Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-24
Looker-On In Iona
Special to Times-Rep,b,;can

Parkersburg, March 24.-Within the
past Few months, in his travels in the
northwest part of Iowa the writer has
heard many charges of graft" among
county officials. These charges are
maze publicly in stores, grain offices
and on the streets, by voters who seem
10 De men OF more or less prominence
IN the community. Such statements
particularly refer to drainage, bridge
work and surveying and engineer
Work. Here's sample statement ma de
publicly in grain office by a farmer
living in the township: II know some-
thing Of the cost of cement work I
know they could not have used 700
sacks of cement When the county paid
5000 for that bridge somebody got
rake off" This is a sample statement
one hears in almost every county.
When these "kickers" are talking Of
drainage, then the figures mentioned
are in the thousands. The cost Of sur
Veying is told in hundreds, and bridge
work is considered as being charged
up to the county al any figure, the
traffic will bear In one county
reckless statement is made that the
examiners Of the county books, stood
in with the board Of supervisors and
prevented damaging exposures. Some
Of this talk Is for political effect, much
OF is from ignorance, but conservative
tax payers. telling of these things,
seem TO forget we have a grand jury
system.
1t reminds the writer of bit of per-
sonal experieice in small Iowa town
some years ago. In one of the large
stores of the town, was the proprietor
and lady bookkeeper. Scandal was
in the air and much public talk the re-
suit. One man Of the town was so
worked up he asked this scribe ito
write it up in the T.-R' 1T was an
outrage that such a state of affairs
was allowed in a decent town" The
writer Of course agreed with him, and
for the good Of society suggested to
this worthy citizen, that said worthy
citizen being acquainted with the par
ties, knowing their names, ages and
previous condition Of scervitude. when
and where said criminal acts We're
committed, TO what-church they be-
longed, and what was Mrs. Grundy's
christian name. her age and what facts
she would swear to, this scribe said to
the citizen: You write this up, sign
you name to it and I'll attend to the
publication" What? said said worthy
citizen, me get mixed up in such an
affair. Not much 1t seems a self
evident proposition that these tax
payers when graft in county affairs
is so publicly talked, do not care to
get mixed up in such an affair. Not
much"
Unless there is a more complete I'M
derstanding Of why we have so much
increased taxation in Iowa, and even
if it is better understood. 1t Is to be
big factor in nearby city, town, coun-
t. and state elections. Bembers of
boards of supervisors. city officials
and members Of the legislature seek
ing reelection. will go down to defeat
with that dull sickening thud we have
heard SO much about. The average
taxpayer today is like the Irishman at
the Denny brook fair. Club in hand he
is going to nit the first-poltiical-
head he sees, friend or foe.
There was a time not so long ago
when If case of smallpox was known
TO De in town everybody said hush!
TIE doctor who discovered it was Sc
crecy personified. The storekeepers de-
MED it, and the local paper observed
discreet silence. 1t wasn't news. The
res uit was runner .2Saiaed one case
into fifty, adjoining towns used the
multiplication table, farmers were
afraid to come to town. and IN one
case to the writer's certain knowledge
even travelling men skipped the town.
Blu. things have changed. In one Iowa
town, where they now have re"
"lig hit cases the local weeklies report
all cases new and old. what the doctor
saws concerning each family, the street
they live on, and "how they are getting
along" Result today: NO one stays
away from that town. The streets were
crowded on a recent Saturday. It's
true they have three cases Of small
box in Nextown." There's also three
cases Of mumps.
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