Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-11
PETTY POLITICIANS INACCURATE
FIGHT WHICH HAS STATE.
WIDE MANIFESTATIONS.
ATTACK ON pEs MONIES
SCHOOL BOARD FAR-REAchiNe
DsIibsrats Effort Back Of Movement 20
Disersdit Prosrsssivss and Prosrss.
sivs causs-Frisnds Of cummins and
Kenyon Object Of Attack by "crsat.
Or Dss Meinss Committee"

Des Moines, Nov. IA good game
Of politics played by small politicians
on the losing side.
That was the verdict passed by an
observer OH the local upheaval which
is spending its force just now by an
attack on one member Of the local
school board.
1t is game of the kind called by its
refuse even to acknowledge it game.
The stakes are control Of state
whose treasury was once found to be
easy for the gamesters. The moves
are local. but trusted pals on the out
posts will see to it that statewide ap-
plication Is made. Locally 1t is adj
vertised as the most important uplift
of the age It is reform with big r
and a halo all round.
Some reliance is placed on the fact
that the average person Is appalled,
when faced with facts as to how much
it costs to keep pace with the times.
This worked well few years ago when
band of politicians gained partial vic
tory in state affairs by telling Of the
big sums which it takes to carry on
state government. OF course. they for
got all about it as soon as they got
office. So. also. it is easy to brighten
men with fat pocketbooks by showing
that 1t is costing lot of money to
make Des Moines the city beautiful. or
to give the capital city the best schools
in the world. But Des Moines is big
end a growing city and 1t has been
making the most satisfactory progress
the past half dozen years solely be-
cause good men, with courage to go
ahead, with firm faith in the future.
have been willing to give their time
ard talent to directing affairs in a
broad way. not always most wisely but
always in a spirit Of patriotic devotion
to the public welfare
Game 10 Not Young.
But the game which the outs are
playing to get in is not young. Readers
Of Iowa newspapers will remember
how frequently the wall has gone up
from these outs complaining that they
have been deprived the right to hold
office here. They have said that in
Des Moines they could not be elected to
any office which is true: and they have
ascribed this not to their own known
unworthiness but to the opposition OF
one man. which IL true would not be At
all to his discredit. This complaint.
crystalized into a crouch. was the
starting point for the local upltft.
That they might not remain wholly
on the outside these willy politicians
pining for the comfort Of power and
opportunity sought an agency thru
which they could operate without sub
hitting to the voters the question OF
their right The Commercial Club was
too large an organization to be handled
and 80 a few faithful formed the
Greater Des Moines committee. This
does not imply that all in the commit
tee are moved by the same motives.
Some members, perhaps even major
ity. believed that the committee could
be of use to build up and not tear
down, to help and not to be stumbling
block, to encourage making greater
and a better city and to put down the
petty jealousies of disappointed office
seekers. But as a matter of fact the
committee has been directed generally
by the few who have the leisure to at
tend and find 1t profitable to do So
Used BY the Selfish.
The membership Of the committee is
that Of most estimable gentlemen. Here
are number Of real estate men. Here
are several bankers. Here, also, are
representatives Of the public service
practically all Of them. In
fact the public service corporations
contribute $500 a year to support the
committee. And they are all excellent
and accommodating gentlemen.
But it is unfortunate that those who
have wormed their way into positions
of Importance in the committee find it
easy to use the same to serve the po
litical ends Of themselves and their
friends. What they will do on occa-
sion was seen when this committee
took over, without any authority and
with little reason, the matter of enter
tainment of President Taft while here.