History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/George E. Roberts
[Geo E Roberts]
GEORGE E. ROBERTS is a native of Iowa, having been born in Colesburg, Delaware County, in 1857. In 1873 his parents removed to Fort Dodge, where the son, in 1878, became the editor and publisher of the Fort Dodge Messenger, then a weekly Republican journal. In February, 1882, he was elected State Printer, which position he held by reëlections for six years. He became widely known in the presidential campaign of 1896 as the author of a reply to Harvey's “Coin's Financial School” which was used as a campaign document by the Republican National Committee. He also wrote a work on the money question called “Iowa and the Silver Question,” which was an able discussion of the financial issues involved in the campaign. These publications were regarded as among the best statements of the financial policy of the Republican party in that campaign and brought the author into prominent notice. When Lyman J. Gage became Secretary of the Treasury he tendered to Mr. Roberts the position of Director of the United States Mints, which he accepted and at the close of a term of four years he was reappointed by President Roosevelt. In June, 1902, he with some associates purchased the Iowa State Register and the Des Moines Leader which were consolidated under the name of the Register and Leader. Mr. Roberts assumed editorial control of the united daily journals.