USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines, the pioneer of municipal progress and reform of the middle West, together with the history of Polk County, Iowa, the largest, most populous and most prosperous county in the state of Iowa; Volume I > Part 46
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A big open-air free silver mass meeting was held July 12, between Fourth and Fifth streets, facing Grand, with Judge Barcroft and General Weaver the ora- tors of the evening. The free silver movement gained fresh impetus on the 30th of July when "Congressman Bryan of Nebraska," gave abundant promise of the orator who three years later stampeded the democratic national convention.
The Citizens' Committee, July 15, heard the report of S. K. Felton, expert engineer, the pith of which was that the waterworks probably cost less than $600,000 and could probably be rebuilt for less than $500,000.
The death of ex-Governor William M. Stone, in Oklahoma, July 14, stirred many memories of war times when the Governor was officially a resident of the Capital city.
In '93 Des Moines had a large "Single Tax" Club with monthly meetings and with no vacation during the hot weather. In its list of influential members were the names of Bellangee and Gaston, afterwards prominent in the colony of Single- Taxers in Fairhope, Alabama.
In the Danish Lutheran Convention of September, 1893, held at Racine, Wis- consin, Des Moines was chosen as the most desirable location for the proposed Danish college. The Grand Park site was afterwards selected, and a substantial college building was erected on an eminence which commands a fine view of the valley. The college is now one of Des Moines' flourishing educational institu- tions.
The Supreme court, October 3, 1893, reversed a decision of Judge Conrad in what was known as the Des Moines Park case, the higher court holding that the creation of a park district would not warrant the issuance of bonds ; that such issue would be an evasion of the constitutional provision limiting indebtedness. The case went to court on the appeal of J. M. Orvis against the Park Commis- sioners and C. H. Dilworth, county treasurer.
The assignment of James C. Savery, for himself and for the American Emi- grant Company of New York, of which he was the sole stockholder, occurred October 31, with W. W. Witmer named as assignee. The assignment included large holdings : lots in Des Moines, in Butte and in Brooklyn, also bonds and notes, stock in various corporations, and leases and appurtenances of a building in New York city.
Henry George, founder of the Single Tax movement, lectured in Des Moines, December 12. His theme was "The Crime of Poverty." The News described him as "a fine appearing man of stylish dress," and as having "a metropolitan air and look." Mr. George remained for an hour after the lecture answering questions. He left a favorable impression upon the minds of his hearers, by his frankness, fairness and complete command of his subject.
1894-THE YEAR KELLY'S ARMY TOOK DES MOINES-BATTLE-FLAG DAY.
The senatorial contest in January, 1894, ending in the election of ex-Governor John H. Gear was followed with a personal interest by many in the Capital city because the field of candidates included Albert B. Cummins, of Des Moines, who twelve years later was again a candidate and again defeated-his defeat soon followed by his election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his successful opponent, Senator Allison, and later by his election for the full term.
Des Moines' Park Commissioners, January 21, published a carefully drawn bill of thirty-nine sections which, a few days later, was introduced in the General Assembly, developing the plan and purpose of the commission as to neighbor- hood and general parks, their creation, maintenance and control.
The evolution of "the Des Moines Plan" in the minds of men who were most interested in municipal reform is well illustrated by the change wrought by the years in the mind of the man to whom more than to anyone else belongs the honor of having first fixed the attention of the citizens of Des Moines upon the Galves- ton reform with the possibilities of improvement upon that plan. President Fox
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had, in January, 1894, appointed a committee of four to report to the Tippe- canoe Club recommending reforms in the city's government. The committee was addressed by James G. Berryhill, who expressed himself as opposed to an amendment "putting all the functions of city control in the hands of a council of five members" because it would make the council "the executor of its own decrees," combining and confounding the legislative and the executive depart- ments of the city government. It took Mr. Berryhill and thousands of others a dozen years of observation and experience as citizens and taxpayers to discover that there is no good reason in fact .why a council should not-like a board of directors-execute its own decrees.
An exciting triangular campaign for the republican nomination for mayor resulted, March 21, in the nomination on the sixteenth ballot, of Isaac L. Hillis, over Messrs. MacVicar and Rollins. A citizens' convention held the next day, nominated Judge Phillips for mayor. Mr. Hillis was elected ; but Mr. MacVicar's defeat led on to future victories ; and these, to future prominence in the municipal reform movement of later years.
