The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-08-24
Editorial Department
By F. w. Meyers

/ Il
REBUkED, BUT NOT BROKEN
The democracy of Crawford county
on Saturday administered to the self
styled leaders q rebuke which, if taker
in spirit of humility. will be of great
benefit not only to the ringsters, bu,
to the democratic party and to the
county as a whole. 1t had become a
notorious fact that the control of the
political destinies of the democratic
party had descended to the absolute
control of four men. O'Hare furnish
ed the brains; Carey the FEASIBILITY
Romans the cash, and Caswell the ven
ON. Wheeler acted as secretary and
stool pigeon for the organization, re-
ceiving the deputy-clerkship and the
promise OF the succession to the county
clerkship itself. There were numer-
Gus hangers-on and Iattaches. some
held by fear, others by hope and others
by present reward. County officers
deputies, petty benefciaries of county
patronage were all combined to retain
the absolute political control of the
county. Carey was the center of the
alliance; Caswell and O'Hare hate
each other personally, but both rally
to the Carey standard. Thus Carey
has been for number of years the
practical dictator of democratic affairs
in Crawford county.
For long time this cabal has been
trying to read out of the party such
men as Shaw Van. Bullock, Harvey,
Jepsen, and others, and this year their
entire energy was directed toward the
humiliation of Shaw Van.
THE REVIEW has related from
week to week, the strenuous efforts of
the gang in the amy thing to beat
Shaw Van" fight
AS soon as it became known that
Shaw Van was developing considerable
strength, the gang got busy bringing
out candidates. Nearly every demo-
cratic attorney in the county was an
preached and invited to become a can
didate. Maurice OConnor was visited
and begged to enter the field, when he
found that at that time the gang had
no serious intention. save to use him as
decoy to defeat Shaw Van, he refus-
ed to be party to the transaction, and
declared himself for Shaw Van and
the Vail delegation was selected on
that basis.
Failing at that time to get O'Conner
to become candidate the gangs fore
es were united on Richardson. He was
given every encouragement, and his
nomination was regarded as settled by
all on the ''inside."
Shaw Van went quietly ahead with
his campaign, however, in such an eff
fective way that the gang became pan
ic stricken. 1t was at this time that
Wheeler and Caswell rushed to Dow
City and persuaded Swasey to become
candidate. There is no question but
that at this time Swasey was promised
entire; hearty and faithful support of
the Denison cabal. The support of
O'Hare was secured. Carey was en-
thusiastic and all talk of Richardson
ceased as if by magic Swasey came
to Denison and received every encour-
agement from the gang
1t was all over but the shouting. In
the meantime Shaw Van kept saving
wood, and Richardson, who had been
lead to believe that he was the anoint-
ed one had been at work among his
friends in the eastern part of the coun-
ty.
We are not advised of the means nv
which Richardson compelled his treach-
erous allies to come back to his support,
but about week ago there was pres
to-change. Swasey was dropped like
a hot cake and Richardson was again
to the fore. The men, who. but the day
before. would talk Of nothing but Swas
ey suddenly took up the Richardson re-
frain. And Shaw Van kept on saving
wood
Saturday night conference was held
in O'Hare's Office after which it was
announced that Richardson had carried
Iowa, Hays, East Boyer and Paradise,
and was sure winner. Nevertheless.
Sunday was busy day, and men were
sent into Hanover, Otter Creek and
Morgan to try to break the German
strength of Shaw Van.
During last week every sort of pres
sure was brought to bear to break Shaw
VANS strength. Enough democrats
were kept away from the LIST Ward eau
Gus to defeat Shaw Van by the narrow
margin of three votes, but in the Sec
ond Ward Caswell's ultimatum that