Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-09-09
ITEMS OF INTEREST
AT NATIONS CAPITAL
SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVFN
TO NEWS OF IOWA PEOPLE
Special Representative Will Keep
Public Opinion Readers Posted.
Interesting Developments of Ma.
tons Affairs Tersely Described
by Former IOwan for Iowa
Readers.
Public Opinion Bureau
Washington, D. C
Big and Busy Politics.

| SaS "hu DuSy OlItlNS.
While the Capital itself has been
trying to get the number OF the
Attorney General, of the United
States, the President has been so
we'll satisfied that he has elevated
him to position in the Supreme
Court, which is supposedly the
greatest honor that can befall law
yer. McReynolds was practically un-
known to American politics until
President Wilson dug him up. Anoth-
er new man has been elevated to the
position, and this gentleman, Thorn
as Watt Gregory of Texas, Is as OBJ
scure so far as any knowledge of him
by the American people is concern
ed, as a country postmaster. &c is
understood that Mr.. Gregory was ap-
pointed largely because of the 1nfiu-
ence exercised in his benalf by
Colonel E. NJ. House, who is anoth-
er man of mystery. Colonel House
is a Texan, although he lives most of
the time in New York and Washing
ton, in the same manner as good
many Senators who are supposed to
be residents of particular states and
only get back home at election time.
Thus Texas, which already mas the
place of Postmaster General In the
Cabinet, is given a second portfolio
in President Wilson's official family
Practically Texas, in point of being
conspicuous, ranks next to New Jer-
sey. 1t may even become notorious
in short time, since it is probable
that the Senatorial contest will be
enlivened by the demand of the par
tisans of former Senator Bailey that
he be returned to the Senate.
Convict Labor.
The increasing tendency on the
part of state governments 10 use
convict labor in works OF public i'm
provement, such as road construction,
has caused the Office of public roads
Of the Department of Agriculture to
get in touch with the situation as it
has been worked in a number of
states. The purpose of the reueral
government is to study the question
with relation to the practical results
obtained in road improvements, and
these studies will begin in Colorado
this month, and thereafter will be
carried into Utah, Wyoming, Idaho,
Oregon and Washington. Later
the studies will extend to Michigan,
Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Ok
lahoma, Texas, Arizona and New
Mexico and a number of southern
states. This road work has been car
ried on by the states with an idea OF
demonstrating that the condition of
the convict would improve by reason
of Employment in the open. WONDER
fully satisfactory results have been
reported from Arizona as the result
of the policy of Governor Hunt. while
Illinois has also made satisfactory
tests of the more humanitarian me-
thod of treatment for convicts, while
affording them privileges of out of
door activities. The national govern
ment has gone on the scent WIN the
idea of encouraging the movement
providing it can be fully demonstrat-
ed that the good roads movement
can be advanced in this manner.
The Boy Scouts.
Among the advocates Of universal
peace is that splendid organization
known as the Boy Scouts. Mr.. James
f. West, Chief Scout Executive,
proudly points to the fact that the
scout movement has been organized
i'm each of the countries now at war
with an enrolment Of $4,000 boys,
and that these boys, true to their
scout oath and law, Will De found
| in the midst of the strife, giving first
aid. taking the place of the men call
ed to war in gathering in the har-
vests and in protecting women and
children.
He warns against unreliable dis
patches which may confound the
scout activities with hostile move
ments and advises scouts In this
country RI do all thew can in giving
publicity to the authorized dispatches
showing the scouts engaged In hu-
manitarian works made necessary by
the ravages Of war.
What Cities Owe.
The per capita Indebtedness OF
New York City is $156.57. Cincin-
natl: Omaha; Portland, Maine; and
Galveston, Texas come next upon the
list in respective order. The indeDt-
edness of the latter city is S113.24