USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 25
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"The sun very soon commenced to soften the crust on the snow and their horse could not be prevailed upon to go but a few steps, as its legs were cut by the sharp crust, and being without its noonday, night and morning feed, made it stubborn, it either could not or would not go. After consulting together for a time, the only thing to be done was for Mr. Arthur to go on foot to the grove, where he knew there were some settlers and procure help. Imagine, if
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you can, the young wife watching her husband as far as she could see him, toiling along, breaking through crust and sinking in the snow over his boot tops at every step, and knowing that the best he could do, it must be several hours she would be left alone, no human being in sight, no living thing but the horse near ler.
"The hours dragged wearily on, and at last the sun went down and no one in sight. The timid girl remembers yet the terrors of that day and night. Eye and ear were strained alike to catch some sight or sound of human aid until her senses were gone. When the hungry horse would look at her and give a pitiful neigh, then she would get out of the sleigh, go to its head and putting her arms around its neck, let her feelings find vent in tears, until getting too weak and chilled to stand, she would climb back into the sleigh, wrap her- self in the robes and through exhaustion, lose herself in a few moments of unconscious sleep. At last, as the moon rose higher, making objects as visible as in the daylight, she thought she heard voices, and looked away off and saw outlined against the sky, the forms of three persons who seemed to her terrified sight to be clothed in blankets, and supposed them to be Indians who had per- haps murdered her husband and that she would soon share the same fate.
"She watched them as they drew near, and could distinguish voices, but they talked in an unknown tongue, which verified her fearful suspicions, and with a thought of the loved ones at home who would mourn her tragic death, she covered herself completely in the robes and waited for the final moment. Soon a hand was laid on her shoulder and a gruff but kindly voice said in broken speech, 'Hello! You asleep?' She threw aside the robes and looked into the faces of three white men, who could none of them, except one, speak a word of English. She was too weak and frightened to speak, but reached out her hand, which they took in kindly clasp, and the one who could speak so as to be understood, told her of her husband's arrival at his house late in the afternoon, nearly exhausted. He told them where and how he had left his wife and begged them to go back with him for her. They promised speedy assistance, but the first man was obliged to go to his nearest neighbor, about a mile away. for snowshoes, as that was their only way of getting over the deep snow. They persuaded him to remove his boots, which were full of snow, and take a cup of coffee while they were getting things ready, which he did, begging them to be as speedy as possible, as he feared his wife would die of fright.
"After taking off his boots his limbs began to swell at a rapid rate, and when at last the men returned with the neighbor who had proffered his assistance. Mr. Arthur found himself unable to move his limbs without great pain, and to put his boots on was simply an impossibility. The Norwegians assured him they could find his wife and bring her to the house much quicker than if he were with them. He bade them make haste, promising them a liberal reward when they had brought his wife safely to him. When they had found her and convinced her of her husband's safety, they drew the cutter farther into the shelter of the grove, built a huge fire and spread the robes on the snow around it, seated themselves near and ate a lunch, proffering her a share, which she was obliged to decline, as she was too weak and chilled to feel any desire for food. The reaction from the terrible strain proved too much for the slender frame and weak nerves, and a half hour of unconsciousness followed. When at last
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her senses returned, she found herself lying on the robes close to the fire, with the kind and anxious faces of the three perplexed men around her. one clasping her hands, and another bathing her temples with water, and still another holding a cup of steaming coffee to her lips, which she was soon able to swallow.
"It revived her greatly and after a few moments she was able to sit up and thank them for their kindness. They waited for a time that she might get thoroughly warmed and rested, and then prepared to start for their home, know- ing well the anxiety of the waiting ones there. Many efforts were made to induce the horse to lead, but he would not stir, and they found they must leave him. They placed Mrs. Arthur back in the sleigh, wrapping her warmly in the robes, and started back, two of them drawing the cutter by hand. AAt times. when it would break through the drifts, they would lift her carefully out and onto where the crust was harder, and then pull the sleigh through to solid crust again, then replace her and make another start.