The name "Frankel" now so familiar in Des Moines and throughout the State, was new in the spring of '94. The "grand opening" of Frankel & Com- pany's new clothing store occurred on the evening of March 22. The throng that visited the brilliantly illuminated store was numbered well up in the thousands.
On the morning of March 26 a number of sorrowing friends met at the depot to receive the remains of George C. Baker. The bearers were A. B. Cummins, Captain Prouty, Judge Given, J. G. Rounds, J. E. Tone and William Langan. A large delegation from Crocker Post, the Relief Corps and Company A of the National Guards, followed the remains from Plymouth church to the grave. Mr. Baker came in his youth to Polk City and at the age of 17 enlisted. On his return from the war he located in Des Moines. He had held several positions of honor and trust, and was prominent in the business life of the city. He was generally regarded as a model business man and citizen.
April 4 was set apart by the Twenty-fifth General Assembly for a reception to be given in honor of Gen. George W. Jones, Iowa's territorial representative in Congress and first United States Senator. The event drew many distinguished democrats to Des Moines and the ceremonies were impressive. The General was then nearing his ninety-first birthday, and was remarkably well-preserved both in mind and body. The military training of his young manhood was still in evidence as he stood erect before the audience in the House of Representa- tives. Judge Wright was the local representative on the speaking program of the afternoon. A minor incident of the day was the presence of "Uncle Davy" Norris of Des Moines, then 94 years old-the only man in that assem- blage whose birth antedated that of the honored guest.
The return of Julia Ward Howe to Des Moines, was the event on April 5. The venerable poetess and humanitarian had perceptibly aged much since her first visit, but her mind wa's apparently clear as ever. Her evening lecture entitled "Is Polite Society Polite?" was a keenly severe arraignment of so- called good society.
Then Came "Kelly's Army."
About the middle of April, rumors of the approach of "Kelley's Army" began to reach Des Moines, exciting much interest and some alarm.
A meeting was held at the Y. M. C. A. hall on the evening of April 26, to arrange for the reception of the so-called "Industrial Army," and to make suitable preparations for feeding and "sleeping" the men.
Unable to secure free transportation from Omaha, "the General" undertook to march his "army" across the State. Of the original 1,200, about 150 dropped out at "Camp Kelly," Council Bluffs. The sheriff ordered the men to "move on" not later than April 19. They discreetly obeyed the order, selecting the Rock Island route to Des Moines.
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Meantime, General Weaver, President Aylesworth and others at the Capital, organized for the reception of "the city's guests" and for their sustenance while within the city's gates. Governor Jackson, Sheriff McGarraugh and Mayor Hillis also prepared for their reception and for the protection of the city from possible raids. The city council appointed a special committee, consisting of the Mayor, City Solicitor Macomber and Aldermen Wilkins, McCartney and Garver, to see that the men were humanely cared for while in the corporation. Sunday afternoon, April 29, found the Industrial Army comfortably housed in the old stove works building in northeast Des Moines.
The night before, soon after the men left Van Meter, for Des Moines, the rain fell in torrents. The night was dark and many lost their way. Even Gen- eral Kelly and the two women who accompanied him-Mrs. Ada Harper and Miss Anna Houton-went astray. Not until II:30 next day did Kelly's closed carriage reach the improvised camp.
Sheriff McGarraugh and Chief Johnson spent most of the night at Valley Junction waiting to receive the guests of the county. About 9 o'clock Sunday forenoon, the advance guard of the wet and bedraggled "commonwealers" came straggling into the little city. They were met at the Walnut street bridge and turned into D. B. Murrow's pasture. Belated squads continued to join the army during the forenoon. A citizens' committee supplied the hungry tourists with a basket-picnic breakfast.
At 4 P. M. the column started, headed by the sheriff and the chief of police, and followed by a platoon of police. Kelly followed on a dark bay horse-a veritable "King of the Commons." There were 932 men in line. Another heavy rain spoiled the spectacular effect of the entry into the Capital. The march through the city was without incident. A full meal had been provided for the men at the stove-works.
