Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-10-04
HARDING PARTlSANS IN pEsPER.
ALTON THROWING MUD AT
MEREDITH.
ATTEMPTS TO DEFAME
His PRIVATE CHARACTER
Lawyer Going About Trying to Incite
Some One TO- Bring Suit Because of
Ancient Idaho Land Deal-Governor
of Western State Exonerates Mere
dth and Other Investors.

Des Moines, Oct. 4. - The present
campaign for governor is going to be
dirty one. The Harding partisans
smarting under their inability TO deny
resorted to attempts to defame the pri-
vate character of Meredith. They are
circulating a printed letter accusing
Meredith of having drunk liquor and
of having played poker and it is re-
ported that a lawyer is going about
trying to incite somebody to bring suit
against Meredith on an ancient Idaho
land DEAL
Steve Bashor, third party progress
sive candidate for governor, predicted
a week ago in his Des Moines speech
that these things were to be done He
said that Harding had affidavits from
saloonkeepers against Meredith's pri-
vate habits and that members Of the
legislature We're making affidavits that
Harding has drunk liquor, altho Har-
ding has been telling chautauquas that
he Is a teetotaler.
The Homestead which seems to be
the journalistic scavenger in this cam
paign, printed a page or two Of inuendo
about Meredith's connection with Pro-
lessor Holden in an irrigated land dea.
in Idaho, but was very careful to ex-
plain that
The Homestead does not charge
that this Wild visionary scheme was
evolved with any intent to defraud."
However, this land deal is constantly
referred to as the Idaho game and
the !nsinuation repeated that tilero
was something crooked about il, hence
the desire TO get somebody TO start a
suit about an old speculation.
1t seems that Meredith invested with
Holden in an irrigated land promotion
expecting that the government was
going to build irrigation works which
did not materialize and the spectators
lost money in this venture.
Clean Bill.
However, the land department OF
Idaho has given Meredith the following
clean bill of health as to this deal:
State of Idaho. Governors Office,
Boise, Sept 81, 1916.-Hon. E. T. Mere
dith, Des MoineS, 1owa.-Dear Sir: l
understand that the partisan press OF
your state is attacking your personal
character in regard to your connection
with the West End-TwDn Falls Irriga-
ton Company in the state Of Idaho.
Since my connection with the state
land board, as chairman, your COM
pany has done what has been required
of them, giving a new bond for the
faithful performance Of its contract
in place of an old one which we be-
lived to be obsolete and not valid in
law. You have also spent money in
rehabilitating the project SO that the
bona fide settlers can live upon the
tract.
Previous to my membership on the
board, the attorney general, who was
a member. informs me that you acted
in good faith and put your own money
into the project to protect contract
holders, and it therefore gives me
pleasure TO write these few lines TO
you in order that you may protec:
yourself and satisfy your constituents
that there is nothing in your connec'
ton with this project that reflects in
any way on your integrity, honesty
and good intentions. Yours very truly,
IN. Alexander,
Governor"
Enormous Campaign Fund.
An enormous campaign fund is on
tap for Harding as evidenced by d.
chain letter system being used. Ths
NJ. w. Fitz letter attacking Meredith's
character is said to have been sent OUT
in such quantities as to cost $4,000
The Homestead has printed for the
free use Of Harding newspapers sup
plement of four pages which will cos;
somebody sS,eeo to $4,000 if used yer.
generally by their friendly press.
The current month is to see more
filth and false accusation than has
appeared in any campaign in the last
fifty years. 1t is to be campaign OF
the kind that the booze crowd always
make when the public records are
against them.