"At 4 o'clock in the morning they struck their own traveled road and hurried along home. After two or three hours' sleep. they breakfasted and prepared to resume their journey, which they found they must do with a sled drawn by oxen, as that was the only mode of conveyance available. The horse was left on the prairie for ten days, the Norwegians taking out hay and grain each day until the snow had thawed enough so that he was willing to follow them home, where they kept him until called for.
"The remainder of the trip was made first in the ox sled, next in a sleigh drawn by a mule a peddler had been driving, which would persist in stopping at every house on the road for a short time. Then a team of horses was pro- cured, which took them to the river just as it was on the point of breaking up. making it unsafe for travel. Mrs. Arthur was drawn over on a handsled and at that point, La Crosse, they took the train and were soon at the end of their journey ; and, I venture to say, there are but few young couples living who have tried as many different modes of locomotion as they did on that never-to-be- forgotten bridal trip."
CHAPTER XII
POLITICAL HISTORY
POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN 1880-CAMPAIGN OF ISSI-KAMRAR AND ALDRICH-D. C. CHASE TAKES A SHOT AT ALDRICH-"RECK YOUR OWN READ"-"THE FUSILLADE - PROHIBITION-TIIE ARGUS IN POLITICS-PRAY FOR CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT -CAMPAIGN OF 1883-GEO. W. BELL STARTS THE GRAPHIC-THE PROHIBITORY LAW-CAMPAIGN OF 1884-DEMOCRATS DIVIDE THE SPOILS-CAMPAIGN OF 1885 -WESLEY MARTIN HONORED-TIIE OFFENSIVE PARTISAN DOCTRINE REACTS- ALDRICHI BOLTS-TIIE CAMPAIGN OF 1887-THE CAMPAIGN OF 1888-D. C. CHASE IN TIIE LEGISLATURE-THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1890, 1891 AND 1893-CHASE FOR STATE SENATOR-PARTY REGULARITY-M. II. BRINTON AS A LEGISLATOR-CAM- PAIGN OF 1894-TWO DAILY PAPERS-THE JOURNAL FOUNDED KAMRAR FOR GOVERNOR-THE CAMPAIGN OF 1895-POLITICS IN '96-POLITICS IN 1897- EVENTS IN 1898-THE FREEMAN AND TRIBUNE CONSOLIDATE-TWO IMPORTANT REFORMS.
POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN 1880
In continuing the political history of Hamilton county, it might be well to review the political conditions that existed in Hamilton county in 1880. The republican party was not only strongly entrenched in power, but it had a firm hold on the confidence as well as the prejudice of the people. The voters be- longed to their political party in the same sense that they belonged to their church. Whatever their party did was believed to be right, and measures advanced by the opposing party were considered either wrong or advanced through ulterior motives.
The caucus system was in vogue with all its weaknesses and abuses and all its advantages to the politician; and through this system the "ring" usually controlled the nomination and policies of the party.
The "ring" was a name given to the coterie of men in control and usually consisted of five or six at the county seat and a judicious sprinkling of lieutenants scattered throughout the county. Membership in the "ring" was neither elective or appointive. Men who took an active interest in politics and developed ability in directing and controlling the sentiment of the community in which they lived, naturally drifted into membership, because they were needed, while the member of the "ring" who failed to control (or appear to control) and direct the senti- ment of his community naturally drifted out. The chief of the "ring" was the "boss." He usually controlled, or pretended to control and direct the "ring." He was usually a long-headed individual who had a faculty of discerning the real sentiment of the community a little in advance of his neighbors. He was usually
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close mouthed and discreet and appropriated the credit, when credit was due, and shifted the blame to the shoulders of his political enemies.
The paramount doctrine to be at all times urged was "party loyalty." The country had but a decade before emerged from a bitter war and the spirit of loyalty then so strongly developed in the hearts of the good people was easily appropriated for political purposes. Republicans loved to boast that they had voted for Lincoln, and had never scratched a ticket since; while democrats vied with each other in showing family adherence to democracy since the days of Jefferson and Jackson.
Opposed to the republicans in Hamilton county were the democrats and greenbackers. The greenback party had just been organized, with General Weaver as the leading spirit in lowa, and its adherents, having all the zeal of recent converts, had grown in numbers equal to the democrats, though the republicans polled about twice as many votes as both democrats and greenbackers.