At 4:30 Professor Ott, an ardent sympathizer, introduced Kelly to the hun- dreds of people assembled on the grounds. The General thanked the citizens of Des Moines for their kindness to his men, and trusted they would be per- mitted to rest a few days. Their determination and loyalty had made him proud of them. He wanted the sympathy and aid of his hearers, for bad legislation had thrown them out of employment. They were going to Washington in the hope of persuading Congress to provide employment for them. He pleaded for food, clothing and money. He had spent $378.50 for 222 pairs of shoes, and wanted more money for other much needed supplies. He closed with three cheers for the people of Des Moines.
The Register the next day published the names and antecedents of many of the men ; but among them the name of Jack London does not appear, though the now popular novelist and socialistic writer was undoubtedly a member of the army.3
Without funds with which to travel by rail, with no commissary department to sustain them on a march overland, there was little disposition on the part of Kelly and his men to quit their comfortable quarters and regular rations. Various measures were provided for the relief of the army and of the city; but none were adequate. Governor Jackson vainly endeavored to procure free, or even cheap, transportation for the men from Des Moines to Davenport.
In this quandary, a brilliant thought came to the resourceful General Weaver. Why not transform Kelly's army into a navy? Albert Sovereign, head of the Knights of Labor, was enthusiastic. It was economy; it was more than that- it was an inspiration and would command the attention and sympathy and sup- port of the onlooking world. To conceive was to act. A fleet of 150 rafts was hurriedly constructed. The Des Moines river was made navigable by the recent rains. The men were eager to make the voyage down the Des Moines to Keokuk, entirely willing to trust Providence and public sympathy for the outcome. At
8 Years afterwards in a lecture delivered in Des Moines Jack London related his experience as a member of "the Industrial Army."
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Keokuk they would tie eight rafts together and with steam-tugs, would go down the Mississippi to the Ohio and thence up the Ohio to Wheeling, W. Va., and thence to Washington.
Lumber was bought of the Gilcrests at cost and was promptly sawed and delivered. The flat-boats were to be 16 feet long, 6 feet wide and 12 inches deep, and their cost was to be less than $700. Money was easily raised in the city to speed the parting guests.
Monday morning, May 7, about five hundred men marched to the "navy yard" at the junction of the 'Coon and the Des Moines, and were put to work under the direction of the local. Carpenters' Union.
There on historic ground, where Captain Allen had landed his dragoons a little more than a half-century before, a strange and picturesque scene was enacted on Wednesday morning, the 9th of May, 1894. One by one the rafts slipped from their moorings and disappeared around the river bend, and with shouts of joy from the prospective sailors, and with answering shouts from sympathizers and spectators on shore, Kelly's navy slipped down the river -- and into history.
The sequel may be briefly told. The fleet floated down the river-one boat at a time, past the packing house, past Newcomer's Point, past Hastie Point, round Rattlesnake Bend, past Tippie Point, and Yellow Banks, past the old town of Dudley, past Adelphi, past all that was left of the Lafayette of 1851,- and so on beyond the limits of Polk county. The day was beautiful, the men were jubilant, the good-byes were hearty. But there was no moaning at the Racoon Fork when Kelly's navy passed out of sight! The fleet never arrived. Innumerable accidents happened. Hunger intervened. The nights were cold. Some sickened and begged to be left. One by one the rafts were tied up and deserted, or sold for lumber; and so Kelly's Navy, like Kelly's Army, suddenly disappeared from the public view. Thus ignominiously closed one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of Des Moines.
The sociological students of Drake University gathered interesting statistics of Kelly's Army while it was encamped in Des Moines, and these, compiled by President Aylesworth, were published May 3. From these, it appears that of the 763 members of that body 549 were American-born and 314 foreign-born. Of the foreign-born, 58 were German, 28 Irish, 12 Scotch, II Canadians, and so on down to one Turk, and one Greek. Politically there were 218 republicans, 195 democrats, 240 populists, 92 undecided and indifferent. In religion, 358 styled themselves Protestants, 280 Catholics, 114 unidentified. Of the number there were 662 unmarried men, 91 married and 5 widowers. The average age was 31. In a total of 425, there were 83 trades represented. There were 43 laborers, 53 miners, 31 farm-hands, 18 railroad men, 17 painters, 15 carpenters, 13 iron-workers, etc.
