Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-03
History of Constitutions and
Constitutional Government
to Be Brought Out Soon
SOME OF AUTHORS METHODS
Strong Opposition To Political Assess
ments For Campaign Purposes Made
Him a Pioneer In Civil Service Re-
form-May Be at Dedication Of Des
Moines New Federal Building.
oecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Kasson, foremost among the states
men Iowa has given to the nation, is
will live in history as one of the class
ic works Of American political history.
1t will be a. history of constitutions
and constitutional government. and 1t
will be brought out very soon by
Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston, r
company which publishes only the
choicest books. In 1887 Mr.. Kasson
was president of q constitution CEN
tennial convention held in Philadel-
phia, to celebrate the completion of
the American constitution. He there
delivered an exhaustive address on the
subject which was somewhat enlarged
and published. and which attracted q
great deal Of attention. In recent
years, in his comfortable home in
Washington, d. c., Mr.. Kasson has
been engaged in rewriting this work
and enlarging it and making additions
and he will now bring out something
that will be complete.
Mr.. Kasson had promised to. be In
Des Moines the past week for visit
at his old home, and especially did he
intend to return here at election time,
but there is some doubt as to whether
or not he will come at all. He Is frail
o.f hoo
under the Doctors care for a cold which
would prevent him travelling. His old
friends III Iowa would be delighted with
a visit from him and hope that he will
yet come to the city for visit.
1t has been suggested e that 1t
might be .1tting to have Mr.. Kasson
here at the time the new federal build
ing in Des Moinees is commenced. 1t
is not generally known that Mr.. Kas-
son was the man who secured the ap-
preparation for the federal building now
in Des Moines.
In one respect Mr.. Kasson in his po-
litical methods would hardly be ap-
proved by the politicians of today. 1t
is related of him that he was always
opposed to political assessments for
campaign purposes and was therefore
a pioneer in-civil service reform. On
one occasion when he was running for
congress it is related that he discov-
cred his campaign committee was in
sisting on contributions from the post
masters in the district He ordered
that a stop be put to it, and that the
manager refund every dollar col
lected from postmasters and
this was done. This trait
in the character of Mr.. Kasson is per-
haps one reason why there are those
who insist that he is not a great states
man. But in his Washington home he
is much respected, and in fact his office
lis a kind Of headquarters for the great
students Of politics from all parts of
the world. He is known all round the
world, and his advice and counsel are
sought by many Of the leading men OF
Washington.
The portrait OF Mr.. Kasson is one
of the most conspicuous pieces in the
Iowa historical gallery. Another fine
portrait was added the past week. I,
is that of the late John F. Duncombe
of Fort Dodge, the eminent lawyer and
long time politician of northern Iowa
Mr.. Duncombe's portrait in oil is the
gift Of members of his family. He was
best known as lawyer, but in the
history of the state he will be known
as one of the most conspicuous officers
in the Spirit Lake expedition to punish
the Indians along the northern bor-
der. He came near losing his life in
that expedition. His father-tn-law
Major William Williams, was the
commander of the expedition. 1t Is a
matter of regret that no oil portrait
Of Major Williams is in possession ot
the state and it is yet hoped that mem
bers of his family will secure one fol
the department.
A portrait in oil of Admiral Walker,
one of Iowa's great naval commanders
will some day be received by. the de-
partment. Admiral Walker has prom
ised the same just as soon as he can
get time to give a sitting to an artist
When Charles Aldrich, curator Of the
historical department. was in Wash
ington last week, he saw Admiral Wal
ker, who sails for Panama to engage
in digging the big ditch on the 18th
of the month, and it is probable the
portrait will be started before that
time so that it can easily be finished
at the leisure of the artist.
w. II. Hornaday is another Iowa man
who has risen to eminence In the east
and vet who has warm place in his
heart for Iowa. He is a graduate OF
the State College of Ames, and is now
in charge of the great 200" on the
Bronx, New York City, one of the fin
est geological gardens in the world
Prof. Hornaday has published a mum
her of valuable books. "The New York
ZOO" said Mr. Aldrich on his return
from New York where he saw the same
"is one Of the finest / have ever seen
I have studied the zoo in London and
the one in Amsterdam and others. but
none is better than this one over which
Prof. Hornaday has authority" The
museum in Dee MOines already has