Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-14
Mr.. kE1CHUM WILL WIN
Politicians Confident Railway
Commissioner Will Be Re-
nominated
HAS MADE ENvIABLE RECORD
Entered Position With Experience as
Shipper and Has Given Entire Time
to Work of office-opposit on to Him
Not Considered as at All Strong
Entitled to Second Term.
Special to Times-Republican.

/ IL
Des Moines, March 14.-Politicians
are confident that Mr.. n. S. ketchun,
will be renominated for state railroad
commissioner at the primaries to be
held on June 2. Mr.. Ketchum is now
serving his first term as commissioner
and it is the time honored custom In
the state of Iowa to give at least q
second term as sort of reward where
the administration of the trust during
the first term has been faithful and
capable.
Mr. Ketchum has made one of the
best railroad commissioners the state
of Iowa has ever had. When he came
into the office he came with wide
knowledge Of freight and railroad mat
tiers already obtained from an expert
ence of years as shipper and railroad
constructing engineer. There have
been many railroad commissioners in
Iowa, but the great majority of them
lldNS hAOMA lltSIO VI liOlhiHS 1pout
railroad matters when they first en-
tered the office. They have spent the
first year or two learning the business.
Mr.. Ketchum entered the office fully
equipped.
He was first suggested by people
who are now prominent In the Iowa
Manufacturers association, which has
since been organized because the. inn
plement manufacturers saw the neces-
sity Of having someone or the COM
mission who understood their needs.
From the very first day that he came
onto the commission he began doing
things, and has been at it ever since,
and t here are scores of people in Iowa
who tried for years without success to
get little matters attended to who pin
great faith to Mr.. Ketchurn.
The term of railroad commissioner
is three years, and Mr.. Ketchum is now
serving his third year, the last year
CT his first term. Being in a minority
the first year, he was able still to lay
the foundation for q great deal of
work. When the last legislature gave
some additional authority, and the peo-
Pile thru the polls gave themselves a
majority on the commission, things
began to move.
There is no denying that the state
railroad commission had been criti-
cized forsfyears for the things that 1t
did not do. 1t is doubtful If there is
any criticism of the record of the past
year During the past fourteen months,
during which there has been a ma
jority of the commission favorable to
the interests of the people, a Joint
freight rate, express rates and an en-
been made. Besides, some of the
more important rates, such as that on
live stock, have been cut down. In the
case of live stock it amounts to about
20 per cent reduction.
In addition to these larger matters,
the commission has looked after scores
of smaller matters.
AS to Mr.. Ketchum's administra-
ton of his office, there can be no just
criticism He has devoted all his time
to the office since he was elected. He
took up on his own initiative the mat
ter of stone Quarries, and when the
stone men themselves cid not know
why their stone were not in demand
he made an investigation and got for
them some lower rates that have been
of vast benefit. He has taken up any
number Of other matters where there
was not even any complaint. and has
been able to accomplish things Of in
calculable benefit to the people Of the
state.
With the knowledge Of his compe-
tent service before the people, politi-
clans do not believe that any amount
of opposition to him will result in his
being defeated for the customary Sec
ond term.
The socialist state convention will
meet in Homesteader's hall, Des
Moines, March %, for the purpose Of
naming full state ticket to be voted
for at the primary election and for the
of other important party
business. About seventy local organiza
lions of the party will be represented
and every Iowa socialist is invited to
attend.
One Of the most important matters to
come before the convention will BIZ
the method it will pursue In meeting
the demands Of the primary law.