Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-22
Travelling Men Returning to
More Normal State Since
Saturdays Convention
OUTSIDE MEN NOT ORGANIZED
Wild Convention Leaves But Little
Rancor and Outsiders are Enjoying
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Had Thor
ough Organization and the Rules All
Worked in His Favor.
Special to Times-Republican.


Des Moines, Jan. 22.-Travelng mer
who attended the annual meeting OF
the /. S. II. Nj. A. Saturday are just be-
ginning to feel normal again and the
situation is being discussed today with
a little more calmness. Probably ne
such meeting was ever held in Des
Moines before There have been
some stormy political conventions in
this city in the past, but few of them
have ever equaled in intensity of feel
ing the convention of travelling men
Saturday. But the travelling men are
also good politicians and good polite
ians are good losers, SO that in spite OF
the apparent bitterness Saturday the
losers are taking their defeat good ma
turedly. There We're not less than
three thousand people in the auditori-
UNI during the meeting and the bust
ness of the meeting was transacted
amid such an uproar as was never
before heard in a convention in Des
Moines. After it is all over the fell
lows are beginning to realize how fun
ny it really was.
The principal fight was made for the
office of secretary and treasurer. which
carries with it salary of so cents per
member less clerk hire and as there
are PAPA members is good standing it
was warmly contested. For years the
offices were held by f. e. Haley, with
out opposition, but upon his death last
August it made an opening for the
candidates.
The fight had been carried on for the
last few months and has been spirited
and was only settled by the election of
Mir. Deets on Saturday last. Twelve
men were in the field, and charges of
ring rule, corruption, etc, We're not on
ly openly charged but printed and cir
culated and hundreds of us on the out
side who have had claims against the
association during the last year felt
that a change in the officers was for
the best interest of the l. S. T. NJ. A.
Not on account of their personality,
but on account of their manner of set
Ting claims, and other matters.
Mr.. c. c. Porter. of Ottumwa, spent
devoted his time to pushing his claim.
w. j. Van Derveer. of Marshalltown.
has carried on quiet but strong cam
paign. or course these candidates
We're against the Tins" or commonly
called ring" Mr.. Elkinton and Joe
NJ. Christy, Jr., of Des Moines, were
also out for reform, while Deets. Mac
Vicar and Balrowman We're for the old
regime"
The strength of the various candi-
dates was entirely unknown until the
votes We're counted. Mr.. Deets received
531 votes out of total of 1,407, a lit
tie over one-third of the votes cast,
which would indicate that about two
thirds of the members We're disap-
pointed in the selection. MIR. Deets
owes his election largely to his ability
to get his force together and hold
them. as he is practically unknown
outside of Des Moines.
The Association.
The association was formed years
and, they realizing that the growth
would sooner or later give the outsider
the greatest number of votes. provis-
ion was made that all officers and d.
rectors should be residents of Des
Moines, and as they wanted it where
it would be handy made Des Moines
the permanent place of holding the
annual meetings and to further control
things made it necessary for mem
beers to be present to vote.
The meeting just held showed
their wisdom by putting the above
provisions in the by
laws and constitution, as at, this
there was a strong
for a change in the manage
ment, not only outside but inside Des
Moines, but in their enthusiasm these
reformers overdid the matter. Amend
ments to the number of twenty We're
offered, some to change the place of
from town to town, others to
salaries, others to allow out
siders to become directors, and to al
low voting by mail
The Des Moines members who num-
Der 1000 saw the danger of losing the
association, and the result was that
they were present almost to man and
not only killed every amendment, but
elected the old officers.
Had those who desired a change been
satisfied simply to elect a new lot of
and leave the amendments out
of the question and combined on some
the result undoubtedly would
have been different.
Talk has been INDUCED in of a split
in the association, but this is entirely
unlikely, as there are so many similar
organizations over the country that
those who are dissatisfied and now un-
able to force a change will not try con-
clusions again, against Des Moines,
but drop out and join some of the
other associations
From a Des Moines point of view one
can hardly blame the "Des Moines
crowd for using all honorable efforts
to retain the control of most success
full institution of the kind.
One can easily see that they look at
the matter as a purely Des Moines in
stitution. altho it is called the Iowa
State Travelling Mems Association.
They are glad to have outsiders join
and pay part of the expenses and in
.identally receive its benefits.
1t was a notable victory for L. C..
Deets. He polled 531 votes, while the
,ther candidates received support as
follows:
r. A. Barrowman, $780, ]. NJ. Christy,
Jr., 203; c. C. Porter, las; w. j. Van
oerveer 95; John MacVicar, rs; j.
Elkinton. ga; L. E. Sherman, 1; I. j.
cassidy, / A. H. Fraley, 8; William
Ma1,ar T .TO11V q