Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-12-12
AN AFTERMATH OF THE CAMPAIGN.
A Letter From Hon. N. j. Carter Of Ossian
Late Democratic Candidate for Con.
gresham from the Fourth
District.

Ossian, Iowa, December 10. 1906.
Editor Public Opinion:
The smoke of the recent battle
cleared off, the good people have re-
sumed apparently normal condition.
except some differences to heal
up sometime in the near future.
| made a clean cut campaign, making
ten speeches outside of my own town.
Sixteen hundred miles of railroad trav-
Ell. all expenses, liquor bills, cigars,
and hotel expenses at total cost of
S45. 80. Jokingly told my money was
counterfeit. at one hotel. and at three
other hotels my bills paid. 1t did not
require mind reader to know the
committee paying the bills.
For the first time since the election
of Walter H. Butler, campaign on
in the 4th district. For the first
time since the second election of
Horace Boies of Waterloo. not except
ing the brilliant campaign made alone
and unaided by the bright, brainy
Jerry B. Sullivan of Creston, did our
friends, the enemy" know there was
something doing in Iowa politics.
Your Shaw, Fairbanks. Taft, Beve-
ridge, Cannon, Nelson. and fifty
speakers of lesser note asked into Iowa
for the purpose Of keeping Iowa in
the republican column. Where the
fight was made the strongest the best
results were had. notably representa-
tives from Allamakee, Clayton, How
ard and the election of that able,
bright man, John Foley as senator
from the Floyd Chickasaw district.
These places held for many years by
good republicans too. Even in Winnie
shiek county, four of the principal
offices filed by democrats for the en-
suing term. And had it not been for
the treachery of democrats and a
better fight made, three more of the
important offices for democrats could
have been chosen. Albert B. Cum
minis with rs, 900 majority and Presi-
dent Roosevelt with majority some
thing like 1870, 600 found it necessary
to make the most strenuous efforts to
keep Iowa in line for 1908.
I speak these words for the purpose
of saying something else.
Let the legislature pass some good
wholesome laws, enact laws outside
from raising the salaries of officials.
Give the people protection. thereby
doing away with Indignation meet.
ings deemed necessary for protection
of person and property. Let law
be enacted in Iowa, similar to the
law of Minnesota and New York,
requiring candidates to make and file
an itemized statement under oath of
all expenses in the campaign. with
the penalties of perjury if falsy made.
Make law making it misdemeanor
such law is thought TO be constitu-
tional, a misdemeaner to haul in able
bodied voters ON election day. If a
citizen Of Iowa cannot or does not
care enough about the way matters
are run to spend two hours to have
his say, let him remain away from
the polls. The aged or infirm with
no means of getting out, DESTROYS of
fulfilling the highest duty of citizen
should be sent after at public expense.
Enact a law making it misde-
meanor to give publicity through the
press to the crimes Of the young under
the age of sixteen years. These mere
children are not responsible for their
misdeeds. Even though it may be
partially due to circumstances. poor
bringing up, they should not be
branded as outlaws. A mere child
guilty of a transgression of the laws
is deserving Of sympathy and should
have the aid and assistance of the
public to place them on their feet
that they may become good and useful
citizens. Out in the wilds of Colo
RADIO. the papers are not allowed to
print any court proceedings of the
juvenile courts. William j. Hearst
spent $3.50, 356 to secure an office with
a salary of $40, 900. The poor cannot
afford to take nomination, and those
partially able should not be obliged to
pay out thousands of dollars in an
effort to secure an election.
Certain expenses necessary, as rent
for halls, printing and music fur.
nished are proper and right, but
money expended. for the purpose of
influencing vote is just a simple
means of bribery. In many Of the
counties and towns in Iowa, saloons
closed on election day. candidates will
have liquors in cellars, out houses,
for the purpose of bribing voters,
These crimes winked at, practiced
by many candidates of both the great
political parties for the same pur-
pores. Enough said this time.
Truly ours,
NJ T. CARTER