The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-10-29

other cities and towns know anything
about it, and would one in 100 OF the
taxpayers of those cities on of the 80
counties in Iowa, have voted for this
bill if it had been referred to them?
No--a thousand noes come up from
Greater Iowa" in condemnation OF
this law, as clandestinely rushed
through at the instigation Of Govern
or Clarke and his confederates. Holy
Moses, will the patriotic liberty low
ing people endorse this enormity by
rejecting George w. Clarke If they
do | will lose my hitherto mistaken
confidence in their intelligence, cour-
age and patriotism.
Wind tanning and Neglect Of Duty.
| am informed and believe Cover
nor Clarke has not been in his office
one-fourth of the time since the pass
age of the Capitol Appropriation Bill;
but has been listening to his own
musical voice explaining his RESPONSE
| bility for the Capitol Appropriation
Law and trying to make the voters
| believe that boards of supervisors,
city councils and school boards are
to blame for the high taxes, because
they did not reduce the levies. He is
like the little boy who did mischief
| in the hay NOW and blamed 1t on the
| hens. (Laughter) Although charg-
| ed with many duties-all the State
institutions are under his supervision,
| he has the assessing of all railroads,
J street cars, telegraph and telephone
companies, sleeping cars, interurban
and other corporations. The duties
! devolvng on him if properly attend
ed to would require all his time; but
! Notwithstanding the fact that he re-
ceives as governor $4,000, Executive
Council $1,000, rent 5000, total $500
! (tWice as much as he could command
| in any other position) he has been
speaking at chautauquas, soldiers re-
unions, political conventions, county
and state fairs, and whenever he
could get on the program, travelling by
rail, auto, carriage, afoot. and horse
back, through rain and snow, heat and
cold, bowling himself hoarse in prim-
airy compaigns, and is still pumping
his bellows, to the neglect Of his du-
ties of governor, for the purpose of
explaining the scanda:sus, unjust and
illegal raising of the valuation of tax
able property in Iowa, and for-what
else? To secure reelection at the
hands Of an outraged people, claiming
a second term For the love of Pete,
on what does he base his claims? For
neglect of duty, for oppressive and
unwise counsel, disregard of the rights
Of the people who employ him, unwar-
ranted interference with the legisla.
tive department, in violation of the
constitution and the lawful assump
ton of taxing the people up to the
the point OF confiscation? daughter
applause.)
Unparalleled Extravaganza.
During the past decade the state
taxes have been increased over 100
per cent; in 1903-1904, $3.50, 1884:
in 1913-1914, $11,S31, 5000. Hundreds
of unnecessary commissions, and 9th
er unnecessary tax eaters, have been
loaded upon the over-burdened tax
| payers, and during all of that time
| Governor Clarke has been in the leg.
islature, lieut.. governor or governor
Of Iowa, and has either supported, OF
| failed to oppose the extravaganza;
and has, also, failed to tell the thou
sands of taxpayers he has addressed
during the past 10 months these start.
ling and undisputed facts; which Of
itself proves Governor Clarke un.
worthy of a second term, unfit for
! governor of the great state Of Iowa,
or of any other Office, legislative
executive or judicial (Applause).
The people of Iowa are liberal, and
proud of their state capitol, educa.
tional, elemosinary, penal, and othel
state institutions, and take supreme
delight in contributing literally ia
their support, but don't want to be
held up, day or night, by a recreant
legislature or inefficient executive
for unnecessary taxation. They would
/ gladly vote taxes to purchase suf'
fcient grounds for necessary public
buildings in Des Moines; but draw
the line at being taxed for unneces
sary pleasure grounds in Des Moinea
or anywhere else. (Great applauSe.)
Nor is This All Of the Offending.
Governor Clarke and his sapient a.
sociates on the Executive Council, Of
which he is the chief juggler, disre
garding the constitution, laws and
rights of the people, over-rides asses
sors, boards of supervisors, and un,
;! der the pretense Of equalizing or ad
II justing the assessments on July "a
1894 practically reassessed all the
farms, city and town property, and
live stock on all farms, by raising the
taxable valuation as returned by the
county auditors. Raising from Is ia
so per cent on farms; city and town
property 10 per cent; work horses u
per cent; mules so per cent; cattle
rs per cent; all swine 80 per cent:
sheep Is per cent; but likely left