Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-10-24
EAST COURT ROOM FILLED WITH
MEN ANXIOUS TO HEAR
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.
THINKS COUNTY TRIP SHOWS
THIS "WET" TERRITORY
However, Unlike Harding, When in
Wet NTerritory, Tells Voters Where
He Stands on Liquor ouestion--Also
Discusses Roads-Abbott Introduces
Speaker.


at the east court room this afternoon
when a large audience, composed Of
republicans, greeted Edwin T. Mere
9th, of Des Moines. democratic candi-
date for governor. There was a
"sprinkling' of the faithful dyed In
the-wool variety of the democratic
party in the audience land the fact
snat Postmaster Johnson introduced
the chairman, made the meeting savor
of democracy
L. C. Abbott, always a republican,
introduced the speaker He referred
to his own republicanisn, but said that
It was not necessary to be either
democrat or a republican to vote for
Meredith. The question with him, and
he thought should be with all, iss"Who
Is the best man for governor Of the
state Of Iowa?" Mr.. Abbott said he
thought Meredith, and hoped it would
be Meredith.
Thinks County Wet.
Because of the rain of the forenoon,
which delayed the trip over the county
by auto, Mr.. Meredith told his audience
that he thought this looked like "wet
territory" After brief Introductory
he told his hearers Just where he
stood on the liquor question in so
many words, and contrasted his re-
publican opponents stand or rather
lack Of stand, on the same question,
which he characterized the most i'm
portant Of the present campaign.
Do Most For Iowa,
Mr. Meredith said that it wasn't so
much whether man were democrat
or republican-the real question was
how we can do the most for Iowa. Gam
voting for my state or for my party?"
was the question each voter should ask
himself. If we are loyal Iowans we
must do what is best for Iowa in times
Of peace as in times Of invasion. His
point was that by the ballot on Nov I
voters had an opportunity to do some
thing for Iowa by proper voting.
Liquor Question First.
The speaker put the liquor question
first in Iowa politics, and good roads
second, because If men were sober they
would build good roads. Il am abso-
lutely opposed to the saloon in Iowa,
or the return of the saloon to Iowa.
first, last and all the time he said. He
also said that this was not an opinion
formed In recent days, weeks. or
months, but that for ten years or more
he had expressed the same sentiments
In his editorial utterances in hts paper.
He then referred to Hardings lack Of
committing himself. on the liquor ques-
ton and his long record In the slegisla-
ture In Opposition to all measures
which were Offered In an effort to rid
the state OF saloons. He referred to
+ Harding opposition to the five-mile
limit bill and every other temperance
measure. Statistics, showing how the
education of children in dry territory
exceeded that In wet, were shown, as a
forcible illustration Of the good Of the
bill az it Influenced the state univer-
sity town.
The speaker also quoted from Har-
ding's addresses made in different
parts Of the state in this campaign,
showing statements in exact variance.
according to the wet" or dry" nature
he was addressing.
''LoeaI Option in Roads.
From the liquor question Mr. Mere
dith went into good roads and was just
as explicit in his stand on this ques-
ton. He declared that he was for To-
cal option-that he's felt each cornmu-
nifty should settle it's own road prob
lens. He was not for any 500, 900, 900
bond issue, as charged by his oppo-
nent. He was for good roads, and said
no one he had ever been able to find
was for poor roads. He was not for
brick, or concrete. or gravel, or any
other surfacing unless the people
wanted them. They were the ones to
pay for them, and should say what
they wanted.
ton of all bridges and the cutting
down of bad grades, and showed clear
IL how a good business man would go
about to do permanent improvements.
Mr.. Meredith made q very plain,
straightforward address, and his state
ments were without frills. No one in
his audience could help but under
stand just where he stood, and his
frankness apparently won the conf
dence Of his audience.
Accompanying the speaker on his
campaign in the county were L. s..
Jones. OF Des Moines. Seventh district
committeeman, and Ex-senator s. w.
DeWolf. of Reinbeck. Local candidates
also accompanied the party. R. NJ. Peet,
Of Anamosa, democratic candidate for
congress in the Fifth district, was In
attendance at the meeting.
Prior to the meeting photograph rec
ords of President Wilson's speeches on
democratic principles and to the far