Among the many national bodies that have chosen Des Moines for their meeting place, doubtless not one has come with as little demonstration of welcome as the American Protective Association, whose Supreme Council convened in the city May 2, 1894. Delegates from twelve or more states were in attendance. Its open meeting in the evening was not largely attended. The small auditorium of the Y. M. C. A. was not crowded. The speakers defended their order from the charge of bigotry, maintaining that their hostility to Catholicism was not to the church, but to the policy of the church toward the public school question. The speakers were heard with courteous attention, but not with enthusiasm, outside that shown by the delegates themselves.
The Scotch-Irish in Des Moines.
One of the notable events of the year 1894, was the Sixth Congress of the Scotch-Irish in America, a national organization including many men of promi-
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nence in the United States. This was the first congress held west of the Missis- sippi. Messrs. P. M. Casady and Henry Wallace were the prime-movers of the gathering, well supplemented by Governor Jackson, Mayor Hillis, Col. John Scott, D. B. Patterson, Jefferson S. Polk, W. H. Fleming, Barlow Granger, E. H. Conger, Robert Fullerton, Dr. Woods Hutchinson, and a host of others who were proud to claim Scotch-Irish ancestry. Prominent among the women who contributed to the cordial welcome given the guests were Mesdames Ogilvie, Wallace, Young, Hamilton, Brown, Scott, Casady, Robertson Day and Wyman.
A drive about the city on the first day, with brief receptions at Drake Uni- versity and Highland Park College, marked the first day of the Congress, June 6.
The Congress was formally called to order on the morning of the 7th, by Judge Casady, who introduced Col. John Scott, president of the Iowa branch of the association. Addresses of welcome were delivered by Mayor Hillis, Mr. Wallace and Governor Jackson. Robert Bonner, of New York Ledger fame, cleverly responded, in the course of his speech declaring that he would never doubt his friend Wallace's word, nor indeed anything he might hereafter hear concerning the growth of Des Moines, the enterprise of her citizens, the ad- vantages they enjoyed and the public improvements they had made.
Dr. John McIntosh, in the same genial vein, expressed fear that it would be a case of the Camel and the Arab over again, for the Scotch-Irish, "who always know a good thing when they see it," were having such a good time in Des Moines that they were likely to turn their hosts out of house and home and settle permanently in their places !
Rev. Dr. Howard Johnston, then of Chicago, but formerly of Des Moines, expressed delight in coming back to Iowa and satisfaction with his part in bringing the association to Des Moines.
In the evening, at the Kirkwood, a public reception was given the city's visitors.
The sessions on the 8th were marked by a number of addresses abounding in Scotch-Irish wit, sentiment and sense. Among the speakers were Hon. James Wilson and Rev. Dr. John Hall.
The last day's sessions were made especially notable by addresses by Rev. Dr. Magoun, long president of Iowa College, Grinnell, and Hon. John A. Kasson, of Washington, formerly of Des Moines. A beautiful letter from Robert G. Cousins, then a member of Congress from Iowa, was read at one of the sessions. Reports were read; resolutions abounding in appreciation of the hospitality of Des Moines were passed, and with a solemn benediction from the lips of the venerable John Hall, the congress adjourned.
Greenwood Park, Des Moines' first public park, was dedicated June 12. The school children were out by the thousands-and their parents and friends with them! The May-pole, cycling races, games, drills, singing,-everything was planned that could be thought of to please the children. It was a gigantic picnic. The parade to and through the grounds included hundreds of decorated carriages headed by the Des Moines Union Band, the German Turners, the United Ameri- can Mechanics, one hundred bicycle-riders with decorated wheels, etc. Colonel Godfrey was president of the day. Dr. Frisbie offered prayer; Mayor Hillis delivered the address, followed by a brief speech from Labor Commissioner O'Bleness, also from Col. Joseph Eiboeck. Tacitus Hussey was the poet of the occasion. Mrs. Macomber delivered a stirring address on the duty and opportunity of cities. I. M. Earle followed with a brief address. But to the ten thousand people present the wooded hills and lake were the chief attrac- tion. Des Moines' first park was a splendid investment, as is attested daily by the throngs who visit it.
