Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-18
A CASE FOR "plr,lEss puslIc,ry !.

| lAhS poHt1cie.nS
and Officials has partly broken in
the newspapers and is expected 70
develop in the hearing by Judge
McCaH tomorrow at Dies Moines OF
the Associated Packing Cornpan
affairs wherein the discharge OF the
receiver will be asked. The state
thru the attorney general 10 opp,,s-
lns the discharge OF the receiver.
According to the press reports
outlining in part the evidence which
Il Is stated will be produced at this
hearing includes a contract between
Charles Witt. erstwhile secretary TO
Governor Harding which gave him
one per cent OF the gross selling
price OF stock to be sold. Az this
gross amount totaled 35,00o,ooo It
would have brought him $4,000 Rad
he cashed In on the entire sum. Az
It was he IL said to have dra wn
down about $1,000 before the con-
tract was cancelled. He was to
give publicity and moral influence
only in return.
Letters are to be produced. Il 10
stated. from bankers boosting sale
OF the stock. Des Moines banks and
some others are stated to have
written those letters.
Il II also stated that letters are IN
hand In which deputy OF George
Messenger, superintendent OF bank
Ing at the time they were written
assured bankers over the state ~
know that this paper will meet the
approval OF the banking superin-
tendent." referring to notes taken in
salc OF the stock OF the packing
house promotion. Messenger, nc
cording to advance reports wrote
letters regarding the notes OF the
Des Moinss and Sioux City packing
house promotions to bankers, the
two promotions that have both been
involved In scandal and court pro-
ceedings.
To quote from the news story of
the Des Moines Register:
The records at the state house
show that stock subscriptions and
notes were taken to the tune of
&3.877. $50, while only $3s0,S00 OF this
amount In stock has been issued as
fully paid and outstanding. Tho
balance 10 accounted for in farmers
notes, now lying in banks. where
they were discounted by associated
salesmen and bankers"
Attorney General Havner is doing
real service and his public duty by
insisting that such dirty linen shall
be washed In court. Whoever and
whatever the officials are or have
been who may be involved in this
matter he IL to be commended for
his stand. It is case seemingly
for pitiless publicity. II Iowa Of
ficials were In any way assisting; in
the sales OF this stock the people
want to know and have right to
know. II any official took money
for his service the public desires, to
know and has q right to know. It
will also want to know just who got
money and thru what avenues it was
received. how much Of it stuck to
the fingers OF underlings and how
much. II any, went higher.
Mr.. Witt seems to have been very
unfortunate in his financial ven
lures. He found 1t hard to balance
his funds when the Rathbun case
was under investigation. It is a
pity. For it is practically universal
testimony Of those who knew him
before he went into politics. that
Charley Witt" was a fine young
fellow of excellent character and
repute."
The affair should be probed to the
bottom. II there is infection Of mis-
conduct in official Iowa the way. to
relieve it is to open the mess to the
bottom-or the top.
incidentally it might be in har-
mony with the hour and save time
if Mr.. Herring will name the official
Of whom he made the "sloO,t00"