Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-01-13
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
is NOW STARTED
FARMERS PREDOMINATE, AND
THEIR INTERESTS REGARD
ED PARAMOUNT.
BY G. l.. Caswell.
Des Moines, Jan. 10, 1921.


be inaugurated Thursday, Jan. 18th
Only an ordinary lifetime since the
state of Iowa came into being and
had an assembly of its own citizens
to make laws and conduct govern
ment! What development and i'm.
provement in that short span of
time. Isn't it great-this young
/ Iowa?
This General Assembly is interest.
ing in one political phase, also.
There will be but eight democrats
in both houses-siX in the House
and two in the Senate Some of the
younger of our states prominent
citizens served when there were so
many democrats in both House and
Senate that it was a question which
party would control and elect the
officers. Back in 1891 and 1892
when Gov. Boies and his victorious
hosts almost took possession of things
in this state, the Cherokee Strip"
that row of seats along the east side
of the House chamber, was so full
rof militant representatives of the
"unterrified" and they made so
much noise that the vibrations were
felt in every hamlet in this state.
Republican Caucus Decides Things.
When members of the General AS
sembly began to gather in consider
able numbers last Thursday, there
was less contest and speculation
about the new officers of both bod
les than has, been noted in a genera
tion. The republican caucus, usual
ly held on the Saturday before con-
vening, has in late years been a
maelstrom OF politics and a keen
contest for advantage. This year
the speakership was conceded to
Arch w. McFarlane, Of Waterloo
who served so conspiciously and well
during the last session. A little in
terest was shown in the matter of
electing a chief clerk Of the House,
with the members privileged to pick
one OF the best and most experienced
young men who ever served the state
in any capacity. And the candidates
/ for doorkeepers, clerks, pages, cloak
room guards and few other minor
| positions appeared as usual With
glad hands and wistful smiles to try
and have their claims recognized by
the members.
| The Senate has no such chance for
contests, the presiding officer there
being the lieutenant-governor and
he elected by the people A presi..
dent protein OF the Senate is usually
selected, however, as a mark of hon.
o. and distinction in that body, while
the chief clerkship in both House
and Senate is a very important po-
sition.
World War Veteran Preferred
\ 1t is highly pleasing to all. and
generally commended, that soldiers
OF the late war are taking a conspic-
uous place in the state house and
other public positions now days. A
prince of officers is now state audit
or, Major Glen c. Haynes of Mason
City, taking the place of Auditor
Frank Shaw, and James e. Thomas
OF Red Oak, another veteran, is his
chief deputy.
And for attorney general of Iowa
Capt. Ben J. Gibson of Corning. Is
now occupying the suite of offices
and the position filled by II. NJ Hav-
ner during the past few years. il
Will come almost easy and handy to
call Gibson general instead of
captain" or senator" as he has
been addressed heretofore. II is TAX
en- for granted, too, that there will
Tbe no grand-standing and less con
troversy resulting from Gibson's ad
ministration of this great office than
there has been recently. There will
be less nonsensical attempt at en-
forcement of some of the inane laws
on the statute books, too.
\ For instance, that foolish old Sun
day law we have here in Iowa IT
is grey with age, is a relic of the
days when laws had to regulate
stage coaches, ferry boats and toll
roads," and about as applicable to
modern conditions as a tin can is
to battleship. Several recent Gen
eral Assemblies have tried to amend
and modernize this Sunday observ-
ance law, but the votes could not be
mustered to do it. Perhaps with
Gibson in control the needed
changes may be made this year.
\ A new state treasurer, also went
into office the Sd of January, when
w. ]. Burbank of Waterloo displac-
ed Ed Hoyt A peculiar freak of pol.
itics, that--displacing the most pop
ular and efficient official ever hold.
ing the position after but one term
in the office.
4 Primary Law viii Suffer
II The primary law in this state will
suffer for the Gefeat Of Ed Hoyt, as
1t should suffer for it's many sins of
omission and commission. Some of
the lawmakers declare they will
fight for changes in the law, even II
they cannot secure its absolute re-
peal. Probably two-thir,l5 of the
voters of Iowa regard The primary
law as farce and fraud. & useles.
expense and hindrance rather than
help to good government. Yet its
repeal has been prevented, like the
repeal of the Sunday law, more from
timidity than desire on the part of
Legislators.
The judiciary primary law was re-
pealed at last session, and some new
supreme judges are now officiating
as result. Judge Thos. Arthur of
Logan, Silas NJ. Weaver of Iowa
Falls, Judge DeGraff of Des Moines
and F. F. Faville of FIT. Dodge were
indicted into office Monday. Not
legislator will be found to propose
the re-enactment of a judiciary pri-
mary law.
Inauguration of Governor.
While declaration of the election
of all other officers in the state has
been made, and most of them have
assumed their positions. the election
of Nate Kendall as governor and
John Hammill as lieutenant-govern-
or has not yet been officially con-
firmed. This will be done on Thurs
day OF this week, when the Senate
will join the House in joint ses-
sion, appoint committee to canvass
the election returns and determine
officially what has been surmised
for long time-that Nate Kendall
had a majority had a majority over