Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-07-06
off without such a waspy element.

off without such waspy element.
1t Is apparently the effort of the
ministerial association of Iowa to die
tate the politics Of Iowa or the policy
Of the republican party and of its can
didates. That is one great trouble
with many churches today. Too mucn
time is devoted to politics and too
little to the teaching of the christian
religion and the saving of souls. That
is perhaps one of the principal rea-
sons why churches have lost so much
Of their prestige. They are endeavor-
ing to make people do right by legis-
lation instead of by teaching them the
right way by the methods established
by our Savior. People revolt against
being driven: against reformation by
persecution Or prosecution hut sener-
ally will follow the straight and mar
row way when shown the bad effects
of living an evil life or Of violating the
laws Of health. That is the only safe
and sane way and the only proper pre-
paredness for a lasting reform.
A CAMPAIGN OF EXAGGERATION.
.[Council Bluffs Nonpareil.l
There has been going on in Iowa Tor
several months now a campaign OF
exaggeration and misrepresentation
concerning the good road movement
and the state highway commission.
Taxpayers have been told half truths
which led them to the conclusion tina:
the state highway commission was ex-
pensive, incompetent and. arrogant.
Fabulous figures have been quoted
and held up to credulous audiences as
representative of the purpose Of agents
of paving material and others Of Grim
inal Instinct to pave 100000 miles OF
rural highways in Iowa at a cost OF
$4,000 per mile. The burden Of taxes
which such an expensive system OF
roads would entail, these propagandists
point out, would be greater than the
war debts of European countries, All
sorts Of petty suggestions have been
presented as arguments in support OF
the propaganda which the men behind
this crusade have used But their
fabric of Imagination and misrepre-
sentation is already beginning to
crumble. One by one their statements
are being taken up and analysed. Here
is an article printed in the current is
sue of the Carroll Herald which knocks
one OF the arguments used to discredit
the state highway commission into
cooked hat. The Herald says:
THE Herald is on the side of good
roads and has no sympathy with any
man or propa ganda opposed to the
progress of the cause in Iowa. It's sup
port of Harding for governor was I'M
qualified and as earnest as it could
make it. 1t would take the same course
again, II the campaign were to be re-
peated. It does not believe that the
cause of good roads is menaced one
particle by Hardings nomination, and
inevitable election.
But it does want to clear up mis-
statement made in the Des ,Mones
Homestead by Mr.. Pitt, of Harrison
county or the 10th of last May. For
that writer wrote an absolute and I'M
qualified falsehood when he stated that
the state highway commission had
bought two automobiles for it's use. in
disregard of law and without author
ity of the officers in CHARGE" There is
not particle of truth in Pitts state
ment from beginning to end. He was
in Ignorance of the facts or he deliber-
ately lied about the transaction.
Here are the facts. The state legis-
lature made an appropriation for the
survey of the meandered lakes in tbs
state. This appropriation was to cover
| the expense of the men in the field, but
was not TO apply to the salary of any
person engaged in the work. The work
was placed in charge of the state high
way commission, and has been done
largely by student help, costing Moth
ing in salaries. Where salaries were
paid the commission, as provided, paid
out of the fund Of the commission.
1T was necessary to convey men
back and forth from lakes to places
where they could secure board and
lodging, which proved to be from six
to ten miles. Livery was high and
unsatisfactory and automobile service
IS day. The commission conceived
the thought that it could by business
prudence reduce this cost to the state.
| So contract was made with one
OiBrien, the Ford dealer at Ames, by
| which a car could be hired for S. a
day. But when the daily rental
amounted to the price and upkeep of
the car the state should own the same.
When the charges for use of the car
amounted to s53O25 O'Brien made a
bill Of sale to the state. That is after
the state had leased the car at the
regular charge for certain number OF
days 1t actually owned the car. OF
course it got the regular rebate Of $50
afterwards.
Now, what is the result? The state
has used that car 106 days since it be-
tcame owner not paying a cent In
rental. But that is not all. 1t will re-
quire at least another 100 days tc
complete the work. The car will serve
the commission that length of tins
and sell for probably $3.50. The cal
has been run at least 5000 miles ant
! ..,.. oan do,,-