The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-02-05
THAT EXTENSION PARK

THAT EXTENSION PARK.
1t is very evident that the republi-
can organs with some exceptions are
very much afraid of the capitol ex-
tension issue, and are endeavoring to
the utmost to make light of it and
keep it out of politics,
The Nonpareil is the latest paper
to fall into line with the extension
apologists and makes lengthy reply
to our editorial in which we gave
some reasons why the democrats
would make a mistake if they nomi-
mated a Des Moines man for COVER
nor, VINO defended the action of the
last legislature in appropriating this
large sum of money for capitol
park in Des Moines.
We are not surprised that these
republican organs which are looking
more to party victory and success
than to the interests of the people,
should advise the democrats who to
nominate for governor. They know
that Gov. Clarke will be the republi-
can nominee and they know that il
the democrats can be induced to
nominate man for governor who
will take the same position on the
capitol extension issue that Gov
Clarke takes, it will deprive the
democrats of the best argument in
state issues that can be made.
The Nonpareil says:
"The American need give itself no
concern on the score.
Long before the campaign begins
the issue which the Creston editor
thinks it will be paramount one will
be shot so full of holes that it will be
unrecognizable as an issue"
The American has never said that
this question will be the paramount
issue. The paramount issue with the
democrats will be to sustain Presi-
dent Wilson and the administration
and to elect congressman in Iowa
who are in accord with them on ma
tional issues, but the Nonpareil need
not lull itself to sleep thinking that
this local state issue will be "shot so
full of holes as to make it unrecog-
nizable.' 1t has new been about a
year since the legislature passed this
bill and the more holes that have
been shot into it the more clearly
the people see how outrageous it is.
If, as the Nonpareil says, the state
needs this land SO badly why did it
not let the taxpayers, who have to
pay for it, have chance to vote on
it? The bill was pushed through
without the people being permitted
to have any voice in the matter.
1t is a very poor excuse for these
papers to tell their readers that it
only costs 80 cents per capita. This
is the kim of argument that the old
tories used to make when England
put a tax on tea, and on deeds and
official documents. But the tea went
overheard just the same and England
found out after many years Of war
that the American people would not
be taxed without their consent.
Two millions of dollars is only a
starter on this park. Ten millions
will be needed to make it an orna-
mental park, such as the state will
have to have to make this large body
Of land a respectable park. and then
it will require a constant outlay for
all time to come to keep it respect
able in appearance and all this will
inure to the benefit Of one city at
the expense of the tax payers, not
one in twenty of whom will ever see
the park, and for which the state has
no more need than it would have for
big IKE to give Des Moines peo-
ple boat rides, which we suppose will
come later.
The question as to who voted for
or against the bill is matter of little
consequence We concede that it
was a non-partisan measure, but that
does not relieve the party in power
of its responsibility, nor the candi-
date who supports and sustains it, of
being put on the gridiron when the
campaign opens this fall and made to
explain where he stands.
The Nonpareil says the editor of
the Creston American should align
himself with Editor Rowley of keo-
sauqua." We do on this issue. Mr..
Rowley is the editor of one of the
ablest republican papers in the state
and has a large following, who are
demanding him for governor, but the
editor Of this paper, while agreeing
with MI Rowley on this issue, be-
lieves in sustaining the democratic
principles of the present admins
Iration also. and we believe the demo-
cya.s of Iowa should make this one
Of the state issues. Democracy
means the rule of the people, and if
the people had been given chance
to vote on this extension park they
would have defeated it by an enor-
nous majority American.