The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-13
IOWA STATE POLITICS.
Republican Party Managers Admit
That the Party is in Des-
perate Straits.
Prohibition and Submission Entan-
clements Cause a Great
Deal of Concern.
III, Blaine Crowd Unable 70 Agree ON y
Blaine Programme-Rreruscrs ON
Every Hand.

DIES MONIES. Ia, Jan. 1.-THE republican
managers of Iowa feel that their party ia
in desperate straits. Having barely es-
capped the defeat of their state ticket. and
having lost five congressman, with the
probability of two other districts contested
aud with a majority of 10000 against them
on the vote for congressman, it is not sin
gular that they should feel ALARM rs the
time for er tering next years contest np-
proaches. The last campaign was fought
entirely on national issues, and the result
was a sweeping victory over the Mckinley
high-tax policy. National issues will not
predominant in the next campaign. For the
first time in many years-certainly since
the democratic party has become strong
enough to menace republican supremacy in
Iowa-the legislature to be chosen in 1891
will not be confronted with the duty of
electing a United States senator. There
will be no congressman to choose, and not
even the smallest factor national in char
acter will enter into the contest.
Some Of the republicans regret this, while
others do not. Those who believe the pub
lie can be educated" up to o point whore
they will perceive the alleged fairness and
justice of the Mckinley tariff before the
next election would like to see the tariff
question made n factor. Those friends OF
prohibition. and again the blinded parti-
sans who deem the success OF the repu,>-
lican party the only object worthy
their consideration. and who fear the elm
nation of national issues will drive the re-
publican ship upon the rock of disaster,
dragging their pet issue down with it,
would also like to see the contest take on a
national phase. The matter was consid-
cred at the recent conference OF prominent
- - AAs- -k., A~ ~n NN--A
was made to organize a concerted move
ment to throw the Mckinley bill overheard
and espouse Mr.. Blaine's doctrine of re-
ciprocity with the South American nations.
lows has always been primarily a Blaine
state. He has a greater personal following
here than in any other western state, Maine
and Pennsylvania alone may eclipse Iowa
republicans in this loyalty to the Plume
Knight, but they will give precedence to
none other. Although Allison has had this
nominal support in one national conven-
ton, it was we'll known all the time that
to Blaine had he become a candidate. A
strictly Blaine measure would, therefore,
naturally meet with party appreciation in
lowe and rally an enthusiastic following to
its support.
But in this case it failed to receive the
prominent republicans who opposed the
adoption of the reciprocity idea in the con-
ference what seemed to be the objection,
and his answer. WAS certainly broad and COM
prehensive enough to be convincing. THE
scheme.'' said he, 'has more politics than
political economy in it, and under this
sharp light of newspaper discussion, its
weakness would be soon detected by the
voters. Reciprocity running en- lines of
latitude must necessarily be more or less OF
n humbuo. The proposition to throw away
that which we have to grasp at that which
.-o ho.,o .,1% n-1 I, n lop1 valuable IS vpn 1,a1
it, is HI absurdity on its face. Jingoism is
the underlying idea. and not any desire to
ease the producing classes of this country.
That the Spanish speaking countries of
South America have any interest in com
mon with us more than European natlo9t'
have is an idle assumptions; u mere geo
graphical abstraction. We want to trade
with them, of course, but we want no po-
liticai alliance o. confederation. Tn alb
surdity of this kind of reciprocity is fully
exposed when We see some of the most Wig
cIoas advocates of reciprocity with
ing the application of the same
principles to Canada. Only IN
imaginary line separates the dominion from
our people. It's inhabitants have language,
customs and institutions III common with
us. and their trade relations with US must
necessarlally ever be more intimate ex-
tensive than we can possibly have with
South America or Mexico even. The ap-
plication of a little c~ommon-sense shows
how futile Mr.. Rlaine's plan is. That it
should be backed up by Il proposition to
surrender the constitutional powers OF con-
gress into the keeping of the president is
amusing beyondmeasure. The only reason
able hypothesis upon which Mr. Blaire's
action can be explained is that, seeing his
party about to tumble into the pit digged
for it by Mr.. Mckinley, he tried to get it to
jump into another abyss, hoping that while
h1rito&iv>. nc IN ruhirn hDIa ~ phoy,li oaaL
for self-destruction circumstances would
bring about an opportunity to retreat
from its p~erilous position. But MIR.
Blaine has always been tinctured with
jingoism. He has for many years
mad a hankering to establish a pro
lies to the south of us. 1t is quite likely
that his reciprocity plan is intended merely
as an entering wedge of a scheme for Il
political union. From a commercial stand
point his plan is utterly abortive. What
the farmers of Iowa are looking for is an
enlarge / market for their products. They
will not discover it in South America, and
any amount of political sophistry will not
convince them of the existence OF this
thing which does not east"
So the scheme to create a reciprocity issue
failed. But there WAS the prohibition ques.
tion confronting the party like a ghostly
apparition. That could be made the shib-
boieth of the campaign. but there were
none prepared to say that upon a platform
favoring no backward step from the set
tied policy the party could hope to win
To throw it overheard would be dangerous
The cold water advocates might pick W
their baggage and march out, leaving thu
republican party ship without sufficient bal
last to make her a seafaring craft.
A search was made for a happy medium
A medium was found, but it is likely t.
bring no end of trouble rather than happi-
ness. 1t was decided to pack the next stat
convention, if possible. 50 that a declara-
tion could be injected into the platform
favorinp the resubmission of the question
of prohibition to a vote of the people in the
form of a constitutional amendment. re
accomplish the act of submission the pass
age of a joint resolution through two legis-
latures by a two-thirds majority in each
house would be necessary. This would take
the question ont of the way of the repub-
hcan party for at least two years, and dur.
ing that time some now unexpected contin.
gsncy might arise that would rescue the
party from its dilemma. The plan locke
feasible on it's face, and when ChairIna 4
Mack of the state committee announc &c
the conference adjourned all the poIiti Gu
magnates wore a look of satisfaction.
But the steering committee which was az.
lected to smooth the way for the consum-
nation of the policy az eed upon ran
against breakers the first thing. There is
an organization in lows called the State
Temperance alliance. Its officers and mem
bers are chiefly republicans, but they ar,
mora daV6kad tn the Cucceoa ~ rrnb;L;x..