The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-12-31
W q dfI StUHyS
rCAGO, MILWAUKEE, & ST. PAUL
GOV. cLARkE's OPPOSITION.

1t has been the custom in Iowa tOl
many years for the republican party
to accord governor, who has made
a fairly good record during his first
term, 4 nomination for second term
without requiring him to go to the eX
pense and annoyance OF campaign
to. secure it, but it seems the proceed
tsnt thus established is not to govern
in the case of Governor Clarke who is
serving his first term and will ask for
a second term. Governor Clarke has
made and is making, a good record as
governor of the state and is fairly en-
titled to a second nomination at the
hands of the republican party. The
threatened trouble comes from the
fact that the governor in response to
what he thought had been demand
for some time, recommended in his
message to the legislature the pur-
chase of additional grounds for the
extension OF the capitol grounds in
Des Moines, and the legislature with
practical unanimity made provisions
for purchasing additional property.
The act Of the legislature became
law by the governors signature and
almost immediately protest was reg
istered by he people from almost ev-
cry section of the state. 1t was
charged that the appropriation was I'M
constitutional and that it was the re-
suit 0! lobby OF Des Moines inter
ests intended TO benefit the city alone,
rather than the state.
One John w. Rowley, the editor OF
a newspaper at Keosauqua, Iowa, be-
came most active in his opposition to
the law to purchase the ground and
ever since has questioned the wisdom
or right of the legislature to pass the
law and to emphasize his opposition
has announced his purpose to try for
the nomination en- the republican
ticket as against Governor Clarke, and
if he fails to secure the nomination
that he will keep up the fight until the
November election.
Mr. Rowley is probably good man
and no doubt believes the issue is one
that justifies his standing as a candi-
date for governor against Governor
Clarke, but he will have difficulty to
convince the people Of the state that
he is not playing the game of politics
and using the act OF the legislature
as a lever to secure nomination
which he could not otherwise secure
as everybody knows that no demand
exists for his nomination, outside of
the demand which may come from the
people on account of his opposition to
the act of the legislature. Mr.. Row
ley, we are told, was instrumental in
having the cOnstitutiOnality of the leg
islation brought before the courts and
the supreme court of the state, after
due deliberation, decided that the act
was not unconstitutional, which robs
Mr.. RoWley of the right to claim that
the legislature acted without jurisdic-
ton. 1t does not, however, prevent
his raising the question of the wisdom
of the act, but he should not adopt this
issue in order to boost himself into
Office He could in some other digni-
fed way have emphasized his hostil-
ity to the Legislation and avoided the
criticism that his motive is not above
question in adopting the course which
he threatens to pursue.
Governor Clarke does not seem to
be frightened with the threat of Mr..
Rowley, for he says he welcomes the
issue and is prepared to justify the
act and the part he took in making it
a law. No one questions the good
faith of Governor Clarke and if there
is mistake it is one OF judgment and
not of the heart. We predict that Mr..
Rowley will find disappointment when
the primary is held and that the issue
will not avail him as he anticipates,
although We concede there is criticism
lodged against the legislature, against
the governor and even against the