Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-06
Would Have Des Moines Coun-
Gilman Removed Because He
Enforces Ordinances
RECALL PROVISION
Some Doubt Whether This Section of
Des Moines, Charter is of Any Value
Those Who Want Hamery ousted
Make UP Element Which Wants
''Wide Open" Town.
Al to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Aug. 6.-F'riends OF
Councilman John +. Hamery, oH this
city, do not believe that the scheme
now on foot to have HGmery recalled
will work disadvantageously to Ham
cry. In the first place there is grave
question whether the recall provision
of the new charter of the city OF Des
Moines is any good or not. But even
if 1t is any good there are little fears
of the results of the recall II sub
mitted to the people. They are conf
dent that Hamery would be reelected
by larger vote than ever before.
This seems reasonable when it is
considered that the proposition to re-
call Hamery is based on the fact that
he has enforced the law. 1t is because
he has enforced the law that they seek
to recall him. Had fe been negligent
enough in the enforcement of the law,
and the discharge of his duties as
public official to cause criticism of his
actions, recall would seem to be JUS
titiable. Lawyers have a saying that
"he that hath iniquity hath no equity,
and in court actions some times Il mo-
ton is made by one side for ';show-
ing of clean hands" on the other. In
this case the petitioners for the recall
of Hamery are engaged because they
are not allowed to continue breaking
the law.
There are about 1000 automobiles in
the state of Iowa and not all of them
are in Des Moines by any means. There
are more than $4,000 /, people III Des'
Moines so it can easily be estimated
that the great bulk of the voters of
Des Moines are among that numerous
class that makes a jump for the curb
every now and then on hearing, the
toot of an insolent and aristocratic
automobile coming down the street.
They are not going to vote to put a
man oAlt of office who has undertaken
to make these automobiles observe the
speed limit and obey the law as To car
rying lights.
Another element that wants Hamery
recalled is the cigar stores because
they have been forced to discontinue
the slot machines A big element of the
public does not smoke and so does
not patronize slot machines in the ci-
gar stores. When the machines were
put out the cigar stores complained
that they would have to close up be-
cause their business fell off immedi-
ately Then the patrons of the slot ma
nh; 1o ont TChoJy
as many cigars as ever but the cigar
believe Hamery is all right.
The element that will vote to re-
call Hamery is the element that be-
lieves in a wide open town. That ele-
ment has not been SO predominant in
Des Moines as it has in some other
towns in Iowa. Hamery has not put
on the lid absolutely in Des Moines.
There is no gambling that is open.
The gambling in hotel rooms and pri-
vate quarters that cannot be reached
by the police goes on here the same
as ever, no doubt, but there are no
gambling dens running. But the "red
light" district is allowed to r-ln as
ever, with the exception that liquor
can no longer be sold in these resorts
as formerly.
In the police department Hamery
has "spruced things up" by making
the policemen black their shoes and
look like soldiers.
Many citizens are saying that if
there is to be any recalling done the
people should recall things that Ham
To hnS hCoo tn
Des Moines something of what Roose-
welt was as police commissioner of
New York One of the first things he
did when elected alderman was 10 un-
cover the fact that the police depart
ment was grating off the city by
charging for more meals than were fed
to the prisoners in the city Jail. Then
he caught a policeman drinking in
saloon while on duty, which was
against the law, and he took the
whisky away from him.
Next he got the evidence Of eye
witnesses, proving that he had been
bribed by street car officials, and laid
it before the grand jury, and the last
thing that he did under the old city
government was to disclose that con-
tractors were charging the city for
more sidewalk than they laid.
Can the railroad commission COM
mel a railroad to do as it advertises?
At Farrar, Iowa, c. l.. Clifford COM
plains that the Newton & Northwest
ern advertises to run one freigh. train
q day each way, but does not do so.
He claims to have freight to ship fire.
ouently on the days when the road
doesn't run train in the direction
his goods are going. The railroad
commission will probably take the
matter UP at the next meeting.
BEGINNING Of Trouble.