Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-07-06
NEWS OF THE STATE
Weekly Letter of General Interest
From Des MOines Correspond
ent.
THE DEMOCRATIC SITUATION
Annual State Rifle Shoot, Freight
Rate Agitation, Democratic
Perp.eXities and Items Of
State Wide Interest.

Perp:eXities and Items of
State Wide Interest.
Des Moines, Ia, July 5:-At the
annual state rifle shoot of the Iowa
National Guards, held last week in
Des Moines on the state rife range,
Governor B. F. Carroll made a
record for himself at shooting, one
sch as if followed by the 500
gaardsman would make them the
most formidable army in the world.
The governor was handed a rifle by
Col. VIM. T. Chantland of Fort
Dodge as he stood on the 600 yard
line from the target The governor
shot twice and hit the bulls eye"
both times
That continued agitation to re-
duce freight rates and restriction of
railroad improvement is bound to
enfeeble the service and diminish
accommodations is claimed by
prominent railway officials. General
Manager Hiram ]. Slifer of the
Great Western Railroad, while in
Des Moines, attending a hearing be-
fore the Iowa Railway Commission,
stated in an interview:
Until such time as the Congress
of the United States and the people
of the country conclude to acquiesce
in an increase of rates both the
freight and passenger service will
be curtailed to meet present neces-
stiles of the railroads. whose reve-
nues are not sufficient to meet ex-
penses incident to increased wages
and augmented expenses in other
directions. The companies are dis
charging thousands of men from
service, not because their services
are not needed-for they are-but
as the only means of keeping the
outgo of money within the scope Of
incomes. 1t isn't matter within
the.control of the companies. 1t is
. question wholly of securing sum-
Client money with which to operate
the roads on a basis that will keep
expenses inside revenues. This is
the proposition reduced to its last
analysis. 1t is up to congress and
the people of the country to deter
mine whether the service of the
roads shall be on the broad basis of
sufficient revenue or on that of a
pinching economy that will cast
many good men out of jobs, and
give public Indifferent service"
Edgar G. Moon of Ottumwa or S.
H. Bashor of Waterloo will un-
doubtedly be permanent chairman
of the democratic state convention
to be held in Ottumwa July 27.
These are the two defeated candi-
dates for the gubernatorial nomin-
alton and it is considered extremely
likely one of the two will be given
this honor. The fact that Mr.. Moon
lives in Ottumwa is looked upon by
some as reason for his selection
while others believe that as host he
should give way to Mr.. Bashor, who
received second highest vote at the
primary.
Inspired by the belief there will
be an opportunity to win strong
foothold at the November election
there is a lively contest among
democrats for places on the state
central committee. These members
will be selected at the eleven dis
trict caucuses to be held at the
state convention. In the seventh
district where Clint Price as chair
man withdraws to make the race
for congress, there are four candi-
dates. They are I. r. Jones. DR.. J.
H. Duhigg, VIM. Hall and Henry
Riegleman, all of Des Moines. The
first three are young men.
Already democrats are discussing
the nature of the resolutions to be
passed by the convention. Because
of the success of republican stand
patters in nominating most of the
state ofiicers and congressman in
contested districts at the primary.
democrats are discussing the advis-
ability of drafting their resolutions
so as to win favor from the insurg-
ents, and thus seek support for
democratic nominees from that wing
of the republican party. Among
other things the democrats will
condemn the Payne-Aldrich bill and
also the Postal Savings Bank bill,
opposed in the United States senate
by A. B. Cummins and J. P. Dolli-
yer. They will probably condemn
the work of the present national
administration.
1t Is not considered likely that