Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-06
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lent custodian and Colonel Boutin was
a model state official. But things went
to pieces with Mr.. Kerr, who fol-
lowed. and as for Mr.. Duckworth he
has been all too strict and exacting. In
fact, that is what is the matter with
the situation. Duckworth had been used
to handling business of his own and
employing numbers of men. He had
always been accustomed to insisting
on every man doing his work well. He
couldn't get over the idea that state
business ought to be done pretty much
on the same basis as private business
economy, efficiency, good service.
But the state business is not done tnat
way. The legislature itself has pro-
vided that it shall not be done that
way. The soldier preference law means
that it must be done on different
basis. Other laws are of like import.
When Duckworth found that man
was not capable of doing the work ne
proceeded to find some one who was
capable He lacked the tact to get
at it in the way of politician but in
sisted on doing it just as if it was his
private business. Therein came the
trouble But there is larger issue IN
volved. 1t is well known that for a
number of year there has lowered
about the state house. just as around
every big institution, a coterie OF the
discarded employees and officials. who
want to run things. They wanted to
dictate Just what the custodian should
do. They wanted to tell the governor
how to run things. They failed in all
these. They have been making trouble
all along the line. If Duckworth's ap-
pointment is not confirmed it Will be
equivalent to serving notice on every
future custodian that he must do. not
his duty but the command and bidding
of the outside coterie. That is not all,
bit it is one of the things. involved IN
the fight. The chances are that Duck
worth will be confirmed.
1t is not greatly surprising TO most
of the Des Moines democrats that
George Huffman is TO be the next
postmaster here. His selection was en-
tirely logical The seven or eight 9TH
ers who imagine they were candidates
for the place were each and every one
good enough ana out or the bunch
might possibly have been picked one
Who would have made a better post
master than George. but no one stood
out conspicuousiy as Jus. the ideal
candidate. and besides, who was going
to have the foresight to make just the
right selection? Huffman had the place
cinched right from the day OF the close
of the Baltimore convention. 1t Will be
recalled that the Iowa delegation there
cut rather sorry figure. A majority
were for Champ Clark. That was all
right, from neighborly standpoint
But II was known for instance, or al
least generally reported that the Champ
Clark campaign in Iowa had been n
nanced largely by one at least VINO mas
long been classed as a reactionary and
he had a definite promise that II the
Missouri man was president the Iowa
high financier was to go into the cab
met. Accordingly and because of this
fact. perhaps, the majority Of the Iowa
delegation not only 1abored jealousy
for the nomination of Clark but finally
showed bitterness toward Wilson and
hung to the speaker until long past
the time for yielding gracefully. But
thru it all, there was Wilson contin-
gent-always very close to Bryan also
that played large part in making
Wilson the nominee, With Jerry Sulli-
van sitting at the right hand of Gov
ernor Wilson at the Jersey capital
there was also George Huffman, on
the Iowa delegation. in almost hourly
communication with Jerry. in fact
everything that was done and said IN
the Iowa delegation went right to
Bryan and to Wilson ultimately. Mr..
Bryan would have been an migrate not
to have insisted on the selection OF
Huffman for postmaster of Des Moines.
President Wilson himself understood it
all. The Huffman candidacy had
substantial foundation right from the
start that was not given to any cher.
Besides, Huffman was fully deserving
from party standpoint, and he is quite
capable Of filling the post. The defeated
candidates may writhe, but it will be
Of no avail.
Some of the democrats have been
disposed 10 criticise Judge Wade on
the score that as a distributor OF pat
ronage he has not succeeded very well
in keeping down the quarrels and
smoothing things out. The first batch
of federal appointments certainly
caused a lot of trouble and there were
some sore spots left. The distribution
of postoffices has caused good deal
of friction. The appointment of Mrs.
Smith, of this city, to be postmistress
at Leon, was hardly good piece of
politics, whatever else it might have
been. II was certain the local demo-
Gratis down near the Missouri line
would resent il. She will make a good
postmistress all right enough, for she
is very capable, but good many times
the question is going to be asked.
why? The selection of a republican
for postmaster at Ankeny must have
looked queer TO most Of the democrats.
The Sioux City muddle has in it a
powder mine, and instead OF being a
good compromise it turns out fine
tumble.
There are others who insist that the
national committeeman must not be
held responsible. He has had to work
with the material at hand, and in the
light Of many conflicting interests, per-
sonal and otherwise The situation is
not so greatly different from what it
was in other years. It will be recalled
that Edwin II. Hunter was the national
committeeman for Iowa during one Of
the Cleveland terms and j. J. Richard
son during the other. Both had a vast
amount of trouble disposing of the
patronage, tho in those days the demo-
Gratis hardly knew what to do with the
patronage and there were not SO many
candidates.
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