Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-27
IOWA DENIS SHARPEN SWORDS
Meredith Baokers Expect to Control
Machine in Two Years.
HARMONY ON THE SURFACE
Leaders VIII support Connolly This
Year But Followers Are Max
ing n Program for Presi-
Dental Campaign.
tFrom a staff Correspondent.

DIES MONIES, Ia, July 26.-(Special)
The republicans Of the state, or those
that keep close tab on political currents,
are chuckinR over the situation at the
democratic state convention, and see in
Il evidence that while the democrats
appear TO be in perfect harmony there
is a great deal Of dscord beneath the
surface. The fight between Meredith and
Connolly for the senatorial nomination
left some scars that cannot be healed
by fine talk, so It is said 1t was a fight
for control of the party machinery, a
fight for a principle, and not merely
one between two good democrats. Mere
dith was wholly unknown to the demo-
Gratis of the state, but he typified GER
tain things which were the exact oppo-
site Of his successful opponent. Now
the Meredith people are nominally loyal
and are going to get back OF Connolly
to the full extent but the rank and file
of those who supported Meredith will
not be enthusiastic for the old regime
in their party. What is really happening
is a play for the future. Next time the
Meredith people expect to come into full
possession OF the party. They will con-
troll II in the presidential year, and as
there will be no democratic state Off
cials they will nominate the ticket which
they hope will win at that time. This is
the program for the future. There is
| said to be no real expectancy on the
part of the democrats of electing their
ticket this year in Iowa, but they will
| build for the future.
In the meantime the republicans, while
having some troubles of their own, grow
ing out of the blowup of two years ago,
are in process of getting together again,
with an eye to the national advantage.
Judicial Fight warming Up.
Since the primary election there has
been very little discussion of candidates
for judicial position, but now there is
some interest being taken in the matter,
with the result that the lines are being
gradually shaped up for the final fight
as to the supreme court. 1t has become
evident that there is a determined fight
being made on the present court with a
view to discredting It and effecting a
general change in the attitude of the
court toward political questions.
One of the features now coming to the
front is the effort being made to put on
the supreme bench a wholly unknown
man of no experience, and to put him
there because he is a democrat. The
one democrat on the list of candidates is
Seth Thomas of Fort Dodge. 1t is found
that as q matter of fact he graduated
from the law school in 1910 after a year
at the school, previously studying in the
Healy law office in Fort Dodge. Heshas,
therefore. had barely four years expert
ence in the practice of law and none as
Judge. This fact has surprised a great
many and aroused them to an inquiry
as to what It is that is being done with
regard to the supreme bench.
The other new aspirants are Congress-
man S. F. Prouty and 3. /. Salinger.
The former has record as an able law
yer and district judge, and his elevation
to the supreme bench would cause no
surprise, But Salinger has held only the
office of supreme court reporter, and
while he is recognized as an able lawyer,
he has had for clients some elements that
would be greatly delighted TO have him in
the high place. The indications are,
therefore, that the fight for the supreme
bench will soon begin to warm up.
Taxation Question in New Phases.
There will be some new phases OF the
| assessment and taxation question in Iows
| as a result of the assessment work fol
this year in Iowa In the first place Il
has been already demonstrated that a
very large part Of the increase of taxa
tlon last year was due to the action Of
the local authorities rather than to any
thing done by the state officials. Th'
increase OF taxes due TO levies made by
the boards of supervisors. school boards
and the town councils is many-fold wha
was due to the increase made by tht
state authorities. This fact can now b.
demonstrated to the dollar by the return
from the counties But It is alst
demonstrated that the extreme measures
OF the state officials in ordering changes
in the valuation are necessary IL Their
is to be real equalization of the tax bur
dens. There will be no material chang,
In the valuation on property in the stat
this year. The assessors made sligh
Increase in values by adding the new
buildings and new personal property ais
by keeping up value of live stock. Thi
viii be the only change from last year
as the valuation on railroad and othe
property has not been changed. The dis
cussion Of the taxation problem will there
fore not again be on the question o
whether or not the state had the righ
to effect equalization, but how to main
tain values where they are and how L
adjust the tax levies TO lit the situation
| in each case.
Where state Has Been GraspinR.
The place where the state hasN beer
over-reaching itself Is in collecting ex
orbitant fees from the Standard OIL com
pany But this will be stopped now
thanks to the western association Of in
dependent jobbers in OIL This association
has compelled the state TO give up hal
its fees on inspection OF oil. The actor
of the independents, however, was no
! due to tender consideration OF the profitI
/, of their powerful rival, which will be tn,
chief beneficiary. But the independent
D were feeling the burden Of the oil in
Z spection fee on gasoline. and finding tina
II would not stand a court analysis, they
) have forced the state TO abandon II en-
J tirely This means a loss in revenue I,
|, the state OF about $4,000 year.
VIII Not Take the serum.
II Is announced that the members o
!. the militia companies of Iowa will no
I be vaccinated against typhoid before go
8 ing into camp at Camp Dodge Angus