The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-02-25
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH
IOWA DEMOCRACY?

IOWA DEMOCRACY?
If the news reports can be relied
upon, the administration at Washing
ton has at last "gOt wise" to the sit
uation in Iowa regarding Federal APP
pointments. Give the Wade-Reed-
Hughes triumvirate, rope and it is
only a matter of time until, they
would hang themselves. During the
past tour years when the republican
party was endeavoring to hand the
state to the democrats on silver
platter, these men, by their own
short sightedness and selfish meth
DDS, threw the chance away. When
the tide turned against they, they
then decided to reward men who
were not entitled to the positions,
either from previous service or char
acter; and when discord and discon-
tent began to manifest itself, they
hurry to scuttle the ship and get I'M
der cover themselves. At the pres
ent time it looks as though some of
their booms might lie down and
freeze to death.
J. J. Hughes, who coveted the post
office at Council Bluffs, could not
very we'll hand himself the necessary
recommendations, and the democrats
of his own town and district gener-
ally created such opposition to his
appointment that he was forced to
withdrawn from the race or face de-
feat. He announces, after a month
or more of a canvass for the position,
that his action in the matter was
prompted by the welfare of the par
ty. Following this great sacrifice for
the sake of the party, comes the an
nouncement that he has recommend
ed his brother George for the posi-
ton. No doubt Jacks brotherly
love overcame his modesty. AS Jacks
long cherished boom seemed to curl
up and die in single night, he fac
ed about and with such consuming
eloquence and nobleness of soul pro-
claimed, Il sacrifice myself for the
general good,' and while his COM
rades in arms applauded such devo-
ton, Jacks generosity backtired, and
he named his brother George for the
place.
According to news reports, Judge
Wade. who rushed the trenches for
the Federal judgeship before the
southern Iowa attorneys and candi-
dates had got back from the inter-
ment of the late Smith Mcpherson,
has been checked in his heroic
charge by Representative Kirkpat-
rick from the Sixth Iowa district. 1t
seems that the~Old war horse from
the Sixth has few capable appli-
cants who could and would like to
fill the place. and are residents of the
district. The veteran is holding
Judge Wade at bay while he brings
up his forces. In the meantime the
democrats have discovered Nick Reed
emerging from the wood pile and
preparing to lay his hand upon the
national committeeship. This has
been too much for the democracy OF
the state, and they have been keep
ing the wires warm with kilograms to
the president to stop the game and
count the cards. At present it looks
as though the triumvirate had done
their worst and henceforth their
recommendation will be scrutinized.
The bitter contest over the ap-
pointment of Mrs. Caroline Young
Smith as postmistress of Leon Is not
yet ended When she was named as
postmistress there was very vigOr-
Gus protest sent to Washington, and
it seems that the protest at last has
had some effect, for news from
Washington is to the effect that her
confirmation has been held up pend
ing a hearing on the part of the
democrats who protested against her
appointment on the grounds that she
was not a resident of Leon and was
a republican. These protests amply
supported by affidavits had been pre-
sented to State Chairman Reynolds
and National Committeeman Wade,
but they fell on deaf ears, for the APP
pointment was promised to her by
the state organization many months
ago, and it was necessary to get a
hearing before the powers higher up.
This was a hard matter to do, but a
number of democratic senators were
enlisted in the fight and Congress
man kirkpatrick of the Sixth Iowa
district took the matter up, the re-
suit being that on last Sunday it was
announced from Washington that
her confirmation had been held up in
the senate.
Let no democrat, suffering under
the humiliation and shame dished
out to him in the Leon postoffice deal
by the rotten combination at state
headquarters allow himself for one
moment to connect such dishonesty
with the name of his great president.
In an interview given out by Sam
uel G. Blythe in the Saturday Even
ing Post of Jan. 9, occurs the follow
ing expression of the presidents
views on the patronage question:
A.What,' asked, lis the most dis
agreeable feature of the presidency ?"
Patronage he replied without a
moments hesitation, Patronage and
the genuine establishment and resent
ment of personal friends that l can