Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-24
IBy Ora Wtlliams.l

Des Moines, Dec. "A gentleman
with whom the writer comes into close
contact has recently had exceptional
opportunity to know something Of the
hopes and aspirations Of Henry Ford,
the new American millionaire adviser
In chief to the world, and he presents
a phase Of the situation that Is inter-
esting. Mr.. Ford Is chatting under
knowledge that the American people
regard him as merely newly rich
person, an accidentally successful one
q man capable OF making money and
having no other or higher thought in
life. He wants to shake this all of. He
wants to be somebody other than
merely the rich Mr.. Ford. He desires
to do something or other that will In
dictate to the world that he has q heart
that beats in sympathy with the great
lDass of the people. He thinks Of what
Rockefeller and Carnegie have been
doing to make good use OF their money
and envies them. One Of his first
thoughts, however, Is for the farmers
OF America. He wants to do something
especially valuable to them. That Is
why he has had his men at work seek
ing to develop a perfect and acceptable
small farm tractor. Some Roadway in
that direction has been made. He has
done some figuring on how to improve
the farm machinery and adapt the oil
engine to the use of the farm. He
will probably devote some time to the
devising' and marketing Of some ma
chinery Of entirely new type. He can
readily understand that the man who
does this becomes a real benefactor;
and that in due time his work Will be
appreciated by the people. Mr.. Ford Is
becoming ambitious-not for political
honors, but ambitious to be a real in
fiuence for good in the world far be-
yond that which he has as yet
achieved. The writer's informant sug-
gests that he has not yet got over the
Idea that with unlimited money one
may do almost anything. He hasn't
come to realize as yet that money OF
and by itself Is OF small force in the
world. Mr.. Ford is just finding his
way out into the world ot scGg and
sentiment and II he lives as long as he
should he will leave imperishable fame.
They have indicted another county
engineer because he failed to realize
that one demand of the times is for
strict honesty in all public business.
He worked 1t 80 that he got a rake
off, on the bills for labor. He peck
eted the difference between what the
county paid and what the workingmen
received. The examiners recently found
another case where a county auditor
had failed entirely to make the In
crease or change in assessments or
dered by the state board Of review. The
county auditor simply went ahead and
made out his tax books according to
the adjustments OF the county board,
ignoring the state board. Now * will
be almost impossible, at this late date,
to entirely make over the tax books;
but in some way the county will have
to see to it that the proper taxes are
collected. Some years ago several
county auditors thought they could ig-
more the state orders and get away
with It, but were called down. Under
the new system every county must
do just as every other county. The
thunder this year was due to sheer ig-
narance rather than criminal intent
Yet when the legislature sought to
unity as to highway supervision for
the state the cry went up from county
officers that 1t was wrong to assume
that county OFFICIALS were ever .Hce.H-
petent. ) );
In the matter OF Illegal remission Of
taxes in certain ecountess Of the state
there are these who feel. that possibly
the state officials went too far In Writ
ually deciding that as to all past errors
they will be forgotten. but in the