The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-10-30
Congressman Kennedy's Personality,
Popularity and Views

| washington tIowa) Press: Charley
Kennedy, congressman from this dis
trict, came in Monday evening and
spent couple Of days in Washington
ana county. attending to matters OF
Importance, to number of his constit-
ents and seeing tie boys During
MS stay here we had occasion to talk
with MIN concerning national politics
good deal. He thinks that Taft is
conscientious and is doing what he
| thinks is for the best for the coun.
try along all lines. Taft will be re.
elected; there is no question about
1t In my mind" says Charley Ken
nedy. La Toilette will not have any
snow in convention. 1t is certain
mat the greater share of the big so
called progressive leaders are NOT
taking up with the La Toilette boom.
Ihey remained away from the Chica
60 meeting on purpose. They will be
round supporting Taft, when the time
comes. This wing Of the party is ex-
plotting some of the old Populist
doctrines-as the initiative and refer.
enduns and the recall
congressman Kennedy is not in ia.
vor OF the recall, and especially in
the judiciary. He says it would he Il
great blow to the courts of this coun.
try. II they were controlled by the
recall. Why" says Charley Kennedy,
with the initiative, the courts
would be sllbservient to public opin-
ION. The decisions rendered would
certainly cater to public sentiment.
This is the way look at it: Suppose
a judge was sitting on the bench,
trying a case of great Importance;
pubic op'a'cn and sentiment were in
a large measure opposed to deci-
sion according to the law and the re-
call was staring him in the face, If
he rendered decision according TO
his best judgment. Do you SUPPOSE.
.S would have no bearing on his deci-
sion? Why, a judge, under the recall
would be il: fear all the time tina,
some decision he might rancer would
cause hot-headed radical to carry
around 4 petition to secure sigma
lures, Calling for an election. In
case an election was called, if the
Arizona method. was used. it could
lie called BY securing twenty-five per
celt OF tha voters At the las previous
election, as signers to the petit N.
Then the ,Jdge would have to go Il
end tight ase.nst popuia" candidate
aid against the sentiment which was
aroused to secure the recall petition.
rev men could be reelected against
such combination In case of Inc
defeat of the judge, his successor
would be ur against the sane propo-
sition, If he did not render decisions
in accordance with public opinion.
The mere fact of the election Of a
new judge would be sufficient reasop
to cause him to believe that public
opinion demanded he render his de-
cisions different from the former
judge. There would be no stability
in the judiciary, and think far less
justice would be secured than at
the present time The judiciary
should be as far away from any out.
side influence as is possible. I GER
tainly am not in favor of the recall
being tackled to any office, and par-
ticularly am ! not in favor of its be-
ing extended to the judiciary
Congressman Kennedy told US that
he was doing all in his power In the
post office matter and said that it
would be but few years until We
had fine federal building in Wash
ington Some one asked him. if it
would take ten years. Charley said:
why you will have it in less than
half that time" This certainly sound.
cd good to our ears. Many people
seem to think that, IL, tangible results
are not forthcoming at once there is
nothing being done in the premises.
Federal buildings cause congressman
a pile of worry and they have to pull
a good many strings before they can
get what they desire Charley Ken.
nedy does not let any matter, which
his constituents are interested in go
to sleep. He plugs along and soon re-
suits are obtained. Dan Hamilton
once told US that Charley Kennedy
attended to the business matters of
his office as we'll as any man in con-
gress. Now, when you get a Demo
crat to praise Republican, you are
going some. Dan thinks the First Iowa
districted is being represented in a
conscientious manner.
He told us that President Taft