Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-19
AmEs COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR
READY 70 OPEN RECORD FOR
STATE BOARD.
SAYS CONSCIENCE ~ CLEAR.
HAS NOTHING TO FEAR
Admits Financial Connection With
Land Company, Says No Has Used
State Stationery Occasionally, But
Has No Interest in Seed Tsstsr-All
Charges Explained.

church than to preach in the biggest
verse;" That was the declaration of P.
G. Holden, superintendent Of agricul-
tural extension work in the Iowa State
College at Ames.. Surrounding table
spread on the ground, with nearly a
dozen boys, his own children and the
children Of some of the professors at
Ames, eating meal prepared over an
open fire in the good. old. primitive
style. near by which was tent. the
company was enjoying ten days va
cation at lakewood on the west banks
Of Clear Lake.
Says Record 10 Open.
My record, both private and public,
is open, correspondence and all. l aim
to do nothing of which am ashamed.
I can not afford the time to answer
unjust, unreasonable criticism, and !
long ago formed the habit Of just pass
ing it up. / want to say this, how
ever, in justice to myself and my fam
lily, that there is hardly a man in pub
lie life in the state who devotes SO
much time away from my home and
in the interest Of the work / represent
as do. Ny time is not my own: it
belongs to the state. My energies, all
there is of me, and only regret there
is not more, belongs to the state, and
no man can justly say that l have not
given them TO the state. And this has
not been grudgingly done, for the work
has been pleasure for have felt that
possibly I might be doing some good
Those conversant with affairs will
recall that at very recent meeting
Of the. board of education Of Iowa, the
faculty Of the state agricultural COL
lege were all retired with the excep-
ton of Mr.. Holden. and he was cited
to appear before the board at their
meeting in Vinton, to be held on Sept
z, to answer to certain alleged irregu-
larities. These Irregularities are based
on the charges made by Representa-
tive Ernest r. Moore, Of Cedar Rapi-
ids, in speech made in the last legis-
lature. His charges were that Mr..
Holden was interested in land adven-
lures in idaho, that he was interested
in the Holden seed corn tester and was
guilty Of the offense of using school
stationery in private correspondence.
Mr.. Holden CHANGED to be present and
heard the speech. OF those charges Mr..
Holden says:
Will Fight for Peace.
Il did not then nor do 1 now hold
Representative Moore personally re-
sponsible for that attack. 1t may be
good thing to open up the records Of
men in that way. Possibly l needed
just what was meted out to me. What
have said or what may say regard
ing this affair is not for the purpose
OF stirring up strife. l am for peace,
even if / have to fight for it, I have
stood for the square deal in school
affairs all the way thru. 1t is the only
principle. could not prostitute any
phase OF my work for the advance
ment, political or otherwise, of any
man or any set Of men. do not under
stand that the people of the state have
hired me for any such purpose. If they
dave they have hired the wrong man.
Has Invested in Land.
II want to say frankly that am in
terested in that land adventure, have
the honor of being president Of the
Grand View Land and Irrigation Com
pany of Idaho. think the company
owns or did own, about 1000 acri,s of
land. That is just about all know
about it. The company is in the hands
of a manager and he is attending to the
business. put little money in there
as an investment. In doing this have
not deprived the state Of any loss Of
my time I also have little money
invested in the cement plant at Lehigh.
That is the extent Of my investments
Pow 20
ask if there is man in public life
somewhere? II there is wrong in that
1t is certainly hid from me.
Buys His Own Stamps.
Il have also been guilty of writing
some personal letters on public sta
tionery. Is that crime? If so how
many of our supreme court judges,
state officials. public servants high and
low. are guilty with me? can stand
alone in this but plenty Of company
will surround me. want to say how
ever, that I have put over $500 into
the school which love, out of my own
pocket. l never think of touching a
postage stamp which belongs to public
work to use in my private or personal
Away from home I
Duy my stamps anu use them LOT DOtN
public and private work.
Not Interested in Seed Tester.
I'm relation to the seed corn tester, I
am not interested in 1t at all. I know
there is tester called the Holden test
err but I don't know as there is any
law that will prevent man calling a
tester a Holden or a Moore 1 want
to say further, I am not compelled to
go around over the state explaining
matters. If l had to do this l would
not be fit to occupy the position I am
in am willing to submit the ques-
ton without argument or debate to the
people I serve.
Not Out for Money.
Il am not in this thing for the money.
/ left $4,000 job to accept a $4,000
job. 1 love the people of Iowa. have
met them in all conditions, under all
kinds Of circumstances, and yet there
has been only one man to rise up and
malign me. That is pretty good rec
ord. have been little afraid that I
had not done my whole duty because
of the number of warm. personal
friends have over the state.
Now, as a reporter, wish you would
so construct this interview that the
people would understand that am for
peace and for things right. We have
too big state and too big mission to
spend time in quarreling over VINO snail
be first. l want to say that 1t will be
a pleasure to meet with the board Of