The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-03
BRANT HITS CARROLL
Iowa city Editor Answers Governors
Letter TO Him Demanding
Open Charges DO
Made.

Madison, calling MS attention to the
fact that a letter from q life convict
at Fort Madison, addressed to the
Register and Leader, has been turned
over to Attorney General Cosson, with
the consent OF the convict, and that
the letter embodies the charges
which Mr.. Brant has been making.
The letter referred to was written
by the convict at Fort Madison and
sent to the Register and Leader under
date, at Fort Madison, Of July 13.
The convict was notified that the let
ter, with his consent, would be re-
ferred to the attorney general who
could investigate the charges made.
On July 20 the convict wrote his
consent that the letter be referred to
Mr.. Cosson, Under date Of July "a it
was sent to the attorney general.
Under date OF July 26 Attorney Zen
eral Cosson acknowledged receipt of
It,
At the time the letter was referred
to the attorney general it was not
known that convicts have tie right to
send letters, under seal, 10Th to the
governor and the board Of control All
other letters are opened under the
law, by the wsrden.
4. v. arden Sanders has been informed
Of the charges and has denied them.
Brant on Carroll
In his reply to the governor Editor
Brant Gays:
II Governor Carroll enjoys writing
letters to people and then giving them
out to the press for publication before
the person addressed has received the
letter, he is entitled to the pleasure,
but when a person has been insulted
by such course, the governor should
not be offended il his letters marked
private" are passed by in silence so
far as any personal answer is con-
cerned. Just why a letter so marked
should be given to the press, is be-
yond comprehension.
The Republican asfew days ago saw
q letter in the morning newspapers
addressed to the editor of the Re-
publican, and a day later Letter.
presumably the same. was received
marked private
II the governor has anything to say
to the public he has the privileges Of
the press the same as other people,
and more SO because things from a
governor receive attention whenever
more important matters from others
would not get passing notice The
Republican would willingly open its
columns to communications, but it's
editor Is not In the humor to answer
letters given out by Governor Carroll
as is his custom, except insofar as
this newspaper wishes to discuss the
question at issue.
Nearly two months ago the Repub-
lican published some very mild crit
icism Of the manner in which the
board OF parole is conducting its bust
ness. The criticism was well temper.
ed and related to the very funda-
mentals of prison affairs SO far as the
board of parole is concerned. At the
same time reference was made to the
old subject of the condition of the
Fort Madison prison.
Governor Carroll, without any just
cause, lost his temper, attacked the
editor OF the Republican by means OF
alleged news given o. from his of.
fee, all being Simultaneous with his
denial OF the conditions Of the prison
and in connection with his defense
OF his board He made three charges
against Mr.. Brant, and said that they
formed the basis of his criticism.
All Are Untrue.
First. Mr.. Brant was sore at the
board Of parole because 1t had refused
paroles to prisoners whom he had
asked to have set free.
Second, he was sore because Of the
appointment OF Mr.. Mott, with whom
It was alleged Mr.. Brant had business
difficulties.
Third, Mr.. Brant had grievance
because OF the failure Of the governor
TO appoint an Iowa City physician to
the board OF health.
Two Of these accusations Govern
or Carroll knew to be false He knew
MI. Brant had never asked to have
ANYBODY appointed to any place, and
that he had never asked to have any
prisoner paroled. AS to the other. II
Is equally false.
The Republican knows these things
We're given out from the governors
Office. first because the article in the
Des Moines Capital said the statement
was made in the state house; and
second, Des Moines newspaper man
wrote that the stories were all offered
70 him in the office OF the governor