Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-17
LATE CANDIDATE FOR COVER.
NOR ADMITS ISSUE HE RAISED
WAS BASED ON RoTTENNEss.
DEMOCRATIC COUNTY AUDITOR
RESPONSIBLE FOR TROUBLE
Van Buren, County officials Illegal Ac-
ton in Boosting Property Values and
Refusing to Obey Orders of State
Executive Council Revealed by
RowIey's Confession.

Des Moines, oct. 1.-THE mos,
astonishing revelation of VIVA; APP
pears TO De evidence of political
conspiracy Of far-reaching Importance
has just come to the state officials
from the headquarters Of the whole
light that has been waged on alleged
extravaganza" and high taxes-Van
Buren, county
Il Is IN me form q belated con
fession from those either in o..
victims of the conspiracy that the
foundation Tor the whole campaign Of
utilization OF state officials and de-
traction of the state was due o what
IS now branded as an official crime"
by democratic official.
John W. Rowley this week. in his
newspaper, gives some of the details
the rottenness OF the situation as final
~ revealed 10 him having become 50
Ill smelling that he has reluctantly
given out some OF the facts.
The county auditor. Duekworth IS 4
democrat. II IS the duty OF the county
auditor 10 certify 10 the state officials
at the proper time The adjusted value
Of property in he county as the basis
for the state adjustment County
Auditor Duckworth last year certified,
not the adjusted valuation OF real
estate. but a footing OF the valuation
before adjustment. The state execu-
tive council, in pursuance Of the plain
and uuequivocal command OF the
statute, in adjusting the values in each
and every county Of the state, ordered
the county auditor 20 add :, certain
percentage 10 the adjusted valuation
so as 10 bring the same Up to the code
designation of actual value in The
course OF trade" The Aforesaid county
auditor raised. not the valuation ne re-
ported 10 the state officials. out the
valuation he had concealed from the
state officials, and because Of this act
the aggregate was made sz.ls1, 9oi
greater than Il should have been and
greater than was intended and deter
mined BY the state officials.
The taxes collected last year on This
erroneous valuation amount 70 s25. 900.
State Officials Ignored.
When the state officials discovered
this year what a trick had been played
on them IN Van Buren, county the
council. thru It's secretary. ordered a
reduction in the valuation 10 the true
sum found BY the state officials 10 be
{. fair estimate OF actual value
This reduction would average about
$3.50 an acre on The land in Van Buren,
county.
But what did the democratic county
auditor do He not only did not fol-
low the course Of action suggested 70
effect the reduction bur he HID the let
ter and denied the existence OF the
order from the state officials The
county attorney was Instructed 20 get
At the facts By q republican board Of
supervisors.
When Auditor Daekworth learned
what the board proposed 10 have the
county attorney do writes John W
Rowley. 'he protested against Il. but
when he found il would be done and
MS deception thereby exposed. then,
and not Until then, ne admitted that
re had received such letter and handed
4 70 TIE hoard"
Ro~ley Admits Error Of Ways
Mr.. Roxley then tells what has since
been do1s TO avoid paying the $4,000
additional tax this year by compliance
with the orders OF the state officials,
Though tn- amount paid on last years
erroneous valuation for which Duck
worth alone was responsible, can not
/ be recov ered
The nu5 Of the whole thing. however.
! les IN ne fact rhac Rowiey himself
/ capitalized the natural and inevitable
/ dissattsza c.ion 81 the people 81 his
] COUNTY over being compelled n pay
the additional and rot needed $4,000
in AXE ard hecanse - fnts thing
/ chiefly ne started the campaign 70
det.ac- from the governor and stace
officials. sling his paper with de-
nunciation and nis-epr esentation.
Al the luszn there is reluctant con-
fession that the outrage upon the peo-
pie Of Van Buren, county which was ms
cause Of starting fight against Clarke
! was wholly and solely due 70 . demo
cratic county officisi and not the fault
Of the governor or any state official
And there IS further declaration that
this democratic county official has il
he very heat % q campaign beiae
made by hig party on this same taxa
ton trouble. deliberately sought Il
hide the fact Of his own responsibility,
and thus 10 place the brand Of crime
rpor republican officials.
When the nna reckoning comes !
is going 70 be sound that what VA
done in Van Buren county was onlI
a part of chain 81 actions 81 Geei
political significance, all leading 70 ;
scheme 10 capture Iowa for the use o