Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-07
Lookey-On III lo,va

Shell Rock, March IA story comes
to the writer Of . rather shrewd bit OF
business enterprise. It seems there
were two lumber yards in the small
town-Ons too many to be profitable.
80 the Zine company quietly bought
out the other yard, and put in charge
young man no one was acquainted
wtth-came from out of the state. This
young man somehow didn't attend to
business. went up home in the middle
OF the forenoon. went rabbit shooting
In the winter, went fishing In the
spring, never missed game Of ball in
the summer. and had sick spells in
the fall. or course the Office was locked
while he was away. And of course the
other lumber yard soon got 80 per cent
Of the trade. Strange to relate the
young man was not fired Continued
to draw his munificent salary Of S45
per month This was not an outrageous
combine, no restraint Of trade Whose
business was it If the young man asked
dollar more on 2-by-4 stuff than the
old line yard, wasn't the quality better.
He said so.
Another story which story two
men vouched for. That Iowa has one
county which owns and has paid for
voting machines that are not used. The
reason given Is the expense Of moving
them from the county seat to the coun-
ty voting places and hauling them back
the day after election. But the real
reason is SO great is the prejudice
against the machines and the cost
thereof, that the county officials know
to put them in use means such officials
can not be reelected. The funny part
OF the whole business Is that none OF
the present county officials had any
thing to do with the purchase Of the
voting machines.
The writer Of this column is sup
posed to look on but avoid commenting
on what he sees and hears. But he is
tempted to say something this time but
let the readers comment. The speak
er happened to be good citizen. a
man over SO. church member and
we'll posted man on public affairs. Said
he: Il notice you are frequently re-
ferring to what people tell you about
graft in county affairs. It's probably
true in most cases. Don't you know
It's considered legitimate. For instance
in our county. one official during six
years retained some $500 in fees.
When the knowledge OF such fact was
officially brought before our board OF
supervisors they decided to let him
keep IT, because adjoining counties
paid the same official $500 year more
than We do. But from now on they or
dered him to turn in to the county all
the fees of his office. Anything wrong
about that?
The Rainsbarger parole case has at
tracted much attention outside of Har-
lin county, and it is a subject Of many
discussions whether Governor Clarke.
for that matter any governor, is not al
lowing the parole board too much pow
er in having final edict on all mail
cases pro and con. To state 1t another
way, the people think the parole board
Is merely an investigating committee,
whose recommendations in nearly all
cases should decide all applications.
The people are well aware that the
pardoning power lies with the gov
ernor, hence they expect him to use his
constitutional power In some cases.
In Union, Eldora and Iowa Falls all
in Hardin county. a man has recently
"lectured's on the Rainsbarger case. In
some cases an admittance fee has been
charged. This lecture" so the writer
is told, is in effect to prove the Rains
bargers' innocent men, who for quar-
ter OF century have been in the pen
itentiary for crimes they did not COM
nit There's nothing new in this. Dur
ing all these years the writer has been
confidentially told the self same story
this by good citizens Of Hardin coun-
ty. But now public lecturer" in
public hall, calls names and makes
statements, which II not true. make
said lecturer criminally and financially
liable for lebel More than one man
has asked this scribe, why don't these
l,beled men start something?" And FOL
once this supposedly to be watkins
encyclopedias can not give a satisfac-
tory answer. He's like the question
| ers. he doesn't know why.
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