Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-10-11

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that he didn't then and wouldn't
now, deny the "alley rat, because oil
his unfortunate circumstances, the
right to vote for him, nor would his
voice go out specially to the more
fortunate, with an aim to get their
vote, but that candidates chief aim
is to get all the votes possible from
any class, good or bad, to get the
coveted Office.
He regretted that he should be
compelled to engage in personal re-
marks, but that Meredith chose that
unfortunate procedure and that he,
of necessity, had to answer the char
ges made.
He then took up the road ques-
tion. pointing to the fact that four
years ago Meredith supported Hol-
den for governor; who was openly
radical on the road issue; that at
that time when the Republican par
| ty was in power, he was feeding the
elephant but that now, he is out
with the Democratic donkey, where
| the pastures are green.
Mr.. Harding alluded to the fact
that the most important part of the
road matter is to have good roads
from the farm to the market; that
he is for good roads, permanent
roads, culverts and bridges, but to
pay as you go. He said that Mere
dith's idea of raising funds in antici
patton of taxes to be collected meant
bonding for road building. He then
read an editorial from Meredith's
paper where he had committed him
self to bonding for the building OF
roads, and also from Meredith's
work in connection with the social
ed Jefferson highway. Mr.. Hard
ling's idea was that each community
will be best served by taking care of
their own roads, and that the laws
should be simplified SO that anybody
could read them and grasp their
meaning, and then let these laws
alone for Is years and more would
be accomplished.
Harding said that his opponent
Mr.. Meredith. saw no one but him
self i'm this campaign, but that he
(Harding) stood for the Republican
party. and in support Of Republican
candidates. from top to bottom.
Meredith got rather excited in his
closing and rather made a muddle OF
it. He admitted that he drank cham
paigne at banquets once in six
months, but that he was on the
wholes a total abstainer, and had
been SO all his life, but that Hard
ing drank beer, and then he pulled
iout a number OF affidavits in support
of his ridiculous argument.
On the whole, people here were
.d3sgusted and dissatisfied with
Meredith and his attitude as cam
paigner. He resorted too much to
personalities, which is a small and
simple thing for candidate to do,
but most certainly unbecOming of Il
man seeking the high Office of COVER
Inor.
Scores OF men who have been on
the fence or favored Meredith, were
Iconrineed that he hasn't the intelli-
lgence and the right attitudes and
grasp of the problems OF state, tn
demand support of the electorate
nor hold the Office of governor.
He is a fair speaker and has 4
charming personality, but that Is
about all that can be said of him.
Mr.. w. l.. Harding, on the con-
trary. is big man, both charming
and clever, whose voice rings with
oratory, whose argument carries
with il. both persuasiveness and con
viction. He was cheered frequently
in the course OF his speech while
Meredith failed to please his audi
ence and this was especially true as
to his closing address, which was an
absolute and generally conceded
failure, Ii seems to he true what
some of the leading Democrats said
of him when he sought the nomina
tion of United States Senator against
connolly, two years ago; '.he is too
light for the job--he hasn't the
brains and the experience of his op-
ponent." Many Democrats were oi
this opinion after hearing these men
in pitched forensic battle, for hun
dreds of them shook hands with
Harding after the debate and wished
him good luck at the polls.
The people here. like elsewhere
where right hand information is re-
ceived, are firmly convinced that
Meredith is seeking the election on
false issues, and like the Des
Moines Register & Leader. is not
merely publishing Harding's record