Evening times-Republican., 1914-01-17
GATHERED IN THE BY-WAYs


against Dee Aoinss y intense. and Il
We win we've got to do It because OF
that deep seated prejudice against Dss
Moines. Ed Meredith wouldn't nt In
| with that kind Of campaign"
Meredith was the financial backer OF
the Holden movement two years ago
and raised money to effect the defeat
Of Clarke then. In fact he was prac-
tically the whole thing in the Holden
committee. There are Thousands OF
Iowa people who know Of his intimate
relations with Holden in the Idaho ven-
! lures on which 1t Is claimed they made
a fortune, and 1t 10 figured this would
help.
A practically overlooked incident at
the Jefferson banquet in Davenport
last rose almost to the dignity OF being
a sensation. 1t was the speech Of Sen
ator Sherman DsWolf. of Grundy
county. Mr.. DeWof is not big but he
goes straight forward and nobody Is
ever left in Goub, as to where he stands
on any question. He has been in the state
senate three or four sessions and he
may take pride to himself that he has
been one of the very influential men of
that body. The Davenport Times re-
ported Of him that he discussed the
measures which had been brought up
in the legislature during the past de-
cade and told Of the part which the
democrats had taken in formulating
benehcient measures" and further:
He spoke Of the capitol extension
episode and declared that he believed
that Iowa needed more room for its
state house and that the land secured
was badly needed. He did not believe
any one could make much political
capita! out of this question"
The Clinton Advertiser also quoted
him as saying:
ITO my way Of thinking a legislature
irrespective Of its political composition
should support the chief executive of
the state for the reason tina, he has
been elected upon a definite platform
and the legislature should help him
carry out that platform. If the legisla
ture declines to support the governor.
the governor should take the issues di-
Iectly to the people"
But these reports very imperfectly
expressed what Senator DeWolf really
said. One who was present at the
banquet has given the writer a graphic
account Of the episode.
"A sharp little fellow 1 didn't know"
he said, was introduced after a lot Of
other speakers had talked, and he
spoke on the things the state is doing
and ought to do. He spoke right from
the heart and declared his belief tha;
IT the democrats or any other party
should undertake to ride into power on
an issue Of repudiation of the act Of
the legislature IN providing for larger
capitol grounds, they would not be
worthy to win. AS for himself he made
II very plain he was prepared to stanG
ey the acts of the legislature. in the
main. for he declared they were not
partisan acts and no partisan capital
could be made cut of them. He sa,d
he voted for the capitol grounds ex-
tension and he was glad of it. He
would do It again II he had to do II
over. He fairly put to shame those
who had IN previous speeches inti-
mated that the democrats were sure to
win this year Just because Of dissatis-
faction over something Governor
clarke and the legislature had done. It
was the most refreshing speech of the
whole evening and while he was talk
Ing those present fairly held their
oreaths I didn't know the man and
never heard him talk before, but his
speech sounded TO me like he is made
OF good metal and is prepared to fight
Tor what he believes to be right"