Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-20
DEMOCRATIC SWITCH
COMPLETE REVERSAL OF POLICY
TOWARD METHODS OF cHoos.
ING OFFICERS.
PARTY CONVERTED TO
PROGRESSIVE PRINCIPLES
Once Joined With Standp atters in Fl.
fort to Kill OF Primary Law in
Iowa-Towns Can Not Dispose Of
Waits, While Cities May-LibsraI
Policy at oakdaIe sanatorium.
Special TO Times-Republican.


Des Moines, May 20.-Complete and
almost sudden conversion of the DEM
acratic party of Iowa to one of the
cardinal progressive principles Is re-
ported by the delegates who returned
las. week from Burlington. This clause
was rut INTO the state platform:
Resolved. that we are in favor Of
the nomination of all elective officers,
including that of president, by direct
vote of the people"
This is said to be a complete reversal
Of democratic policy in Iowa. Two
years ago the party merely declared in
favor Of changes in the primary law 10
make 1t less expensive.
When the primary law was first
adopted in Iowa, the democrats in
the legislature entered into con-
tract with the standpatters to kill
II off and for wears maintained an at
t.tude Of hostility to direct nomina-
lions by the people Now they have
cone around 10 full acceptance Of the
primary principle for the first time.
While the officials Of = city may
legally give away a waif and enter in
TO contract for legal adoption of the
same into g family. the officials of
town can not do SO. This is one dis
tinction between a city and town not
usually known. The supreme court so
decided last week.
The case was ore from Decatur
county, wherein a good many years
ago girl was picked UP and the Of
ficials Of the town, as ,egal guardians
of the child made a contract for her
adoption into a good family. In the
settlement of the estate the point was
"a :sed that while a city was given
authority in the code to thus dispose
Of child. a town had no such power.
TIE supreme court holds that this is
correct ana the pretended contract
made by the town officials was without
force But they also held that mas
much as the contract had been treated
as valid many years il was binding as
to the estate and the waif is not to be
cut out Of her inheritance for tech
nicality.
The state board of control is adopt
ing the policy of not adherinS with
strictness to the law IN regard to the
Oakdale sanatoriunl. or rather is exer-
cising the discretion properly with the
board in the direction OF charity and
humanity The board has had great
deal Of trouble over the provision that
only incipient cases of tuberculosis can
be admitted at Oakdale. This would
mean, IL strictly interpreted that when
a case become chronic the patient must
10 longer be kept. But the board actu-
ally has on hand at the sanatorlum
now some cases that could not be ao-
mitteC, but the patients desire to re-
main for what benefit they can receive.
Such cases are eft at the hospital. 1t
is probable that the legislature Will be
asked 10 make material change in
the law as to this and also to provide
for section Of the sanatorium for the
care of chronic and incurable cases OF
tuberculosis.
The state Of Iowa realized sS.665
from the license fee for users Of the
Babcock milk test the first year Com
missioner Barney had estimated that
O. COO would be the limit Of fees con
lecteG the first year. The second year
commences June ard holders OF
these licenses Will have TO secure re-
neva! Of the same. There are 1855 OF
them. mainly the milk buyers at
cpa meries and for the conceEtrator
companies
State Veterinarian Gibson reports
that the serious outbreak Of disease
among horses in southwestern Iowa
which has been giving his department
some trouble for several weeks is now
wei. ii hand aa6 sufficient quarantine
is maintained to make 1t certain there
will be no spread of the trouble.