Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-22
GOVERNOR cARR0lL's TRIAL.


The present governor of Iowa and
republican nominee for governor is 10
be tried for libel II is a much too seri-
Gus affair TO be made the shuttecock
Of partisan or factioral advantage The
high position OF rhe man, his intimate
connection with the state and with the
ruling political party OF the state inves,
the coming trial with serious and
universal Interest which rises beyond
party and factional success and touches
the honor and dignity of the common
wealth.
Cownie and Carroll are prominent
men in the government Of Iowa. Car
roll is its chief executive Cownie has
been for many years part OF it Car
roll has been indicted by a grand jury
on a charge of libeling Cownie. That
the indictman, was found by a jury OF
CARROTS political friends and support
ers and against the wish of the county
attorney suggests that the evidence
was conclusive 10 the grand jury and
is prophetic OF future conclusion in
open court. But Carroll, as every Other
person under Indictment for crime. is
entitled 10 the verdict OF a jury and IS
not 70 be condemned in advance. This
man under criminal indictment IS the
governor OF Iowa. The case rises above
the common mark. II should be ap-
preached with uncommon deliberation.
In this there is no advantage for the
alleged criminal; on the contrary his
superior political station agg-avates
the charges that he has deliberately
sought to build his political success on
the corpse Of murdered reputation and
advance his political fortunes by the
.heft Of private character. If the charge
shall be sustained. In the trial Of the
case politics has 40 place. Cownie has
the right TO public generation in the
courts. Carroll has that right of ev-
cry accused man to a fair trial. And
that is his only right and sufficient
right.
There IS however another and i'm
portant side to this case 1t has gone
beyond Carroll and Cownie Governor
Carroll is the nominee of the republic
can party and the day of election is.
compared to the movement Of court
trials, close at hand. His acquittal or
conviction means much 10 the party.
1t is likely that should Carroll be con-
victed upon the charges for which he
has been indicted that he would be
Overwhelmingly defeated at the polls
And il he is convicted, he should be de-
feated. Acquttal should make his cleo
ton certain. The people of Iowa are
not inclined to vote for a man who has
been convicted of outrageous defama-
ton Of private character for political
purposes. On the other hand they are
much inclined to support a republican
nominee with a certificate of good
character.
Inc nominee e ii a bad box and an
embarrassment 10 his party Many be-
ieve he should withdraw and that the
stigma Of an indictment forced out Of
his own friends by the evidence is suf-
fcient reason for withdrawal. The least
ne should do is 70 ask for an immed:-
ate trial and use every right means to
get his case before the courts and bring
about verdict before the state con-
vention is convened. If the verdict is
adverse he should get out Of the way
by withdrawal and let the convention
name man who may be presented to
the voters with confidence and the hope
of success. If the verdict is in his IA
vor he will be much stronger than he
has been. If against him he is SIM
Impossible. He ought to know this
and act accordingly.
But keep politics and factionalism
out of the trial pro or con. This is a
serious matter for Beryl NJ. Carroll and
| likewise for the state of Iowa