Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-12-12
AN OUTSIDE VIEW.

About the only opposition to the sug-
geStion to send Senator Chase back to
the legislature that has manifested it.
self in Hardin county comes from a
| few who seem to think it is more I'M
portant to have such offices passed
around the counties among politicians
as plums than ii is to have the incllnl-
bents men of capacity and right p in
ciples who can and will accomplish
something worth while in the interest
of the entire and state.
The Freeman-Journal has no !esi-
fancy in saying that under ordinary cir
cumstances it would not he urging ire
nomination and election Of Mr.. Chase
as senator from this district. IT AL
mits that the district owes him moth.
ing in political sense. He has hal
all the honOrs it cam confer. But ii is
not personal question. There is Il
crisis pending. The old fight is looms
ing. The old lines are again being
forced by special interests that are
seeking to control legislation and the
appointment of officers to positions If
great responsibility. People who do
not sense this are not keeping close
tab OH political affairs in this state.
hence do not appreciate the real situa-
ton and do not realize the imperative
necessity Of sending men to the state
legislature who can cope successfully
with the men who will be there to serve
other than the pubic's interests.
That the editor of tire Cedar Falls
Record is alive to conditions that are
confronting the state is emphasized
by the following comment upon the
probable candidacy of Senator Chase:
political gossip is responsible for the
confident prediction that former Sena-
tor ID. c. Chase of Webster City will
again represent the Hamilt0n-Wright-
Hardin district in the state senate. 1T
is altogether likely that if he consents
10 nave 'VmV ptIViV WV Pa
maries no one will have the temerity
to oppose him. Senator Chase is one
of the most vigorous champions Of the
square deal in politics and business and
should he again become Il member of
the senate undoubtedly will initiate
some legislation that will do much TO
clear up the much discussed and cussed
public utility question. The charge is
openly made that many utilities in
Iowa have been purchased by corpora
lions Mt low figure who in turn cap
italiZe the same at an eXOrhitant fig
ure and demand returns on that basis.
At the last session the utility interests
came within an ace of putting over an
act legalizing this sort of thing and
ii is high time that this danger be rec
ogniZed and the public forewarned in
the future"
The Frecman-.Iournal has not dis.
c,lssed political affairs with Senator
Chase in years. 1t is not necessary tol
talk with him to know Just where he
stands upon questions of transcendent
importance to the public. lntuifively
he is right and no Influence can be cN-
crted that would for :, moment swcrve
him from the course that he deems
best for the people.
4 man of the caibrc and breadth of
Chase is needed in the legislature.
From the day he took the oath of Of
flee he would he recognized as the
leader of the forces for the square
deal for the people and such leader
was seldom before needed as he is need
cd now. There has been no Legislature
in Iowa in many years in which the
lack of such leadership was so con-
spicuous as it was i'm the last session