Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-06-01
LET GOVERNOR CARROLL DO HIS
DUTY,


DUTY.
(From the Register and Leader.)
1t is evident that Governor Carroll
on the occasion of his recent visit to
Manchester saw fit to attempt to
quote the conversations of a con-
ference at which the so-called evil
dences in the Cownie case were sub
mitted to the publisher and the editor
of of The Register and Leader among
others. The Manchester Press, which
could have no other authority for its
statements, says:
Before demanding the resignation
of MIR. Cownie, as the result of these
disclosures of his conduct, Governor
Carroll submitted the evidence to a
number of office holders and leaders
in the progressive" movement.
Among these We're Gardner Cowles,
manager, and Harvey Ingham, edi-
tor, of The Register and Leader.
These gentlemen were called into
the governors office and the charges
placed before them. Governor Carol
told them that he was being critics.
ed by The Register and Leader for
attacking Cownie on purely political
grounds. He asked them to read the
charges, and tell them what they,
Messrs. Cowles and Ingham, would do
if they We're in his place, with the re-
sponsibility of the governorship upon
them. The evidence was read by the
two gentlemen in question, and when
they had finished, Mr.. Cowles said:
Governor, if you believe these char
ges to be true, there is only one
thing for you to do-that is, to call
Mr.. Cownie before You and demand
his resignation"
1t is not worth while to get into
a controversy over what was said at
that conference. The readers atten-
ton need only be called to the words,
'if you believe those charges to be
true" AS a matter of fact, ii was
suggested to the governor that Mr..
Cownie should not only be removed,
but should be in the penitentiary if
those charges were true, and both
the governor and Judge Robinson
We're asked why nothing had been
done about them, and about even
worse chrages against Superintend
ent Fitzgerald.
The Press convicts itself and the
governor at the same time, when il
says:
The editor of the Press has seer
the evidence in the Cownie case, II
is of the most exhausting and con
vincing character. 1t embodies char
ges reflecting in the most serious ant
damaging manner upon Mr.. Cownie'.
attitude toward certain state institu
ions, his relations with women in
mates of those institutions, his viola
ton of the state laws regarding thu
purchase of supplies, etc"
We do not know whether it il
compromising a felony or not to have
collected evidence such as the Pres.
says the governor has, without turn
ing it over to the grand jury. Blu
II is evident that something is wron,
when the chief law enforcing office
OF the state goes to the trouble t,
collect this evidence and then make
no use of it except for political pur
poses.
Mr.. Cownie denies these charge
In whole and in part and he puts vi
The record of long life in Iowa an,
OF twelve years of service with mel
IKE Governor Larrabee and John 7
Hamilton, who must have had som,
mixing of what was going on. in de
fense. He invites the fullest inves
legation. He denounces the governo
IS a defalner of character and
calumniator. If the governor has th,
proofs why are they not produced
Why are they not turned over to tn,
grand jury? Why are they carrie,
around to the office of the Man
chester Press for private exhibition
The Register and Leader says nov
as it said to Governor Carroll tina
II these things are to be believed
Mr.. Cownie deserves public execra.
ION, And it says now as it sal,
then that it is the duty of the Law
OFFICERS of the state to put the mat
Ter to a test. The governor ha
SHOWN his own want of faith by ne
slecting to do his plain duty as al
officer The members of the boar
OIL control, who should at once resigl
IL these things have been going on
nave shown their own, what of faith
lhere is in the whole proceeding al
evidence of wanting merely to pla.
politics with Mr.. Cownie, and of be
ing willing to ruin his good name ii
the pursuit.
Mr.. Cownie challenges the proofs
The Register and Leader backs hin
IN the challenge. Let the governo
DO his sworn duty as an officer, lie
The board of control do its sworl
duty. And if they do not do thei
sworn duty, then let them stand i'm
peached in the eyes of all right think
ing men.