Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-24
Chairman of Prohibition Cent
raj Committee Scored by
the Commonwealth
SERIOUS CHARGES ARE MADE
Claim is Made That ElweII is Getting
Men to Canvass for Money for the
Party and Keeping an Undue Por-
ton Of tho Receipts-Resisnation
Demanded.

Des Moines, July 24.-The resigna-
ton of W. d. Elwell as chairman Of the
prohibition state central committee is
demanded this week by the Common
Wealth, a weekly prohibition paper
published in Waterloo by ]. e. Camp
bell, one of the members of the state
committee.
1t is charged by Editor M. L. Hostel
ter. the editor Of the paper. that Mr..
Elwell is getting too big share of
the amount Of money raised for the
prohibition party, and partly because
he Is in sympathy with the anti-saloon
league"
OF course Mr.. Elwell will stand by
his guns. 1t was thought that the
row among the factions in the prohibi-
ton party has been disposed of salts
factorily but 1t has broken out with
more vigor than ever. The fight start
ed with a controversy between Elwell
and Campbell when the latter was
state chairman. 1t has been kept up
internationally ever since. 1t broke out
in spots when Mr.. Elwell was chairman
of the state committee, but it always
was insisted that the row had nothing
to do with his resignation. When he
was reelected about four months ago,
it was thought things would move
along smoothly again. Mr.. Campbell
was In the committee meeting which
reelected Mr.. Elwell and while the
vote was not unanimous, it was
thought to be significant of peace and
harmony.
Alas, for vain hopes. Evidently MI
Campbell had merely bided his time.
This week, in the Jefferson County Re-
publican, newspaper at Fairfield, APP
peared want adj" apparently signed
by Chairman Elwell, asking for fifteen
or twenty canvassers for prohibition
funds.
The advertisement says the men are
wanted ito solicit for our papers and
do a general canvassing business for
the prohibition party work" The adj
vertiser continues: Il think can Of
fer commissions so that it will be of
advantage to the ones to take up work
with view to making prohibition
work permanent employment"
This was Committeeman Campbelfs
chance. His editor printed the adver-
tisement as given and, commenting
thereon, said:
advertising for men to do a general
canvassing business for the prohibition
party!" What for? Why to raise $780,
900! These are Anti-Saloon League
methods. The canvasser gets COM
mission The balance goes to Elwell
and he takes out his 500 month and
his expenses. and turns the rest over to
the party. What is Elwell to do?
Where is his "burden?" oh, he has to
divide the money.
A Serious Charge.
According to the treasurer's report;
this same Elwell, when he was state
chairman In 1903 collected $2,51334
from the friends of the cause and kept
$165556, or a little over 65 per cent Of
the entire amount for his salary and
expenses. With the aid of fifteen or
twenty competent convassers" he may
make a better showing; he may sue
coed in absorbing 100 per cent Of all
money collected this year.
L1lS lAiHS VI Ae,islh5 iiioAss W p1s
linen for doing nothing but raising
money is shame and disgrace to the
party, and the New Commonwealth
dares to say so. The state central
committee should promptly ask for
this mans resignation"
Posted people are cognizant Of the
fact that the tendency Of the prohibi-
ton party management, as at present
constituted, to maintain cordial and
friendly relations, more or less coop
erative, with the anti saloon league,
furnished more or less of the incentive
to Messrs. Campbell and Hostetter.
They have not Endorsed the plan for a
state conference of the two organiza-
lions here Oct. II and IL.