Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-17
OUR WAR GOVERNOR.

his desire to reduce living costs for
Iowa people, and If he really believes
there are combinations among iowa
middlemen which are responsible 1or
high prices, he seems to have adopted
the most unwise method conceivable
for unmasking the offenders and bring
ing about reform.
One of the first rules to be followed
nv persons who make it their business
TO detect crime is the rule OF secrecy
No detective agency maintains brass
hand as a part Of its equipment, nor Is
It customary to publish warning 10
malefactors when efforts are about to
he instituted to obtain proofs OF their
guilt.
But Mr.. Harding. after assuring him.
self that the peopl. of Iowa have been
robbed by combinations of middlemen
wrote a letter to Attorney General
Hayner. whose office is just across the
rotunda of the capitol from his own.
This letter demanded that the attorney
general set his state agents on the
trail of the food prohteers and compei
them, through arrest and prosecution
"a cease preying on Iowa's innocent
public.
Az the letter left the governors or
fice. copies were given to newspaper
reporters. so everyone might kno" ths
lengths to which the governor neo
cone to obtain justice. Then came MT.
Havner's reply. indicating that ne al
ready had made some quiet investlsa,
OF results-and
suggesting that if the governor mad IN
formation which could be OF advantage
to the state. he permit the attorney
general to use It.
And this is the history OF an Incl
dent in the daily round at 1owa's cap
itoi. an incident which obviously Is one
of two things-either glazing case OF
ignorant and mis-directed energy, or
an equally glaring attempt to play at
notifies by calling the public's atten-
ton TO inactivity in the attorney gen
erals office.
The Courier holds no brief for Attor-
NOV General Havner His EFFORT to re-
WITTY the blue laws was as ill-timed as
II was futile. He may or may not have
done all he could do to prevent com
mercial piracy in Iowa. Ana me
Courier has no interest in the Quarrel
between him and Governor Harding
which. according to common rumor'
has created a GOODNESS between the IN
cumbents Of two OF the states most
important offices.
Rut The Courier and every citizen OF
Iowa have right to expect standard
of of1cial conduct far above that which
is reflected by recent events In the
governors office and recent exchanges
between Governor Harding and Attor'
new General Havner.
The Courier does not know nor care
who is to blame for the origin OF the
stri. between these two state depart
ments. the responsibility for keeping
that strife alive rests with the chief ex-
ecutive. His IL the duty. particularly
at this time. to bring the various activ-
tiles of the state into efficient coopera-
tion. His failure to do so is deplor'
able.
These facts are recited thus plainly.
mot for the purpose Of criticising Gov
ernor HARDING. but with the hope that
he and his advisers may so shape the
policies Of the executive ONCE as to
command the respect and esteem OF
the people OF Iowa instead OF compel
ling feeling that the confidence re-
posed in Mr.. Harding by an over
wheImins majority of the voters was
confidence misplaced.
This is a time. II ever there was or
NAV be a time. for big men in big Of
fetal places. Governor Harding has a
wonderful opportunity to be OF great
service to his state and to America.
The Courier is loath TO surrender the
hone that he may vet prove equal to
this opportunity: wash his hands of
petty politics: focus his vision on the
big problems of a people at war and
ma Iowa a power in the nation and
for the nations defense.