In the late seventies, the dissatisfied republicans, democrats and greenbackers had united in an independent county movement and had succeeded in electing Leander Bickford, sheriff. and J. H. Shipp, treasurer, but the violent campaigns of personal abuse urged by G. D. Sutton, then editor of the Advertiser, so dis- gusted the people that in 1880 the republicans had again gained complete control of all official positions in the county and in the fall of 1880 William M. Taylor was elected clerk of the courts, John V. Kearns, recorder, and George Miesner, supervisor, by majorities running as high as six hundred.
The aceredited "boss" of the republican party was J. D. Hunter. Personally he was a quiet, unassuming man, and the term "boss" seems a harsh one to attach to his name. But it does not necessarily follow that a boss must be a brute or a scoundrel or a crook. On the contrary, Hunter held the position because, of all the republican leaders, he was perhaps the most judicious, dis- creet, conciliatory and far-seeing.
As editor of the Freeman, he sounded the key-note of each campaign; and it was usually "Vote the ticket straight." He attempted as far as possible to keep out of the factional strifes that existed from time to time within the party. and by this course of conduct he made himself the one in whom all factions could confide.
No personal enemy was too bitter to merit his support if sanctified by a republican nomination, and no friend was so near and dear that Hunter would support him against a regular nominee. He invariably spoke of the opposition candidates as men of honor and integrity, as in fact they usually were, and his treatment of political opponents was so fair and courteous that while they hated him on account of his power and influence, they respected him for his fine per- sonal qualities. It is little wonder that the republican party, led by such a character, should have retained, almost uninterrupted, the confidence of the people of Hamilton county for a half a century.
Another factor that gave the republicans a great advantage in Hamilton county was the Scandinavian vote. These honest, thrifty, peaceable people were so largely in the majority in the south half of the county that they held the balance of power, and as they almost invariably voted the republican ticket, it was very important that they be kept well in line. This was attended to with unceasing fidelity and for years these people, so fast as they became voters,
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cast their lot with the republicans. Indeed, it has been jokingly asserted that so impressive was the republican judge when he asked the prospective voter if he "believed in a republican form of government," that once the oath was ad- ministered, the impression was indelibly fixed on the new citizens mind, that he had become a sworn member of the republican party.
CAMPAIGN OF 1881
Early in 1881, it began to be urged that the legislature should submit to the voters of the state the question of adopting an amendment to the constitution of the state, providing for the prohibition of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. There had been considerable temperance agitation and the republicans in state convention had declared, not in favor of prohibition, but in favor of submitting the amendment to a vote of the people.
Charles Aldrich, G. M. Blair, G. B. Pray, L. L. Estes and Lewis Crary were, as early as June, avowed candidates for the republican nomination for representative. In response to a public communication from a temperance or- ganization, each candidate except Aldrich declared in favor of submitting the amendment, because the republican party was in favor of the submission, each apparently carefuly avoiding the expression of any personal opinion as to whether the amendment should carry or be defeated, upon final vote of the people. Charles Aldrich, however, took advanced ground. He favored the submission of the amendment as a matter of personal conviction and declared strongly in favor of its adoption.
So many candidates from Webster City, all having strong claims upon the "ring" for support, presented a problem in political manipulation of no mean proportions. At that time, Webster City was still classed as a town and was a part of Boone township. As Boone township had three candidates, viz., Pray, Estes and Crary, it was finally determined that a primary election of the voters of the townships should decide which of the three should have the ten votes of the township in the county convention. The primary was held August 20, 1881. Aldrich and Blair, both entered the contest and the result was as follows: G. B. Pray, 151 ; Charles Aldrich, 90; Lewis Crary, 61 ; L. L. Estes, 60; G. M. Blair, 13.
As Pray had received a strong plurality, it was decided that the vote of Boone township should be cast for him and Estes and Crary both withdrew from the contest.
CHARLES ALDRICH FOR REPRESENTATIVE
At the county convention held at Webster City, August 25, August Anderson, of Marion township, was also proposed as a candidate and the first ballot re- sulted as follows: G. B. Pray, 15; Charles Aldrich, 20; G. M. Blair, 4.
