The Washington herald., 1920-04-29
ny RAYMOND G. CARROLL.

Des Moines. Iowa, April 2s.-
Jostling with difficulty along the
sidewalks of Locust street under a
brilliant constellation of electric
signs and street lights 1t was hard
to q, realize that precisely seventy
Ave years ago-the span of a human
life-this pushing city of more than
100, 900 souls was the site of a one
storied log frontier fort built to
guarantee for the Sac and Fox In
dams the peaceful occupation OF
their hunting grounds until the
American government had COM
pleted arrang ements, for the pur-
chase of their land. A midnight
signal and by moonlight the inrush
oflwhite settlers began. That was
only three-quarters of a century
ago. >.
Tonight a large crowd was 10
front Of the tall new office building
that houses the Des Moines Reg
lister. They were waiting for the
municipal election returns. Enter
ing. one had much difhculty In
reaching the editorial rooms upon
the third floor. Here was going on
an unfamiliar clicking which proved
to be from a battery Of ten OF the
latest model adding machines OPP
Grated by girls who were taking
down numbers from slips handed to
them by rushing boys.
A voice rose above the noise:
Get Barton on the telephone. Tell
him he Is elected and that we would
like to have him come down to
have his picture taken"
Newspaper beats Onicials.
The newspaper had put men out
around the forty-eight precincts OF
the city 20 telephone in the count:
with the achievement that II had
the total result before the election
officials.
There is nothing slow on the
prairie. I called upon former Sem
ator Lafe Young, the veteran editor
and owner of the Des Moines Capt.
tai, the rival newspaper. and after
posting me up on politics. he took
me through his plant, which occu-
pies entirely the old MasQIc Tenn
Die, reconstructed for the use Of
his journal. He remarked: Il
have seventeen demobilised soldiers
working for me. Always give
fghtIng men first chance"
! was held up at Walnut and
Fifth streets this morning by a
score Of swift-going motor trucks
containing thoroughbred Jersey
cattle. Upon the last squad was a
banner that read: This $15O.OOO
herd of cattle moved for $500. Time
saved, twelve hours"
Exactly the same vaudeville
shows that are given at the de luxe
Palace, Tlleater in New York City
play here, and tho last word in films
are released in local picture houses
Upon the identical dates they are
shown in the East. AS for Broar
way personalities, today met Ray
mold Hitchcock, the actor. out for
an afternoon promenade, and he
looked fully as natty. as when I last
saw him six months ago in the
Hotel Savoy. London.
Living Cheaper Than In East.
The point am trying TO mako is
that folks out here actually live
better than the people did in Lon
don or Paris in the palmy pre-war
days; that they also have creature
comforts equal to those now pro-
viGed for residents Of Boston. Phila-
delphia or New York and at 95 per
cent discount. Furthermore, they
think just rs clearly upon all sub
jects, national and International, as
their brothers and sisters upon the
Atlantic seaboard. I don't know
but that they think straighter now
and then.
Take the subject OF prohibition,
which Is supposed to enter so large
ly as an issue into the coming ma
tional campaign. have talked
Tith dozens of men In all walks of
life. and I am yet to find one to
seriously advocate the return OF the
saloon. Some wistfuliy suggest the
home privilege to buy beer an
light wines. but never n word of
sympathy has been uttered for tho
vanished 100000 white aprons. Poor
They have gone and
are not even mourned.
Shopkeepefs In all cities and
towns emphasized that since jan
usry they had experienced larger
receipts. and better collections. Ev-
erybody entering their stores had
money, And the folk who used TO
patronize the bargain counters are
now found buying the most expen-
sfve goods.
For that reason It Is a foregone
concinsien that any candidate who
expect to fox-trot into a national
office on wet plank IL likely to
splash into a whirlpool OF surprise.
Here IN Iowa. which went dry some
time ago. the public is accustomed
to the absence OF the saloon. What