Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-14
POLICE CHIEF STEPS OUT
Tangle in Des Moines Municipal Gov
eminent is Strengthened Out.
VOTING MACHINES TO BE USED
Auditor of Polk County Overrules the
Objections THAT Have Been Raised
Against Them in the City
of Des MOines.
(From a staff Correspondent.J

tFrom a staff correspondent
DIES MONIES. oct. 18.-(Special)-An
ugly situation in the municipal affairs of
Des Moines was disposed OF by the city
council this morning and 1t Will have a
tendency to smooth out matters very
much for the future of the Galveston
plan of city government here. Alderman
Hamery, head of the department of pub
lie safety. presented to the council the
written resignation of Chief OF Police
Hume and It was accepted by a vote of
2 to 3. Mayor Mathis and Alderman Ash
voted against acceptance. Hamery,
schramm and Macvicsr voting for &C
ceptance. The resignation has, In fact,
been in the hands of Hamery since be-
fore Hume was made chief. Hume's APP
pointment was made to carry out a politi-
cal obligation due chiefly to Ash and at
the time Hamery refused TO acquiesce.
He only gave in when Hume filed with
him his resignation. to be filed whenever
Hamery saw fit to do so. There has been
constant friction in the department be-
cause the chief and his superior have not
worked in harmony at all. Today Ham
cry filed the resignation. Hume's
friends fought hard to prevent action,
but II was taken. His successor has not
been named, but Hamery will name the
man.. Inc SiIdln6u SlludlloH mas DetH a
threat against the success of the new
plan at all times and the people of Des
Moines now feel that better results will
be obtained.
Certain Voters Are Favored.
The voters of Des Moines and Polk
county will this year be favored over all
others by having the right to vote with
the "circle voting" the use of voting
machines so constructed as to permit vot-
ing a straight party ticket with one
stroke of the lever. Objection has been
made to this form, but the county au-
ditor has decided that when the legisla-
ture took the circle off the ballot II did
not prevent voting a straight party ticket
where machines are used. Unless the
courts interfere the voters of this part
of the state will therefore be privileged
to vote a straight ticket by one stroke
of the hand. something which cannot be
done elsewhere in the state. There has
also been complaint because of a fear
that the voting cannot be done on the
machines quickly enough to get through.
Iowa Congress of
The Iowa Congress of Mothers Is in ses-
sion in this city with about 300 present.
Mrs. Walter Brown, president, is presiding
and officers made the usual reports. Gov
ernor Cummins and President Storms of
the state college addressed a preliminary
meeting on Sunday. This evening Mr..
Wright, state dairy and pure food COM
missioner. addressed the meeting on the
work the state is doing to secure pure
food. DIR. w. b. owen Of Chicago, dean
of the Chicago university high school de-
partment, delivered an address this after
noon. t
Old Lovers Are Reunited.
A unique wedding took place in Dallas
county a few days ago. The parties to II
were ]. T.. Branch of Waukon and Mrs.
Hannah WragR Of Waukee. The former
is rs ard the latter 70 years of age. Both
had been happily welded for many years,
but both were alone in the world and
having been acquainted in youth this &C
quaintance was renewed and the marriage
followed. Mrs. Wragg is the widow Of the
late John Wragg, we'll known all over the
country as one of the great horticulturists
of the country and conspicuous in fruit
growing in Iowa for fifty years.
Death of Early Pioneer.
John Russell Of Jones county. a pioneer
of the state, is dead at his home near
been auditor of state at one time. He was
also conspicuous in founding and building
the Ames Agricultural college.
Only ore outside speaker is to be in Iowa
foI the republican campaign this year and
that Is Mayor Seth Low Of New York.
Governor Cummins is in Minnesota for the