The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-09-03
FOLKS BACK HOME
think HIGHLY Of
JNO. 7. HAMILTON
Cedar Pa ids Nan Who Is Running
for Governor on Business Platform
Is a Favorite in His Home City
HOLDS POSITIONS OF kIGH TRUST
His Record OF Over Forty Years In
Cedar Rapids Shows That The
People There Esteem Him As
One Of Their Best Citizens.


One Of Their Best Citizens.
Leave it to the folks back home"
and John T. Hamilton will be the
next governor of Iowa. Cedar Rapids
has been the home of Mr.. Hamilton,
the business administration candidate
for governor, ever since 1868. Th7
history of his long years of residence
there shows that he stands high among
his own people.
Cedar Rapids, Linn county, and the
fifth district are normally Of the poll
teal faith opposite to that of Mr..
Hamilton but Cedar Rapids has elect
ed him as it's mayor, Linn county has
elected him to the state legislature,
and the fifth district has sent him
to the national congress. Moreover
he has been appointed to the state
board of control by a republican gov
ernor Before going to the state legis-
lature, he served as member of the
Linn county board Of supervisors.
Has Their Confidence.
Cedar Rapids people have confidence
in John T. Hamilton. They elected
him as their mayor when he had been
resident of the city only ten years,
they have held him as president OF
one of their savings banks for thirty
one years, and as the head of their
Merchants National Bank for fifteen
oil
identified with every step of progress
in the life of the city during all his
years of residence.
Praised by Press.
The home town papers, though of
opposite political faith, are unstinted
in their praise Of John 7. Hamilton
and their attitude is mirror showing
how the entire city feels toward him.
Following are editorials regarding Mr..
Hamilton from the Cedar Rapids Ev-
ening Gazette Independent Repub-
lican), and the Cedar Rapids Repub-
lican (Republican):
- Business Rather Than Politics.
It is doubtful if republican newspa-
pers before have been so liberal in
their praise of a democratic candi-
date as in the case of John +. Hamll-
ton, who heads the democratic ticket
as the nominee to succeed Governor
Clarke. Everywhere Mr.. Hamilton's
business ability and administrative
experience have received unbiased
comment. Another significant fea-
ture of the gubernatorial situation just
now is the absence Of political attacks
On the Cedar Rapids man. Even those
newspapers which oppose him in fav-
or of Clarke do not resort to dlspar-
agement. There is little to be said
against Mr.. Hamilton and much for
him. For that reason political male
factors would have hard shedding
were they to attempt campaign OF
malignity.
Although he is holding up any de-
tailed statement of his campaign
plans, Mr.. Hamilton has announced
himself as opposed to partisan ad-
ministration for Iowa at this time. He
said that, if elected, he will actively
combat the upbuildmg of any political
machine and will at all times endeav-
or to give the state an administra-
ton based on business success, rath-
er than the political furtherance OF
any party. In other words, Mr.. Ham
i!ton would be a non-partisap govern
or.
Not q Politician.
This is not the first time state
ment such as this has been made.
Politicians have made it since time
immemorial-but that is just where
the difference lies this time. John T.
Hamilton, in the commonly accepted
sense of the word, is not a politician.
He knows politics, but he does not
apply them as does the man who IS
all politician, nothing else. When he
says he aspires to an administration
which favors no party, but works for
the best interests of all parties, as
embracing all Iowans, he means it.
He is not talking from the grand
stand. Many men would be afraid to
make such a declaration. They would
fear the possibility Of criticism from
the ranks Of the party to which they
always took pains to swear undying
allegiance. But not SO with Mr.
Hamilton. He is democrat-but al
so he is an Iowan, with 1owa's inter
ests at heart. To him office means
something more than the gift OF any
party. It means the opportunity to
administer successfully the affairs OF
a state, rather than the affairs of any
designated body of men.
Had he been the candidate at the
last election Mr.. Hamilton would have
become governor. If the democrats
give him the support which they gave
Mr.. Dunn two years ago they may
pay follow the leader" into the
statehouse. And with John T. Ham
ilton as governor the state would
have nothing to fear-Cedar Rapids
Evening Gazette.-Ind. Rep.
John T Hamilton for governor Will
get the vote Of every man who really