At a banquet of the alumni of Drake University, at the Kirkwood, June 14,
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1894, General Drake, responding to the toast "Why I founded Drake University," said that in 1861, he passed through Des Moines to Oskaloosa and there for the first time saw the Oskaloosa college, and found that two young men by the name of Carpenter had founded the college and were struggling to build it up. Later, when he came to the Capital to receive a lieutenant-colonelcy from Gover- nor Kirkwood, he first met one of the Carpenters-George T .- who, two years later met, wooed and won his sister. In '81, he received a letter from D. R. Lucas, pastor of the Christian church in Des Moines, saying that he and George T. Carpenter desired to found an educational institution at the State Capital and suggested that financial aid would be acceptable. Mr. Lucas also suggested that by founding the proposed university he could erect a monument far more lasting than stone. The General gave them $20,000 to start with, and his father and brothers added to that sum. He felt that this was the best investment he had ever made. He declared he was not the founder of the university, though it did bear his name. The honor of founding Drake University belonged to George T. Carpenter and D. R. Lucas. "I helped in the work," he modestly added, "because I knew of the great desire the former had to promote the cause of education. I thank God that I took hold. My life has been happier for its success."
The Fourth of July, 1894, was celebrated with a bit of mimic war. On the morning of the 4th, Governor Jackson ordered the Fourth Regiment of guards, with the exception of Company K, to report at once at Sioux City, where 3,000 strikers had organized and taken possession of the Illinois Central & North- western yards, trains and tracks, spiking switches and holding passenger trains. Adjutant-General Prime remained in Des Moines, commanding the situation by wire. A strike on the Diagonal at Des Moines, added to the excitement of the day. The possible need of troops at home was increased by the fact that an evening meeting of railway men in Courthouse square was just ahead. The meeting was addressed by President Pattee, of the American Railway Union, whose speech so abounded in hopeful news that all went away satisfied that organized labor would come out of the strike much stronger than before.
Every Presbyterian in Des Moines-and in Iowa as well-and every other person who had ever come within his genial influence-felt a sense of personal loss when, on Sunday, July 29, the news was announced from the pulpit by Dr. Marshall that Rev. Dr. J. B. Stewart was dead. While preaching a dedicatory sermon in Pasadena, he was taken ill. He was removed to his hotel and there passed away. Dr. Stewart's Des Moines pastorate included the years 1881 to '87.
The fifty happy years of Judge and Mrs. W. E. Miller were celebrated, August 1, with a large gathering of old and new friends at their Sixth avenue home. Tudge Miller was colonel of the Twenty-eighth Iowa, and the successor of Judge Dillon on the Supreme Bench. His contribution to the literature of the law had been extensive. Rev. Dr. Emory Miller, his brother, and other rela- tives contributed to the pleasure of the occasion.
Battle-Flag Day.
As Curator Aldrich, of the State Historical Department, well says in his re- port on Battle Flag Day, "it was a noble resolution that led to the proper pres- ervation of Iowa's war flags. There was no danger of people forgetting the soldiers, or their sacrifices, but these flags, that were emblems of great deeds, might fade away." Every visitor at the State Capitol, attracted by the light re- flected upon these flags, encased in glass in the rotunda, beholds with emotions ranging all the way from childish interest to "thoughts too deep for tears," these emblems of Iowa's heroic part in the struggle for the nation's life.
That was a red-letter day in the history of Des Moines and Polk county on which the surviving members of the Iowa regiments that carried these flags to ultimate victory bore these priceless treasures through the streets of the Cap- ital city and placed them reverently in the sealed cabinets for their better pres-
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ervation and for future inspection. Others had hoped and longed and prayed for the supremacy of the flag-in the South as in the North; but here were the men who had risked their lives to that end and had lived to carry the flag through swamps and morasses, up hillsides bristling with bayonets, into ravines where death lay in waiting, and into the hell of battle where the grim adversary was the one acknowledged victor.
The Twenty-fourth General Assembly of Iowa commissioned Adjutant Gen- eral Prime and Curator Aldrich to "cause the colors, standards and battle flags borne by Iowa regiments and batteries during the War of the Rebellion to be placed in hermetically sealed glass cases" in the corridors of the Capitol, and placed the sum of $3,000 at their disposal to that end.
To make the event more memorable it was thought best to invite the sur- viving veterans, who had followed those flags, to participate in the ceremony. The response was general. In view of the sad fact that more than twenty-five thousand Iowa soldiers were dead, the large number present was a matter of surprise and congratulation.
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