Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-12-20
May Abolish Capital Punishment.

Nay ABOLISH CdpItdl punishment.
Des Moines-A bill to abolish cap
ltal punishment in Iowa will undoubt-
eddy be introduced in the legislature
his winter. The hanging of Joseph
Smith, a negro, at the Fort Madison
penitentiary this year and the fact
that Busse, the wife murderer, is still
alive though the date for his execu-
ton has been fixed five times, have
revived talk of doing away with the
death penalty In this state. Iowa
abolished capital punishment in 1872
but revived 1t again In 1878.
Members OF the legislature were
recently asked by the The Daily Cap
ltal If they favored abolishing capital
punishment In this state. Five mem
bers have replied In favor Of doing
away with the death penalty. They
are Senator'S Young of Manson, Sena-
tor-elect McElveen Of Charlton and
representatives. Nix of Union,
Berry Of Henry and Bergeson Of Palo
Alto.
Fourteen members have expressed
themselves as opposed to repeating
the law: Senators Crossley of Win
terset, Jackson of Sioux City, Stirton
Of Monticello, Representatives Dow
Of Franklin, McAllister of Linn and
Representatives-elect Brandes Of Put
tawattamie, Jewell Of Winnesniek,
Reaney of Louisa, Bonwell of Audi.
bon, Kelley of Polk, Alfred of Wayne,
White of Story, Clarke of Jefferson
and Swift Of Shelby. Their members
left this question blank on their re-
plies.
BY action of the courts and the
state executives the death penalty
has already been practically abolished
In Iowa. The hanging of Smith last
April was the first legal execution In
Iowa for eleven years. Governor
Jackson was the last governor to fix
date for execution of condemned
men until Governor Cummins acted
on the Smith and Busse cases. The
other governors, Boies, Drake and
Shaw, committed to life Imprisonment
The sentence of all murderers con-
aemned to death during their terms.
Corn Belt Meat Producers.
At the recent meeting of the Corn
Belt Meat Producers association A.
L. Ames was again elected as presi.
dent. Eleven directors were named,
one from each congressional district.
All resolutions were adopted with per-
tect harmony. They demand a 2-cent
passenger fare measure of the Iowa
legislature that is to convene next
month; they congratulate the people
Of the state and nation upon the pas
sage Of the railroad rate bill and in
aorse the meat inspection law, but
arge that, for the sake Of thor
oughness and confidence, this inspec-
ton be made by the government, with
government funds and through the de-
9artment of agriculture. The resolu-
ions also call for the appointment OF
legislative committee to draft bill
authorizing the attorney general of
Iowa to bring suit before the inter-
state commerce commission on mat
sers of freight discrimination on in
terstate shipments and to see that
such a measure is introduced in the
next general assembly. The 'resolu-
Tens declare for stock shipments at
speed Of at least twenty miles an
hour, and the directors of the associa-
ton are directed to investigate and
determine the most practical way of
securing better shipping time.
Safety couplers on Snow Plows.
Even snow plows must be equipped
with safety coupling devices, so
Judge Mcpherson Of the federal court
holds in sweeping decision. The
government has preferred charges
against the Muscatine North &
South railroad, alleging that the COM
pany has failed to observe orders OF
the interstate commerce commission
In regard to the afixing of safety
couplers on snow plows used last
winter. 1t was contended that a snow
pillow does not come within the mean
Ing of the term freight cars" Judge
Mcpherson holds otherwise, however,
and the railroad will probably be sen.
fenced to pay fine of 800, as that
was the amount attached to the Mil.
waukee for violations of the same or
DER In this particular case the snow
pillow was driven by a switch engine.
Cameron Heads Fair.
Hon. c. e. Cameron of Alta, Buena
Vista county. was elected president of
the state department of agriculture
and W. c. Brown of Clarion was elect
ed vice president, both by acclama.
ton. Mr.. Cameron succeeds Hon W.
w. Morrow, who closes four years.
service as president to become treas
urer of state. Mr.. Brown succeeds
Mr.. Cameron, who has been vice pres
hlent. Mr. Cameron is operating
go acre farm worth $125 an acre In
the outskirts Of Alta, and is extens-
lively engaged in stock feeding and
other business. Originally he was en-
gagged in the drug business at Storm
Lake, but went to farming by choice,
and is regarded as an expert in agri-
culture, in which is most Of his act
i've interest.
lowa's Big Corn Crop.
With an increase of 42,477,080 BUSH
els over that Of last year, the corn
crop of Iowa again FORCES to the front
with one of the largest yields on rec
ord. According to the annual crop re-
port of Director John r. Sage Of the
Iowa crop and weather service. Iowa's