Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-11

The whole affair was managed 20 AZ to
be Of advantage. 20 far as 1t could be,
TO the leaders OF the factiOnal forces
here. Men Of prominence and standing
who have been from the first friends
Of President Taft. and who had right
to expect at least fair treatment on
such an occasion, were completely shut
out. 3
Purpose Of the Game.
The apparent purpose OF the game is
this:
First. to discredit and discount all
progress in Des Moines-municipa
schools, Industrial and political.
Second, to connect up by inference
and inuendo. everything that can be
criticised with the progressive move
ment in Iowa.
Third. to leave the impression that
the dozen years of progress in Iowa
have been worse than wasted and that
those who defend them are grafters or
worse.
1t is recalled that quite recently a
fierce war was started on the county
board of supervisors. 1t was strangely
dropped. Possibly the filing Of some
libel suits caused a change of plans
Then the discovery was made that the
city government was doing more i'm
proving than ever known before and a
great scandal was discovered in the
matter Of grading Ninth street. But it
was found the property was standing
for the cost. Every now and then Il
jab is given at state officials who are
fighting for better government. and at
one time bitter war was waged for
weeks upon the supreme court.
School Board Attacked.
Just now the local school board is
bearing the center of the attack. Rath-
er it was against the school board. but
the political clique turned it to a fight
to discredit just one member of the
board. 1t was more than coincidence
than that one had hand in state poll
tiles last year.
1t is the purpose of the men who
play the great game to convince the
voters of the state that in city affairs
men like the energetic MacVicar, and
in school affairs men like the fair
minded Fleming. and in state affairs
men like the able Cosson. are all dan
imposed in them They are friends of
Friends Of cummins and Kenyon.
The school board situation is many
sided Some who have urged reforms
have done SO with honest purpose to
save the district money. 1t is claimed
that salaries are too high, and they
may be, but the teachers do not be-
lieve it. 1t is claimed that the super
intendent and the secretaries are paid
more than they are worth, and upon
this opinions differ. 1t is claimed that
too expensive a high school building
was erected but who is to judge? But
finally the fight all centered upon an
effort to compel the school board to
move from the Fleming building. A
saving Of a few hundred dollars can
thus be effected at the expense of some
lessening of convenience, which per-
haps is worth while-but right there
people commenced to ask why this fight
is made wholly on Mr.. Fleming and not
on others Of the board. and In the an
swer to that question was found the
key to the whole situation.
Mr.. Fleming is the one member Of
the board conspicuous for standing out
against return to old political condi-
lions In Iowa.
That it was determined long ago tina t
Mr.. Fleming should be discredited was
shown by the fact that last winter
while he was soiourning in San An
tonic the plotters caused it to be cir
cuiated and published all over the state
that he was out in Iowa on a political
errand. Local organs of reaction all re-
fused to print the truth about it.
Charging It to Prosrsssives.
Nobody is undertaking to defend the
school board if it should be shown
that the services paid for at any point
are not worth the money. but all this
is as yet merely matter of difference