Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-01-16

They are now discussing a constitu-
tional convention for the abolition
Of capital punishment and the gov
ernor has reprieved all murderers
under sentence of death in that
state until the people have spoken.
This is the way the referendum is
working in Oregon, and it seems to
be good way.
Senator Cummins said to friends
in Des Moines while there during
| the holidays, so it is reported, that
| he was very much interested in the
reelection Of Senator Kenyon. It
has been intimated that the senior
senator was Indifferent to the out
come of the senatorial contest In this
state. but friends who visited him at
Des Moines do not report it that
way.
''Des Moines does things" While
Senator Cummins was eulogizing
the virtues of the capital city citi-
Gems the other day at the dedication
Of the new city hall, one Of said
citizens stole the senator's overcoat.
Still. that may not be so bad as 1t
seems. w. j. Bryan has charged
that the republican party has stolen
all the clothes belonging to Miss
Democracy and the republican party
is quite a respectable organization.
In the fraud presidential vote now
being conducted by the Des Moines
Capital, President Taft has the great
advantage, in that the bulk Of the
progressive vote will be divided be-
tween Roosevelt and LaFollette UNI
less Cummins becomes an avowed
candidate. In that event Cummins
would win by large majority had
he had fair start. But the poll
has been going on for some days and
Of course that advantage will give
Taft big lead.
They have cement mills in Can
ada, but a Mason City mill has just
pulled down an order from the city
Of Winnipeg for $4,000 barrels OF
this material. Winnipeg will have
to pay duty Of so cents barrel
on this cement. Yet the city saves
$500 by placing this order in the
United States. It Is evident that
the Canadian cement men were
either trying to hold up Winnipeg
or are not yet onto the job OF maxi
Ing cement in the latest approved
method.
II will be noted by readers Of the
Des Moines Capital that Col. Young
is not doing the strenuous act in
the support OF any. gubernatoriai
candidate at this writing. No. Not
the colonel. He is more interested
in the election of a United States
senator than in anything else and
his vaulted courage and fearless
fighting qualities have evidently
been overtaken by the severe cold
spell. But after this cruel war is
over the colonel will be himself
again and the Capital will venture
opinions even upon such small mat
ters as state government.
II is now limited In standpat CIR
cles in Iowa that President Taft will
not heed the recommendations OF
Iowa's congressional delegation In
the matter OF federal appointments
unless clean and capable men are
chosen. This is the proper thing
for the president to do and the peo-
pie will stand by him. But the
Freeman-Tribune does not appre-
bend that the congressional delega-
ton will make recommendations
that will not withstand the closest
scrutiny. The state is full OF clean,
capable men and there Is no excuse
for the recommendation Of any 9th
er kind.
The presidential boom OF Prof.
Woodrow Wilson seems to be suffer
ing collapse. II Is claimed that