Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-01-01
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
TWENTY-FIVE PROMINENT MEN
INTERESTED IN MOVEMENT
FORM ORGANIZATION.
WILL BE NoNPARTISAN MOVEMENT
Many Other States are Preparing to
Join In Advancing the Proposition
and by Publicity to Cause the Ma
tional Government to Ae'.

Des Moines.-Twenty men interest
ed in government ownership of rail-
roads and other public utilities met in
conference at the Savery'hotel recent
ly and formed plans which, If carried
out successfully, will make Iowa the
nucleus OF nationwide movement for
determining the ACCESSIBILITY of pub
lie ownership of utilities.
A temporary organization was ef-
fected. COL Smith Brookhart of
Washington. Ia, was appointed chair
man Of a general executive commit
tee. The other members of this COM
mittee are A. Van Wagenen, Sioux
City; ]. r. Hanna, Des Moines; o. p.
Myers, Newton, and ]. J. Reiddy,
Shenandoah.
The movement is nonpartisan.
Members Of every political faith al
ready are enrolled in it. The recent
meeting was the first definite result
Of a movement which has been on foot
actively for year. Iowa is the first
state to give 1t definite body Other
states, however, are soon to join the
movement.
When a sufficient number of states
have Joined to give it general char.
acter it is hoped to have a national
body formed
Probably this national body would
be made up of delegates from the diff
ferent state organizations.
The first piece of important BUSH
ness that the Iowa organization is TO
undertake is the framing of letters to
the Iowa representatives and sena-
tors in congress asking them to intro
duce and support bill authorizing
President Wilson to appoint a nation
al commission to investigate the pos
sibility Of public ownership of rail-
roads and other utilities. The mem.
bers of the conference authorized the
executive committee to formulate
this request at once. The matter, II
is expected, will be Wrought to the
attention of the congress soon after
1t convenes following the holiday re-
cess.
According to Colonel Brookhart
there is nothing dogmatic in the or
ganization.
"We are not going to declare our
selves for public ownership of utili-
ties until we have threshed this thing
out thoroughly" he said. "We are
going to investigate the advisability
to the bottom, though, and take the
position that the facts warrant
"Three-fourths of the countries OF
the world have public ownership OF
railroads. This gives wide field for
investigation. We are not going to
allow ourselves to be led into any
blind alley. There are dozen lines
OF research which we intend to fol-
low"
Iowa Pure Food Law.
The state will Immediately appeal
to the supreme court from Judge Nc
Henry's ruling against the constitu-
tionality of the Iowa pure food law
regulating the composition OF ice
cream.
Mr.. Barney issued a statement in
which he pointed out that the effect
of Judge McHenry's ruling would be
practically to annul the effect of laws
controlling the manufacture and sale
of one-third Of the food and drug
products used in Iowa. The law re-
quiring so per cent of fat in butter
can be defeated under the same rea-
soning, he declared, and butter
frauds OF the worst sort made pos
sible.
BY use of water in butter manufac-
ture, butter fat worth $5,292,000 could
be replaced, unless the state can
maintain standards and forbid such
methods of manufacture, the commits
sioner declared.
Capitol Grounds Extension.
George M. Bechtel Of Davenport,
dealer In bonds and securities, ar.
ranged for meeting of the state
executive council, to discuss the cap
itol extension issue OF certificates.
Mr.. Bechtel says he would like to
secure the entire issue of certificates.
He makes a specially OF handling
bond issues and municipal and state
securities.
The certificates bear FIVE per cent
interest and Mr.. Bechtel, 1t is under
stood, will agree to take over the Is
sue at a slight reduction to the state
and handle the entire matter for the
difference In his cash price and the
interest the certificates actually earn.
The certificates are regarded among
bankers and brokers as gilt edge and
the interest for such good security
as the state of Iowa Is high. Govern
ment bonds, which are declared to
be no better than those OF the state
of Iowa, bear 8, Sh and in rare cases
4 per cent.
Violated Food Lays.
The state dairy and food depart
ment has received reports OF the ar
rest and aning at Charles City Of H.
II. Bergman on a charge of display
ing meats unprotected from dust and
contamination and Pfeiffer Brothers,
for showing confectionery without pro
lection. The Booth Fisheries COM
pany at Sioux City was fined for sell
ing oysters which contained too great
an amount OF water, and A. ID. Her
wig at New Hampton paid the penal
ty for displaying food products with
out proper covering.
Prairie Jim Wilson Has Bee.
Nomination papers for James II.
Wilson, better known as Prairie
jim" Wilson, for secretary of state
are being circulated. Several at the
state house signed the papers. Mr..
Wilson was formerly chief clerk in
the do,~iment room Of the office and
was andidate for deputy secretary
of state when w. s. Allen was elect
ed. Mr. Wilson said that he has not
been responsible for the circulation
of the papers and was not yet sure
that he would run.