Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-11-15
Looker-On In Iona

Radcliffe, Nov l5.-Ellsw ort,l. the
enterprising little town west Of here, Is
now installing a water works system at
a cost of $1,000. The buildings tor the
engine etc. will be made large enough
to double the capacity OF the works.
which is admitted 10 be probably neces-
sary in a few years. Many small towns
in Iowa have waited till after they
have had a big fire before establishing
water works Ellsworth proposes -
reverse this order of things
one day last week an Iowa Central
passenger train arrived fro mthe south
at the platform in Clifford. the Chicago
Northwestern train going west pulled
out just the Central train came to
stop thereby causing several west
bound passengers to wait for q fire! gnt
train if going TO nearby U,Wns or 10
waic Till or o'clock in the morning.
if intending To 60 on a longer trip OF
course the NorlhWes tern makes no
connection at Clifford With the Iowa
Central. bat az = matter Of acco.:1o-
dating the public that train could have
beer held half Of minute. And if rail-
road Officials could only be made 10
understand that il is jus, such opera
toms the the one mentioned above,
that makes the people 'agin the rail-
roads This studied or careless dis
regard Of the travelling pubic is felt
by the railroads When the legislature
meets. Frequently unjust legislation
occurs. and much Of it could be avoided
il such big corporations Instructed
their employers to accommodate the
public whenever possible.
Right in this iin.. was The unw;se
action OF the railroad companies OPP
Clifford Thorme. candidate for railroad
,o,nni >sioner BY inri,nidating their
employees All fair minded citizens will
admit the right Of division or general
superintendent 70 work against the
election of any man. candidate for any
office bat To print sample ballots. 70
distribute ,rcm along the line 10 tell
their mpioyes. in an indirect way.
their JOBS and godo wages depended OIL
their voting as per sample ballot. was
q might poor way % campaigning Frs
.ileir employees resented such bail
doing The writer knows this 10 be
So from talks with railroad men since
election. Again the people OF Iowa al
ways resent any attempt Of any corpo-
ration - Interfere in a political cam
paigr. Four-tifths Of the adverse rail-
road legislation in Iowa can be traced
20 the activity of certain railroad at
,orneEs in Iowa politics. The politi-
cal bureau maintained by the railroads
for many years in Des Moines and else
where. managed by such men as Blythe
and Hunter were expensive institutions
for the railroads. The people OF Iowa,
regardless Of political affiliations. will
not stand Cor corporation activity Or
interference in our frequent political
campaigns. President Mellen Of the
New York and New Haven railroad.
has lately ben elected president of the
Boston and Maine railroad. Such an
under the domination OF one big corpo-
ration But listen TO this from the
Hartford courani:
The annual meeting Of the New
York. New Haven Hartford road
Wednesday was in many respects a re-
,narkable occasion. In the first place,
altho the concern has grown 10 have
q voting capital OF SlS5.00G. 900 and
more than half this stock was repre-
sented. there was no dissent or ad-
verse criticism. In the next place,
Mr.. MelIen e,nrhatica.ly walked the
com panE out of politics. He declared
hat. whatever individuals may do in
their right as citizens the company
does nor lake sides in politics and
VIII not so lorg as he is at its head.
This is as positive as his statement
as TO the polio. Of the Boston 4 Maine
in New Ham pshire'
II Will be news 10 some railroad
men. that President Mellen is actu-
ally popular with the travelling pub
lie.
A curious sensation was that in Iowa
last "Wednesday morning. as the pa
pers giving election returns were read
and discussed. Nobody seemed TO
feel bad about it. On Wednesday
nhen Carroll was supposed 10 be de-
fea ed. there was little rejoicing or
sorrow expressed by the average
voter on Thursday when reports
came that he was elected the same
don't care" feeling was in evidence.
And the democratic Land slide the
country over was received in tine
same spirit Jokes were numerous on
the sun rising just the same" on
a,raNei ,eing light" and business cHl!
since the democrats have Won out"
Many republicans actually expressed
the idea thar perhaps such result
was a good thing for the country.
Wonder wha, al! this means. Are we
getting wise or foolisho
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