Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-09

NnuHttthEr i J4u4
tuition, These included general as
aembly. The elected ones assembled
at Iowa city November 81. organized,
and duly innugurated Ahsel Briggs M
governor. with n retinue OF associates
and then waited for action by congress-
The task was completed December
2Sth. The population of Iowa at the
time this election was held IL estimated
at lO2.3s8. and the number or votes
cnM was 1905. Land was then pur-
chasnblc Mt $l.25 per acre. payable In
lond warrants worth rs cents or less of
face value. The population ~ now
2. 500, 0o0.! tho voters number nearly
600 900. apd land Increased in value at
the rate OF about 81 per acre each
year ever since.
III rs WE'LL TO CONSIDER.
fGlldden Graphic.1
The Shercllffe Pollock diamond
robbery cnse continues ITO attract at
tention. The case IL being prosecut-
ed by the Jewelers. Protective Asso-
citation Recently agents Of Thomas
this association with an Officer Of SlS.-
Denison approached the president OF
900 IL he would drop the pending case
against Dennison. This was the val-
ne OF the diamonds stolen. The offer
was refused $4,000 was expended
In conflicting Shercliffe by this assoc
citation and us much more Will be ex-
pended In convicting DennIson II he
~ rrpitity I1anp1, vat rnnl1xu
what these significant facts really
reveal. They do not seem to under
stand how gamblers, thugs thieves.
and venal voters are organized. con-
trolled, directed and often been made
decisive factors In the selection of
our highest state and national OFF,
GERS. In the summer of 1890 Thomas
Dennlson organized md brought from
omaha to Council Bluffs about as
motley IN array OF cutthroats as
could be mustered and marched them
from one primary polling place to an
other. paying them all at the rate OF
two dollars per vote The purpose
was to SC secure the nomination Of men
to the Iowa Legislature who would
support John III. Gear for the senate
against A. r.. Cuinmins It succeeded.
What did Dennison expect In return
Protection from the operation OF the
law for his thieves and thugs when in
trouble. That was all! The history
OF the Shercliffe case reveals the
System" as resignated by Stefiins.
These 'Dennison henchmen were
henchmen Of Dave Mercer. congress-
man from the Omaha district. Mer-
Ger helped Judge Hubbard get bill
thru congress OF vital Importance
to the Northwestern. Hubbard was
good fellow. He appreciated these
little kindnesses." And so when
Mercer asked for the parole Of Sher-
cliffe. Hubbard volunteered to use his
good Offices with Governor Shaw.
His appeal ITO Shaw was model of
Its kind. The gist OF the whole thing
was that 1t would help Mercer to
hold the thug support Of Omaha to
retain him in congress.
The important point in these mat
ters for voters to consider is whether
or not 1t is wise to permit systems"
of this kind to exist. Is 1t not high
time that we established higher
| ideals In our civic life? We would
much prefer to see our governors
actions controlled by an intelligent,
high winded, public sentiment rath-
err than by the needs and exigencies
Of crafty political manipulators ca
tering to the basest elements OF So
ciety. Office holders are bound to be
subservient to the men who have
made them officialsc. The proposition
thus resolves itself into q question OF
who and what shall be the dominating
influences in nominating candidates
Shall we permit interruptions and sell
Ash men to hold the balance OF power
in these matters? 1t Is worth while for
voters to ponder over these matters