Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-21

| tics IL Is we'll to watch him. OF course
If the ministers of one denomination
are to take an active interest in poll
ties there should be no criticism when
| the ministers Of other churches do
| likewise.
BEFORE HARDING AND MERE
| D1TH WERE BORN.
! . TDes Mones oCapital.1
The prohibition question is historic
in this state. 1t has made and un-
made number of pol't clans.
General James B. Weaver. who be-
came the great populis. leader, was
for few years after the civil war
the leading republican in Davis coun-
ty. He was ambitious and "A fine
orator. In the year 1873 he was nomi
mated for state senator by the repub-
licans and on account uf his advocacy
Of prohibition was defeated at, the
polls. His defeat attracted much at
tention turnout the state. In 1875 he
aspired to the republican nomination
for governor On ACCOUNT of his. pro-
thibition reputation, he, found himself
with a hard fight on his hands. The
| liquor interests were. vide awake and
were powerful in the republican party.
MS lHtcISSl was uctcEIHlHSO LII NC
feat Weaver. Hon. Jonn H. Gear, Of
Des Moines county. was also candi-
date for the republican domination for
governor, and the opponents of Wea-
yer and prohibition were disposed to
| consolidate in support ~ Gear, altho
Hon. John Russell of Jones county,
and others were candidates. On ac-
count Of Gen. Viewers candidacy,
l 81 T. ,a1.
In that year the state of Iowa was
| dotted with saloons. They were in
every village. and in some cases at
the cross roads. 1t can be easily
| ina gined that General Weaver had
| much opposition. And Il can be just
as easily imagined that John H. Gear
had thousands Of supporters 1t was
| In the year 1875 when the wet and dry
issue came up for the arst time after
the civil war in republican politics.
Party managers were afraid that Wea-
yer would be defeated, II nominated,
and they were afraid of the liquor
problem in general sense. The
! same leaders were afraid that Gear
could not be elected. Then an UNDER
current was started for the naming
Of Samuel J. Kirkwood. as COM
promise candidate, thus rejecting
| both the drys and the vets. Kirk
woods name was sprung in dra-
matte manner and on the first formal
ballot he was nominated for governor
| Hon. j. A. T. Hull, one Of Gen. Wea
ver's delegates from Davis county,
moved to make Governor Kirkwoods
| nomination unanimous On that day
| in 1875 in Billy Moore's old opera
house began the present contest be-
tween Harding and Meredith, neither
OF whom were born at that time.
The succeeding twenty five years
beginning with 1875 were busy years
for the Iowa leaders Of repub
lcanism. The saloonkeepers had gen.
orally been republicans and the grand
old party was losing the saloon vote
And every member Of the legislature
who voted for a temperance or pro-
hibition measure was left at home by
the saloon interests.
In 1877 after a hot fight. John H.
Gear was nominated for governor and
was elected; but on account Of the
various other parties he received a
minority Of the votes Of the state,
John H. Gear never lodged the liquor
question. Nor did he ever act the
1 hypocrite He was not prohibition
list and never pretended to be. But
it has been generally charged that
John H. Gear brought the liquor ques-
ton forward into republican politics.
However, in light Of all succeeding
events, 1t is evident that no one could
have kept the liquor question out Of
politics.
The complications resulting from
Gears candidacy brought forward the
prohibitory amendment as a means
Of getting the liquor question out Of
politics" The republican party de-
clared for the prohibitorV amendment,
as 1t now would appear to save its
political life, tho the amendment
stands as being one Of the heroic
deeds Of the grand old party.
It Is interesting to realize the pro-
gress which has been made in the
world at large on the temperance and
prohibition question since General
James B. Weaver was defeated for
state senator and afterward defeated
for governor Of Iowa, The temper
ance cause became an issue more
seriously than ever before in the state
and General Weaver left the repub-
lican party to become great leader
Of the populist party and to serve
three terms in congress
| ii
An Incentive.