Aldrich having received a majority of the votes was declared the nominee of the convention. In the meantime, at the republican senatorial convention, which convened at Ackley, August 4th, Hamilton county presented the name of John L. Kamrar for state senator, and after 195 ballots he received the nomination.
KAMRAR AND ALDRICHI
I hamilton county had every reason to be proud of her candidates for both senator and representative, for in the following session of the general assembly
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they both took first rank as legislators. John L. Kamrar, came to the county in 1869 and commenced business as a wagon-maker. Ile continued in this busi- ness only a short time, when he entered the office of Judge D. D. Miracle, studied law and later was admitted to the bar. It was soon discovered that the young wagon-maker had a wonderful aptitude for trial work, and soon he was in great demand where a hard fought jury case was to be tried. Figuratively speaking, in his trial work he was still driving spokes, with the same vigor and precision that he had exercised at the wagon-maker's bench. He went into politics, still driving spokes, always in the thick of the fray, whether it was a factional fight within the party or in the general election campaign. Besides making scores of warm friends, he made many bitter enemies, but he was never accused of dis- honesty or of quibbling about where he stood on public questions. The Thirty- seventh senatorial district had chosen as its candidate, a man of commanding appearance, full of courage, honesty and vigor.
In personal appearance Charles Aldrich was an entirely different type of man. He was rather small in stature, but he was full of nervous energy. He had founded the Freeman, held a number of important government commissions, for he was known throughout the state, and was acknowledged to be one of the best informed men in lowa. For some years he had lived on his farm in Fre- mont township, but he was more of a student than a farmer. In spite of his superb qualifications, he was not personally popular with the masses, and the campaign against him was most distressingly personal and vindictive. He was elected, however, by a safe majority. On becoming a member of the legislature. Charles Aldrich lost no time in showing that he was thoroughly independent and progressive in his tendencies.
THE ALDRICH FREE PASS BILL
One of the political evils of the day was the free pass which the railroad corporations insinuated in the pockets of all public officials, including judges and jurymen and some claim Aldrich himself was not exempt. While this was eminently inappropriate, little was thought of it, for passes were almost uni- versally offered as compliments to officials and were generally accepted. Aldrich, over twenty years ahead of his time, introduced a bill to prohibit the giving of passes to public officials and urged it consistently, but to no avail, for the com- mittee to which the bill was referred, reported "that it do not pass."
D. C. CHASE "TAKES A SHOT" AT ALDRICH
The Argus, recently purchased by Pray and Chase, in the spring of 1882 came under the sole editorial management of D. C. Chase and became an "anti ring" republican paper, which meant the organization of a new ring to take the place of the old ring in case that institution could be knocked out. There now followed a series of newspaper controversies between the Argus and Freeman. This was started by a criticism of Aldrich's free pass bill, which appeared in the Argus. While in the main, it was admitted that some features of the bill were commendable, and worthy of serious consideration, other features were made light of. This criticism was regarded as "lese majesty" by the ring and
CHARLES ALDRICH
J. D. HUNTER
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brought a vigorous "call down" from the Freeman. Chase, then a young man of about twenty-one, was not restrained by either fear, awe or discretion, and his attacks bristled with the keenest ridicule and irony. The style and vigor of the articles were so unusual that we give the following sample :
RECK YOUR OWN READ
"Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, Show me the rough and stony way to Heaven : Whilst, like a puffed and reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads, And recks not his own read."-Hamlet.
7 1-2
When any man undertakes to teach his brethren morals, it implies in him the existence of superior moral qualities and superior moral conduct. In point- ing out the motes in his brother's eye, it is essential that he should have no beam in his own. Man, as a general rule, has little cause to complain as Cassius did :
"All my faults observed, set in a note book, Learned and conned by rote, To cast into my teeth."
Yet when he makes an assumption of superiority-places himself on a pinnacle of righteousness, and from that exalted height looks down in, compassion on humanity, if there is any considerable variance between his conduct and profession, it is very likely to be noticed and receive vigorous comment. Thus reformers, when they are inconsistent, attract sarcasm, irony and even ridicule. To the working of this principle must be attributed the rough handling our Mr. Aldrich is receiving at the hands of the press. If it is "devilish malice," it has a perfectly natural origin.
