The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-29
Iowa Politics.

The Democrats, Liberals, and Anti
Monopolists in Iowa haye united on Hon.
Shepherd LETTER, for governor, and the
Iowa City Press has the following in rela-
ton to his history:
For governor, the convention on the
first formal ballot nominated Hon. Shep-
herd Letter, of Des Moines county. MIR.
Letter is one of Iowa's earliest settlers,
having pioneered his section of the terri
tory, when young man, forty years ago.
A Virginian by birth, highly educated, lie
chose to be a farmer, and with his own
hands raised on Iowa soil thirty-fve crops
of corn. He was called from his farm to
the territorial house of representatives
two terms, by election in 1889 and 1910,
sitting in the third and fourth legislative
assemblies. He was then elected MEM
Der Of the territorial council (senate) in
the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth assem-
blies. His service in the territorial legis-
lature thus beginning in 1889 and termin-
ating Jan. 18th. 1916.
He was meantime elected to the first
constitutional convention, which met at
Iowa City, Oct, 7th. 1874, of which he
was elected president. On the rejection
Of the instrument framed by that body
and the calling of a second convention, he
was again chosen a member of it. This
second conventionimet May 4th, 1916, and
adjourned the 10th of the same month.
How promptly those pioneer statesman
did their dutyl In these times it would
require at least four months to do their
work of fifteen days.
On the admission Of the territory as a
state, our young legislator and constitution
maker was chosen successfully to the 29th
Both and 3lst congress. serving his young
commonwealth in the national house with
an ability and zeal that made the state his
debtor to degree that is measured by the
development Of her institutions, based in
the wise policy he expounded,
Since his last congressional term he has
devoted himself entirely to the cultivation
of his farm upon which he has constantly
labored with his own hands.
No one who heard his speech in accept
ing the nomination yesterday, will ever for
get the thrill of his earnest eloquence anc
the even flow Of his oratory. 1t was 1
scene to be remembered.
The st, Louis Republican says:
1.-THE platform adopted by this convention
is similar to that of the Ohio Democrats
but platforms nowadays do not amount t
much. Last year, for example, the Anti
Monopolists in Iowa went into the canvass
on hard-money platform and were heater
by the Republicans on the worst kind o
an imitation basis. Now the Democrats
Liberals and Anti Monopolists have par
= TALLY adopted the financial theories of thu
Ohio Democracy, which will be likely Il
force the Republicans on to a hard mone!
platform. And yet the chances are tina
the Republicans will carry the state a
usual. The cause of Radical invincibilit!
in Iowa is easily understood. That state i
the Gibraltar of Northern Methodism
For years the North Methodist church ha
controlled every Republican convention ant
brought its communicates up in solid phal
anx to the polls to vote the ticket. Nc
where else in the Union is this particula
denomination so largely In numerical as
cendancy as in Iowa, and nowhere else ar
the political forces of the church more Wig
orously or more unscrupulously applied
Thisl is the secret of the invincibility 9
Iowa Radicalism, and until the politica
power o. the North Methodist church ca
be neutralized or crippled, Iowa is hkel
to remain Radical, Just now the churc
programme is to elect Harlan to the sci
ate. He may prove too heavy load eve
for so powerful beast of burden as is tn
Methodist Radical party of Iowa, but til
chances are that the patient and long su
fering animal will prove able to carry eve
this reverend $4,000 statesman, I'll
result will be watched with some interes
If the opposition can prevail against Il
densest bigotIy. the blindest fanatics
and the most wretched intolerance tho
may succeed. But the preponderance
these elements hitherto inlIowa politics b.
made the Methodist Radical party the
invincible, and we do not as yet see an i
dication of change"