Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-31
Governors Action in Converting
Legislature inExtra Ses-
sion Counted
DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE WON
fractional Fights for Control Would
Have Now Been On, With Many Re-
publicans Facing Defeat-B1eakley's
Election is Assured-cIarke Will
Lead the Ticket.
Special to Times-Republican.

here all agree now that the special
session of the legislature which Gov
ernor. Cummins called and which
adopted the amendment to the primary
law. is the only thing which has made
possible a republican legislature next
winter. It is now certain that there
will be republican legislature. But if
the primary law had not been so
amended as to take from the legisla-
tive candidates the burden Of the SEN
atorial fight the republican member
ship in the next legislature would have
been confined to a few strong repub-
lican counties like Polk, Hamilton.
Marshall, Linn, Cerro Gordo, Sac, Nit
chell and others in those portions Of
the state where republicanism is al
ways aggressive.
IF we hadn't held that special ses-
sion," wrote one OF the present men,
bers to the state committee the other
day, 1--WE would now be having about
125 mean fights for the legislature.
with factionalism rife at every turn. 1t
IS certain most Of us would have been
left at home. Now we have been able
to shift the burden and we will get
thru in good shape
This. IS the story from every part of
the state. A fair estimate of the leg
islature is that 1t will have not over
forty democrats In the two houses. The
number may run to fifty but not more.
The state committee has received en-
couraging words in regard. to the fear
that certain candidates would be
greatly cut. There has been most talk
about Bleak1ey, and the committee was
fearful that the Ida senator's action in
boiling his party last month would
mean his defeat. Now 1t is regarded as
certain that he will be elected. There
has been no organized movement at
any time to carry on a bolt, as there
was two years ago, and the only dis
who are tender upon the subject of
maintaining party discipline and who
believe that the majority should rule.
But good judges now say that there
will be very little slashing of the tick
ct.
There seems to be little doubt that
ex Speaker George Clarke will lead
the republican ticket in total of votes.
He is one of the most popular men. OF
the state and his friends are working
to give him big complimentary vote.
Reports from his meetings indicate he
has been well received.
The state Of Iowa yesterday lost
chance at some collateral inheritance
tax in case from Jasper county which
reached a finish in the supreme court.
1t was the Lamb estate and two old
people had a number of years ago
given to the son of their adopted
daughter their farm, entering into a
contract for life keeping. The contract
was fulfilled and upon the death of the
donors of the farm the state. claimed
the inheritance tax. 1t appears that the
adoption was not proved. but the court
also holds that a contract of that kind
precludes the collection Of collateral
taxes.
Des Moines lawyers insist that the
wife desertion law must be changed so
as to lessen the number of indict-
ments They propose an amendment
to the law that will require the grand
jury to call the accused person before
it to make his statement before an in
dictment can be found. They say that
in many cases as sdon as the story of
the alleged deserter is known the case
fails. But the lltlmanitarians say that
to amend the law in this way would be
equivalent to securing its repeal. The
scheme will therefore be opposed. The
law has caused a great deal of trouble
and annoyance and county officials
here say it has not decreased the num-
Der Of assertions.