The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-10-05
THE GOVERNOR INDICATED.

After one hour of deliberation the
jury chosen to try Governor Carroll
on the charge of criminal libel brought
in a verdict of not guilty. This far
cial attempt to besmirch the governor
had the outcome that all men expect
ed. There was never any basis for
the indictment except personal an
tagonism on the part of Mr.. Cownie
and factional hatred on the part of
the insurgent leaders who sought thus
to harass the governor, both during
the primary and during the campaign
for election.
The fact that the Cownie letter was
submitted to Garst headquarters be-
fore it was published and that it was
evidently published with the knowl-
edge and approval of Garsts campaign
managers, puts that gentleman in
rather bad light. But what could
one expect from campaign man
aged in part by Bert Keltz?
The attitude of the governor has
been manly and dignified throughout.
In the first place when he became
convinced that Mr.. Cownie was unfit
to serve longer on the board, consider
alton for his past reputation and for
the reputation of the state caused the
governor to act in such a manner as
to avoid scandal. He knew that the
insurgent press would howl and en-
deavor to make Mr.. Cownie martyr
and he therefore took few promi--
nent men into his counsel. Mr.. Ing
ham, of the Register and Leader, was
among the number. At the time he
convinced these gentlemen that his
action was only for the good of the
state, but later the exigencies OF fac
tional politics made Mr.. 1ngham turn
on him. Thus the governors very at
tempt to avoid scandal, to have Mr..
Cownie dropped as quietly as possible,
was used against him in the prepos-
ferrous charge which has just been
exploded by Polk county jury COM
posed of democrats, insurgents and
republicans.
The governor was very considerate
of Mr.. Cownie's feelings. He showed
him the evidence at hand and assured
him that unless he (Cownie) gave the
the matter publicity nothing would be
said. Had Mr.. Cownie taken advant-
age of the governors liberal treat
ment, he might have avoided great
deal of unpleasant and Improbable
publicity. AS it was he fell into the
hands of the gang of politicians who
have constantly shown themselves
ready to destroy any man who stood
in their way. He was induced to print
his famous attack upon the governor
and this compelled the governor to
reply, giving to the people the conf
dence he had withheld hoping to avoid
the publicity which would bring I'M
pleasant notoriety to Mr.. Cownie and
to the state as a whole.
1t was for this that Governor Car
roll was indicted. Had he been found
guilty no public officer in Iowa would
have dared to do his duty in discharg-
ing subordinate for fear of criminal
prosecution. 1t is the governors bus
mess to make inquiry as to the faith
fulness and competency of his ap-
pointees or of other employees of the
state. That is what he is there for.
That is why we call him Governor"
Relative to the state pharmacy board
and to the state board of control, the
governor did his sworn duty and did it
we'll. He is not Chautauqua star
as was his predecessor, but good
clean business governor and it was