argenta-made pos
sible by one of those fool enact
ments which Legislatures some-
times put on the statute books
has given the city a temporary
black eye, it is true, but time will
rapidly clear its eXtrayagasation,
and no doubt, before many moons
have darkened, the prodigals on
Tor daughter, if you p%refer) will
be knocking at the parental portal,
willing to take. the husks, where
he Tor she) now refuses in disdain
spiced meats and red wine.
The weather, though fine, is cold
for this latitude, but politics are
''red-hot and still a-heatin'." The
first day of my sojourn | was
puzzled not a little to understand
the big wooden button ornament
ing the coat lapel Of about every
third person | met on the street
and in the cars and other public
places. AT length | ventured to
inquire the meaning of the out
ward sign, and was reminded that
a hot political fight was on in this
land of cotton, fruits and color. 1t
is a very pretty scrap, and as
strenuous as u negro-dining
President could desire if he were
in it. Nearly all the newspapers
are for Wood and they score his
opponent day after day without
mercy or ceasing. Now, | have
always had a liking for Davis ever
since he as Attorney General let
the foreign insurance companies
know that they didn't own the
State of Arkansas, "body, boots
and breeches;" but, being a
stranger in a strange land, my
proper place is to stand aside and