Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-09
GATHERED BY THE WAYSIDE

I Des Moines. Oct. 9.-The writer saw
the other day letter from one minis
( ter of the gospel to another. in Iowa,
which letter illustrates the degeneracy
of the political situation at the pres
ent time. The letter inquired as to
the church affiliation of candidate
for governor as. to whether or not he
had been a member of a certain very
strong denomination in his home town,
whether while living there he was ac-
tive in church work whether his wife
took much part in church life. and
whether or not it WAS true that the
candidate had changed his denomiaa-
ton and become affiliated with anoth-
er church. The letter was evidently
written to he in strictest confidence.
Blanks were left on the letter for the
answers SO that the respondent would
be sure TO send the letter back and
thus destroy evidence of what was 60
ing on. Whether the letter was ever
answered is not TO he considered. The
significant part of it vas that the let
ter was written by the pastor Of a
church in city that is the home of a
rival candidate Of the one under the
inquisition The purpose of the writer
is evident
Several times III recent Years efforts
have been made to arouse denomina-
tional prejudices in political cam
paigns. even aside from the ruction
raised by the Knights OF Luther. some
years ago. for instance, the pastor Of
a church in Des Moines who number
e6 as one of his congregation a can
didate for governor sent out a letter
not only extolling his favorite but
making the most dishonest assertions
about a rival candidate for governor
The same thing has been tried repeat
edly.
On behalf of the present governor a
letter was sent out 10 a number Of
leading church workers in the state
recitins the fact that he had been ac-
tive all his life in religious work. and
il was signed by layrnen only. but it
did not suggest any discredit 10 any
other candidate, and was only sent out
to refute falsehoods that We're circu-
lated.
But in the campaign already opened
il seems absurd to raise questions Of
differences, and friends
Of most Of the candidates are frown-
ing upon the attempt.
One of the applicants for admission
10 the bar who teak the examination
before the state examining board this
week in the senate chamber was Adam
Pickett. OF Creston Mr.. Pickett has
had a picturesque career. \ few years
ago he was coal miner az Van Meter,
and ne studied hard, He was badly
crippled and rad 70 turn 10 something
else for living He became school
teacher and good one. He has been
superintendent OF the schools al Cres-
tor the past eight years and has been
signally successful He was candi-
date for state superintendent te"
years ago and received good vote,
Now he is turning TO the law.
The death Of Charles W. Miller re-
calls the very large part he played in
the campaign OF 1905. He was chair
man Of the democratic state commit
tee. II was Miller who had the diplo-
macy and the boldness TO make the
deal which came near 70 making Iowa
a democratic state that year, for he
swept into his grasp-so il was claim
81 then ana never disputed-over 4o,-
900 votes that had been republican.
1t was the legitimate DEVELOPMENT
from the Two big conferences held in
Chicago the previous winter TO plan
for an onslaught On congress for
amendment OF the interstate COM
nerce act. One convention. in which