The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-10
United Press Man Finds Twenty-Eight
Year Old keokuk Boy, Ono
Of the Youthful Rep
resentatives.
GETS FEW OF HIS VIEWS
His Mother IL With Him and Helps
Him to Get About Through
the Chambers and
Streets.
by United Press1

lby Uu1LGQ TIcSSJ
DEs MONIES. Iowa, Jan. 1o-The
blind state representative, Frank
Oertel OF keokuk, sees what ts going
on In the house with the aid of his
mothers eyes.
The 2S-year-old attorney from the
Gate City is the next to the youngest
member of the legislature, Rale r.
Andre, q, representative from Burling-
ton having the latter distinction.
Mrs. Oertel escorts her son to and
from the house meetings. She sits
next to him at his desk. If big,
healthy young typical Iowan who
though blind had worked his way
through Drake law school five years
ago and established a good practice
in Keokuk needed guidance. Mrs. Ger
| tel Is the best fitted person to give IL
She has good working knowledge OK
Legislative matters already. Her con-
fidence in her son was displayed when
she left him alone in the hands OF the
interviewer and gracefully excused
herself to chat with other ladies IN
the house chamber
Representative Oerters theory OF a
F., legislator. is one who represents MS
constituents. His district Is No l, be.
ing the earliest settled section OF
Iowa. Also, District No. is admitted
lIy wet on the prohibition issue.
Although Representative Oertel was
lloath to state his attitude on the pro
lhibitory amendment certain to come
up for second passage. it Is quite plain
Ibis theory will carry him to vote wet" =
His Suffrage stand.
His stand on the suffrage question
probably will be determined by the
same rule, II a suffrage amendment is
introduced at this session. Represen-
ltatiye Oertel intimated that In view OF
the recent state vote on the suffrage
question Il II plain the people do not
favor votes for women. No wise legis-
Iator this early in the session is en-
blazoning his stand on such matters
!, but despite the able suffrage argument
in Mrs. Oertel it is likely an amend
ment for women's votes will not IND
ready favor from the blind keokuk
Representative
Representative Oertei is In favor OF
the repeal of the present direct prim-
airy law and the presidential prefer
ence primary. His viws on these meas
ures coincide with Governor Clarke's
biennial message. favoring a return
to the old system of convention noml-
nations DuL reSuIdtcu " piO'S>
packed cAucuses."
The non-partisan judiciary ballot
Representative Oertel would change.
He plans to introduce a bill to place
the names of the judicial nominees
on the ballot under each party des1g-
nation Just below the state tickets.
Some Local Measures.
OF purely local measures, Represen-
tative Oertel plans the Introduction OF
bills to permit county officers to keep
the fees from delinquent tax sales
where, there are two sets of county
officers as I'm Lee and Pottawattamie
counties. In another measure intend
ed for similar situations. Representa-
tive Oertel will propose that candi,
dates for county Offices be permitted
to name in advance Of election the
deputies they will appoint If elected.
He naturally will oppose any attempt
to do awy with the transaction OF Lee
county business for the southern dis
| tric% in KeOkuk