Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-29
Soldier Preachers Should Be on
Hand to Open the Legisla-
tive Sessions
GIVES
RAYMOND
ADVICE
Urges the Old Soldiers to Be Reason
able in Their Demands, Else the
Law is Likely to Be RepeaIed-TaIk
Of Commission for Government Of
Des Moines.
to Times-Repuyblican.

Special to imes-Republican
Des .Moines, Nov 29.-Is there any
thing to hinder the old soldier preach
ers Of the state from getting the APP
pointment permanently Of opening the
senate and house with prayer each
morning during the sessions Of the leg
islature? The custom heretofore has
been for committee from each house
each morning and for the services of
opening the branches of the legislature
with prayer they receive SIS. Usually
there are number of ministers about
the building and ready to perform the
service each morning. The committees
as far as possible arrange for different
ministers each morning. The question
is now asked if minister who is an
old soldier is on hand, will not the SOL
tliers' preference law require that he be
given preference in the matter if he is
there and willing to perform the serv-
ice. The question is one that Is not at
slll unlikely to be presented to the leg
islature which enacted the law. II
preference is shown in all public posi-
tons where appointment is made by
any person or board, how can the leg
islature escape applying the law in the
case of chaplains. The law is very ex-
plicit and says any and all public po-
sitions and places. Some Of the small
army of employees that every session Of
the general assembly come to Des
Moines for positions have every reason
to be very much worried at this time.
Clerks of committees are in fact about
the only employees who are not worried
about old soldiers getting their posi-.
tons for the reason that for the most
part they must be stenographers.
If the scramble keeps up which III
just now setting in, there are very SER
ious and grave doubts on the part OF
some old soldiers themselves as to the
future of the law and fears are enter
tanned that there will be move to
have it repealed. Col. L. B. Raymond
of Hampton, who was the author of
the bill, which became law while he
was department commander Of the G..
A. r., is the first to voice that fear and
in letter urges the old soldiers to he
moderate in their requests. There is
a suspicion, however, that every old
soldier will think that the others are
the ones to be moderate in their re-
quests. Colonel Raymond says: "The
legislature and supreme court have
been generous to us veterans and let us
not abuse their generosity. And just
as surely as we do we will see this law
repealed, and self-respecting veterans
will be compelled to favor such repeal.
It is up to us to determine whether the
law shall stand for the benefit Of those
needing its protection, or whether it
shall be swept off the statute books"
In other parts of his letter Colonel Ray
mond urges the old soldiers to be reas-
enable and ask for preference only
when in real need of it, and to be reas-
enable also as regards the positions for
which they apply. There are about 25,-
600 old soldiers in the state OF Iowa
and It is reasoned that If all Of them
should apply there would probably be
places for them somewhere or other.
The farmers who are in the legisla-
ture in greater numbers than any
other profession may be interested in
knowing that the labor leaders blame
them with the conditions that permit
the employment Of children in factor
les. ]. C. Byram is editor of the Iowa
Unionist, published dn this city, and
the Unionist is the organ Of the union
labor people. He is truant officer for
the city Of Des Hfoines. He says:
.sThe farmer element in the state leg
islature Dis the greatest enemy to child
legislation, and the greatest opponent
to the child's future welfare. 1t is a
wonder that as much child legislation
has been granted as has been. If 1t
were not for the women of the state
the cause Of the child would have been
lost. They have worked untiringly
with the union federation movement
for the suppression of child labor. The
almighty dollar Is the greatest fac
tor in the employment Of child labor.
An employer would rather pay a
fine than lose the child worker and
we have persistent truancy. Not until
we get more stringent laws affecting
the employer will we get the results"
The board Of inquiry that investi-
gated the fire in the armory of the
Iowa City company of the nationa.
guard will prepare report showing
that the fire originated in carpenter
shop under the armory and that the
officials Of the company or members
of the company are in no way to be
blamed The loss was not great
The Blanchard act which has been
held to be unconstitutional by the
supreme court of the United States is
sections 1854, 1755,1756 and 1857 OF
the code. From insurance men it is
learned that the insurance agents do
not favor the combines to fix rates
and Furthermore are delighted that
the law has been upheld. Conditions
in all the large cities Of the state
have come to be such that no man
could start an insurance agency. The
agencies were all tied UP. The in
surance companies force their agents
to do business on the rate fixed by
the companies and II an agent re-
fuses to follow his instruc-
lions the agency is taken away
from him. After the law was declared
Unconstitutional by Judge Smith Nc
Pherson and he had permanently en-
Joined Auditor Carroll from carrying
out the law the insurance men started
another board in this city but indi-
,id,,a1 arantS fought II TIL they were