Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-08-24
READY FOR CAMPAIGN
State Chairmen Take Up Matter of
Raising Funds for This
Purpose.
Operating Expense Increased, Says
Darius Miller. Failure of Iowa
Packing Concern.


funds with which to conduct s.
fall political campaign is the sITs
ject that is now demanding the Sc
rious attention of the republican
and democratic state central COM
mittees. The campaign promises to
be lively one and If carried on as
now seems probable considerable
money will be required by both par
ties. Republican Chairman Carl
FRANKIE has started his campaign of
soliciting and already has a number
of substantial donations from men,
bers of both factions of the repub-
lican party. Chairman N. F. Reed
of the Democratic state central COM
mittee is also agitating along these
lines. 1nere was a conference in
Des Moines a few days ago by
Claude Porter, democratic candi-
date for governor, former Con-
gressman Judge Wade of Iowa City,
Chairman Reed and others of the
democratic organization with view
of methods of raising money. Judge
Wade it is generally known is fav-
orable to the liquor interests of the
state and inasmuch as the demo-
cratic platform adopted in Ottum-
quor policy in Iowa it has been sug-
gested that the democrats are con-
sidering that it would not be in
consistent to accept campaign sup
port from the liquor interests of the
state. These interests could un-
doubtedly contribute a formidable
amount to the democratic campaign
fund.
The democratic state campaign,
it is announced, will formally open
September 20, probably in Des
Moines with some speaker of ma
tional reputation together with
Claude Porter. The democrats an
nounce they will make quite an ella
borate campaign bringing into the
state such speakers as Harmon of
Ohio, Governor Folk of Missouri,
Bryan of Nebraska, and others.
Claude Porter proposes to make an
active campaign throughout the en-
tire state.
State Senator A. B. Cummins has
announced that he will take a very
active part in the Iowa campaign
and the keynote of his speeches will
probably be his statement made in
his speech as temporary chairman
of the state convention that he
favors the election of every repub-
lican candidate. state and national
that while there are dissentions
within the ranks of the republican
party he does not favor turning the
country over to the democrats.
Senator j. p. Dolliver, as he an
nounced at the convention, will al
SO stump the state from river to
river. A number of notable speak
ers from out of the state will also
be brought here for the campaign,
according to the statement of State
Chairman Carl FRANKIE.
In view of the charge that has been
made, in political discussion OF
railroad figures, that the roads have
haan naddipg thair avnancas tbo
explanation of Darius Miller, pres
ident of the Burlington railroad, is
interesting. He says: 1T is %rue
that operating expenses as reported
for the ten months ending April 80
are much larger than those reported
for the corresponding ten months of
the year previous; but this is not
due to the padding of accounts. 1t
is due to the fact that we are actu-
ally spending more money for the
maintenance of the properties.
"The average amount per mile
spent by the railroads for mainten-
ance of way and structures in 1907
was $3.50; in 1908 it was only
$1,423 and in 1909 it was only
$1,336. These figures show that
during the period of depression fol-
lowing the panic of 1907 the amount
Of money spent for maintenance of
way and structures was not suffici-
ent to keep the roads in good con-
dition and they are now forced, not
only to spend enough adequately to
maintain the properties. but also
enough in addition to make good
the deterioration that took place
during the period of depression"
The failure of the Agar packing
plant In Des Moines and turning II