Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-08-03
THE low A VOTER
A. F. Sperry, Editor.



ty Nominating Convention appears
at the head of the Sth page of this
paper. 1t is to be hoped the Repub-
licans of the several Townships will
not overlook or disregard the recon-
mendation Of the Chairman Of the
County Central Committee in regard
to the selection of Delegates. Much
harm often results from carelessness
in regard to these primary meetings.
| In this connection we have few
plain words to say. They may be
passed over as mere cOmmon-places,
perhaps; but we are well persuaded
Of their truth nevertheless, and Of
the necessity of acting accordingly.
1t cannot be denied that the political
aspect of affairs in the County just
now is somewhat peculiar. There is
an unnatural calm, which pOrtends
something. 1t tportends an absolute
defeat of the Republican party in
this County this year unless we wake
up out of our present apathy. There
is no use i'm Disgusting the matter at
all, and thinking that cit will all
come out right anyhow" 1t will
not all be right unless we ourselves
make it right. A few scratched
tickets in Knoxville and Lake Prai-
rie, few stay-at-home votes in other
Townships, will suffice to turn the
County over to the Democrats. II
that is what the Republicans of this
County want--or If they don't care
anything about it-then SO it must
be. But If they do care. all they
have to do is to come osAt a,sta vote.
Nobody can deny that, upon full
and fair poll, the Republicans in this
County have between 100 and oOC
majority. The trouble is in getting
out the vote.
To this end, and as a first necessity,
let us urge all due care in regard to
the candidates. Let the Republicans
of the County begin their work at
the beginning. Attend the Town
ship Conventions, and select good,
sensible men for Delegates, men who
will come, to the County Convention.
Allow us to proffer the suggestion
here that the expression Of prefer
ence in regard to candidates is per-
haps all well enough, but that posi-
tive and binding instructions are too
apt to prove fetters limiting a wise
and proper freedom on the part OF
the Delegates. How can anybody
tell beforehand what developments
may be made in the County COnven-
tion, what new lights may appear,
what course Of action may prove
most advantageous? 1t is best to
select Delegates who can act with
discretion, and leave them free az
may be to exercise that discretion.
1t may have been reasonably ex-
pected of Us that we should have
hitherto had, or should now have,
something to say in regard to espe-
pcial candidates for the several offices.
If such has been the expectation we
are compelled to disappoint it. AS
we said before, there has been an
unnatural calm this year so far.
Where we know Of but one probable
candidate for an office, but have rea-
son to suppose that there will be
others, we do not like to especially
name the one alone, lest the others,
whom we cannot name certainly,
should feel that they had been un-
warrantably overlooked. And there
are also other reasons, seeming sui
ficient to us, for not having said any
thing personal to particular candi-
dates yet. But wheneverany gentle
man shall intimate to us a desire TO
have his name announced as candi-
date for any Of the County Offices
or whenever his authorized friends
shall intimate such a desire---we will
make the announcement very will
ing!y-and will omit the charge
which papers in other Counties make
for such announcements.
. But whether any announcements
are made beforehand or not, the
County Convention will undoubtedly
have candidates enough to choose
from. And we hope that the reasons
the selections made will
Ie, frst, that the men chosel are
good and iit men, and secondly, that