It is extremely unfortunate for Mr. Aldrich that his panting eagerness to bless humanity should have found its outlet in a bill for the abolition of "free passes." If his virtuous intentions had only taken shape and form in some law for the culture of blue grass, or the domestication of jaybirds, how much brighter his chances for success and glory might have been, for in either of these cases he would have been perfectly at home and could point with a finger of pride to a life of consistency with his professions and aims. But as it is, he is con- fronted by the same obstacles that would impede a temperance lecturer after twenty years continual drunk, with the evidence of an undiminished appetite visible upon his person. It is inevitable that some skeptic should cry out "why his talk is all humbug, see that bottle in his pocket now." Now this places the reformer in an awkward and uncomfortable position. It obstructs the good work, weakens the good talk and is demoralizing in every way. This advantage is being taken of Mr. Aldrich by some of those crank newspapers like the Journal. Republican and Register and others, who carp at virtue and ridicule piety and are jealous of anybody the people love.
The vast and frequent acceptance of cushion seat "courtesies" by Mr. Aldrich is now being unkindly mentioned by them. The fact that Mr. Aldrich's com- plaisance extends over so much time and territory, gives them an opportunity Vol. 1-14
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to discuss the purity of his motives. They insist on informing the people of the contents of Mr. Aldrich's private pockets and suggest the presence there of those noxious and corrupting influences which he is so unselfishly and heroically striving to get away from. They descend to the level of offensive epithets like "Reformer Stiggins" and a few of the most shameless indulge in the low bred and insolent familiarity of "Canada Thistle Charlie." They have even stooped so low as to remind him of the time he availed himself of the "courtesy" of the American Express Company to transfer from the sandy soil of New Jersey to the fertile loam of lowa, a little thoroughbred Jersey bull. They forget the kind heart and benevolent impulse which invited that little bull to the glorious region of free and plentiful fodder; they forget the priceless benefit in the generation of little bulls of transcontinental pedigree. They unfairly ignore these things, and mention only the fact that this use of the company's "courtesy" was ridiculous from the monstrousness of the cheek which inspired it. In this way these journals show Mr. Aldrich's talk to be inconsistent with his experi- ence, and this, of course, hurts his measure. The thing has a melancholy huc. It is too late now for Mr. Aldrich to back out and try something else; besides not foreseeing this difficulty, he made "a solemn promise to his constituents." It is difficult to suggest anything at such a juncture. The best thing, we think, for Mr. Aldrich, notwithstanding the resulting inconvenience, is to promptly surrender his passes. The logic of his bill is that officials are corrupted by passes. As long as he retains his passes he occupies a peculiar position-that of an apparent. willingness to be corrupted himself. He would thus emphasize his views, impress the public with confidence in his sincerity, and hand his name to an admiring posterity.
Both Hunter and Aldrich were now straining themselves to the utmost to get ahead of "Cady" and other friends of the "ring" offered contributions and a communication by "H. J.," criticising some "errors" that appeared in the make-up of the Argus, call forth the following :
THE FUSILLADE
The last issue of the Freeman contains a criticism of the local columns of the Argus and the education of its editor. It is labelled "Too lligh toned." and is evidently the joint product of the Freeman and some bright Aleck, who hides his towering genius behind a couple of unpretentious initials, and carefully and mercifully screens "the wonders of that brow's ineffable light." lest we should not be able to bear the blazing halo of divine intelligence that encircles it. "Great Unknowns" are often met with by publishers of newspapers. They gush forth. like, in "spring poetry." They are ever on the lookout to detect some error of a newspaper man, and are everlastingly itching for a chance to display in print the talent and erudition, which has always remained a profound secret to their intimate acquaintances. 11. J. is one of these great and censorious characters in disguise. Ilis alert perception has discovered two typographical errors and some medical terms in the Argus, and he feels as big and as proud and swollen as if he had discovered his own greatness. Errors such as he points ont are not confined to our columns. Even "the oldest, largest and best" sometimes stip. We have noticed several but we never deemed it particularly sinful or calling
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