Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-03
Reason For Des Moines Mans
Candidacy tor Governor
Apparently Revealed
HAMILTON GOES BACK TO JOB
Close Connections Between Allison
Management, the Homestead and
Hamilton Are Revealed-Life Pris-
orers Probably Will Receive Pardons
Under Recent Ruling.
pec,al to Times Republican.

specisl to Times Republican.
Des Moines. July 3.-Now that the
primary is over, politicians are dis
posed to ask Just what the meaning
of the candidacy Of John j. Hamilton
was In the late campaign. In the same
connection they are discussing the
statement of Mr.. Hamilton that ne
will not again be candidate. Certain
facts are very apparent concerning the
candidacy Of MIR. Hamilton. Mr.. Ham-
ilton previous to his candidacy was a
stockholder and employe of the Home
stead. farm paper published mere.
He resigned that position to become
q candidate for governor.
During the campaign the Homestead
did most Of the printing for the ALI
SON local committee. Mr. Allison polled
neary 10000 votes. He has now re-
turned to the Homestead and is
working for the paper again.
1t is recalled by politicians that Mr..
Hamilton announced his candidacy on
the platform of q great cause. He
was for resubmission Of the prohibitory
amendment. for developing the water
ways Of the state and numerous other
things, but chiefly 1t was for prohibi-
ton. Naturally it was supposed that
being the candidate for great cause
and having polled 10000 votes he was
in just the position to make the fight
again, but Mr.. Hamilton says that his
mission is over with. He has served
his purpose Of arousing the state and
he Is content. Fy.
Standpatters claim that Mr.. Hamil-
toms candidacy explains itself and that
they know nothing about 1t. Cars,
men are inclined to look askance at IT
The total vote of Garst and Hamilton
Is In about the same proportion to the
Cummins vote that that of Carroll was
to Allison. They say 1t looks funny II
Hamilton was candidate on the pro-
hibition platform that he did not get
some votes from Carroll and can hardly
believe that all the temperance ele-
merit Of the republican party are pro-
gressive and none at all standpat.
Here are the votes: Allison. 104,764;
Cun1mins, 93.944 Carroll, S7,73S; Garst
62.ss7; Hamilton, 2S,s69. Total of Garst
and Hamilton, 91,756.A 1t is figured
that there were about 10000 third party
prohibitionists who voted for Hamilton
eliminating these and the republican
votes above THE proportion OF the vote
of tsarst and Hamilton to that OF Cum
MINIS is about the same as that of Car
roll to Allison. Garst men are not
slow about saying that Hamilton was
announced merely to defeat Garst
ATTORNEY ]. A. Dyer, of Des Moines
is, more than any other, responsible
for the discovery that the governor can
pardon life prisoners whatever the rec
ommendation Of the legislature. Mr
DYER is attorney for George Weems, OF
Dallas county, who was convicted OF
the murder of Ridpath, a railroad man
in this city. It has been the belief OF
many for years that unless the legis-
lature recommended a pardon 1t could
not be granted. Mr.. Dyer went into
the legal phases Of the matter and pre-
sented a lawyers brief on 1t to Gov
ernOr. NllIIlHlluS. SOVCI1AOA
submitted it to Attorney General Byers
and General Byers has returned the
opinion that the governor must sub-
init applications for pardon to the leg
islature but that after the legislature
has voted on the matter he can pardon
or not as he likes.
There is a strong belief that there
will be some pardons recommended by
Tie state board of parole. The board
will meet Monday and at that time the
anrllcation of George Weenls for a
pardon will be presented. Weems was
A Young man of Dallas county when
tbs murder of Ridpath took place. The
evidence shows that Weems and some
ttbe, young men were carousing one
night when it was proposed by some
TIA. they engage in a holdup. Weems
denyurred and left the crowd. He was
then living rather fast life and went
to a red light district resort alone. HIS
S. cry is that while he was there nc
heard a shot fired and ran into the
street and met l.. Ridpath,a railroad
man, staggering across the road When
ha ran up to him to assist him he got
blood on his own clothes from Rid
paths wounds. These blood stains
Head to his conviction. Weems has al
ways claimed that il he could locate
one of the inmates OF the house where
he stayed he could prove an alibi
Lately it is claimed that this inmate
has been located but the legislature
which met in 1907 refused to consider
the womans testimony or at least te
give it weight.
Weems' parents are now old people
living In Dallas county and If ne Is
pardoned he will go to them and assls
ON their farm.
Seventh district republican poll
ticians are in high state of excite.
ment because Of the language of the
call for the congressional convention
of July Is in this city
The call says that the convention