"The History of Decatur County, Iowa: 1839 - 1970"

by Himena V. Hoffman
Published by Decatur County Historical Society, Leon IA, 1970
 
Political Issues, Pages 131 - 132
Transcription by Carmelita
 
It was also a time in national history when issues were important. It is also probably true at no time in our national history were issues related to economic problems so important and that at no time in our history have the voters devoted so much time to their discussion. Here in Decatur County the tariff, free coinage of silver, the printing of paper money, the effects of trusts and monopolies and the policy of the railroads, were common topics of discussion as well charges of "a court house ring" or what was called "waving the bloody shirt" when a candidate ran on his war record.

As to war record campaign claims, the Civil War veterans had no G. I. Benefits and through in later years there were pensions, these were small. Just as in national politics when this was a period when generals became president, so in Decatur County a war record did help, though the lack of it did not keep such men as Francis Varga, A. B. Stearns or Robert Parish from being elected. However at least two crippled veterans served several times in office in a period when one term, or at least two terms was the expected thing. Billie Sullivan had but one arm and E. J. Sankey had but one leg and both served in public office several times.

During this time, too, the Republicans were in power in the nation and this was also true in Decatur County for though the Democrats regained power after being defeated in the first election after the Civil War ended. They retained it only three years and from then until 1900 the Democrats secured few county offices. In 1890 when the defeated candidates were indicated in a local paper by a dead rooster pictured by their name, only Calvin Hoffman of the Democrats had a small crowing rooster by his name as elected County Attorney. An almost fatal blow to the Democrats had been the disappearance of Samuel Thompson, County Treasurer in 1873 and though his family and friends were convinced that the shortage in funds was due to misplaced confidence in other men, he had been so long a leader in the party that confidence was lost. The Democrats also suffered when James Morrison elected County Attorney by the Democrats joined the Republicans while still in that office.

The rise of a new party, the Greenback Party, meant that in Decatur County there were those that joined that party, including James Woodmansee, Peter Stewart, H. B. Warrington, Samuel Gates, G. W. Baker and Elijah Banta. By 1896 it can be assumed that many of the Greenback Party became Democrats since this was their free silver campaign.

While during most of this period the Republicans were in the Majority the Democrats were not a silent minority. Both Ed Pitman and Ollie Hull edited Democratic papers. In the later years V. B. McGinnis and George Baker were the orators of the party. Gus Pryor, son of Allan Pryor devoted much time to politics. Calvin Hoffman was active in that party and an effective campaigner. George T. Young and S. W. Hurst gave prestige to the party.

Prominent Republicans included Francis Varga who was a county chairman, Judge John Harvey and Judge Robert Parrish, P. O. James editor of a Republican paper. A. M. Post, Millard Stookey, also an editor. David Dancer of Lamoni and A. B. Stearns of Garden Grove and Bryson Bruce, editor at Garden Grove. Though not so active in politics, John Clark is listed as a Republican.

Data for this account of political affiliation is based on accounts in The Biographical History of Ringgold and Decatur County and in this connection it is interesting to discover that men were much more prone to state their political party and religious convictions than now.

It is to be noted, too, that changes in party connections were made. One of the most astonishing one being Judge Samuel Forrey, a founder of the Republican party and long a dominant leader becoming a Cleveland Democrat.

From the number of men who received political appointments it would seem that there were more men in the county with political influence than in any other period. Ed Haskett was United States Attorney in Alaska 1883-85, John Brown had an appointment in the Department of Interior and was stationed at an Indian reservation for several years. P. N. Binkley was "given a clerkship in Washington," S. W. Hurst represented Iowa at the Paris exposition, E. W. Curry was on the state Democratic committee and Major Young was given an appointment in the Treasury department.
 
 
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