Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-26
OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW

The Irishman that was dead but did
not know it, is only parallel case of
many public men, not only in this
country but the world over. The pres
cnt condition, mentally speaking of
Mark Twain is particularly sad. His
parade of white suit of clothes was
only equalled by his trip across a
! London street in bath robe His
Jokes while in London needed year
instead of a day for the British mind
to appreciate. And now he is running
some stuff" in Harper's magazine,
that written by school boy for the
country weekly, would not be reprinted
as good matter" in any other publica-
ton. And it's padded to the extent
of being absolutely wearisome, 1t
seems to bear out the statement made
by his friends that he now, receives
eight dollars per word. Father Time
that has killed many "humorist" in
their prime, is dealing unkindly with
Mark Twain.
The enforcement spasm now so
prevalent in Iowa is a matter of re-
joicing to all good law abiding citizens.
Reformers have a sad fate. Many a
preacher after cleaning up a town"
has had to seek new and greener pas
lures. Demagogues put on the livery
of reform and steal the thunder Of the
real disinterested citizen. Even the
latter class are handicapped in their
work by SO called business man and
their interests. Here's case in point
A press report says that delegation
OF ST. Paul business men called on
Attorney General Young today rela-
tive to the proposed enforcement of the
state law requiring that saloons close
at IL o'clock. The attorney general
said they asked him not to enforce the
state law in st. Paul, but to allow the
12 o'clock closing ordinance of this
city to cover the situation. Mr.. Young
replied that he would call upon the
mayor and the chief of police - EN-.
force the law. and if they would net
do so he would bring proceedings to
GUST them from office.
1t is perfectly safe to assume that
in the near future the saloons of st.
Paul will close at IL p. M, for this
same attorney general of Minnesota is
the man that caused the closing of
the saloons on Sunday in all of the
state Of Minnesota. More power to
such officials.
Two colleges in the United States
are up against" very disagreeable, not
to say tantaiizing problems. The first
involves probably for the first time
time the interference of the courts in
the settlement of a mooted religious
question The facts are that someone
by will, left a good many dollars to
an orthodox college, one that is con-
Quoted and presided over by president
and professors that believe in and
Lreach the scriptures as written.
These referred to dollars could not be
given to this college unless for instance
this college Endorsed verbatim ct lit
eratim the whole story and Jonah. 1t
can be assumed that this referred to
college in some way had expressed
doubts concerning the whole story, for
the attorneys in the case have asked
a ruling of the court on this particu-
lar Point and story. If the presiding
Judge rules that the Jonah anecdote is
allegorical then the college comes IN
for the money, even if some of it's col
lege professors have expressed doubt
concerning it's literal truth. On the
other hand If this judge decides the
whale story is true in all respects be-
cause it's in the Bible, and the Bible is
an inspired book, then good by to the
dollars. The college is not orthodox.
The other case concerns athletics IN
colleges Some one willed or offered
certain college that would accept it on
such terms many thousands of dollars
with the written obligation to forever
bar and never permit any athletic
sports of any kind. The president OF
the college Immediately wrote the
presidents of tWenty-four other col
leges asking advice. AT this writing he
is doing or rather probably will do,
what generally advice askers and re-
ceivers do do, make decision accord
ing to his own judgment. The reader
should ponder over this problem. Here
is a sum of money sufficient to put
this college on Easy street for all time
to come 1t means generous salaries
for president and faculty. 1t means
splendid equipments for all depart
ments of science. 1t means perfect
freedom to touch higher criticism, to
doubt the whole story, or to run the
college on an orthodox basis. 1t means
they can offer a free education to the
worthy and ambitious poor young peo-
pie of both sexes. 1t means all this
and more And yet this president is
hesitating. And it's more than probable
this college president will end his
pitiable situation by suddenly crying
out, play ball"
All Of this college talk suggests an
right here for the writer to
relieve himself by a few words one
glee clubs. The season is here.
Soon their voices will be heard in the