The Dispatch. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1891-07-04
THE COMING CAMPAIGN IN IOWA.

uldl hdDlt do GuCy hl6, III Scoluo olldhSO
to think of an exciting political canvass
in the state of Iowa. 1t is only a few
years since the Republican party was
able to command there majority, am
pie after all accidents, and apparently
invulnerable against any and all as
saults that might be made upon it. 1t
reached its high-water mark at $4,000,
and its average for many years was in
the neighborhood of $4,000. For long
time the Democrats did not elect
enough members of both houses of the
legislature to make a respectable eau
Gus, and it was not until 1874 that they
We're able to choose one member OF con-
gress, for the first time in tW enty years
of continued and continuous effort; and
yet two years ago in that state Demo
cratic governor, HORACE BoIEs, was
elected by majority of nearly 1000;
the lower house of the legislature was
tie between the two great parties, and
the Democratic representation in the
senate was greatly increased over any
similar body in the history of the state
for thirty-fve years.
The influences that have brought
about this important result, and have
given the Democrats of Iowa renewed
courage, are many and varied. 1t has
taken nearly twenty years OF growing
opposition to the majority party; it has
been necessary that bosses" OF various
kinds and degree should set them
selves up in that state, and after az
raging themselves successfully against
its interest for time, find themselves
finally beaten and disgruntled. 1t has
taken good many years of fanatical
temperance legislation to do its part
in bringing about this suspicious re-
suit. 1t is now more than thirty years
since the first prohibitory law was
passed in Iowa. Modified from time
to time by the removal of some of its
restrictions, it was made more severe
by the legislatures Of 'S6 and 'SS, until
the people Of the state became finally
aroused to the fact that their material
and moral interest were suffering de-
cay. Then it was that it became i'm
possible for the majority party to adopt
any means of staying the tide of revolt.
From that time on Republican supre-
macy in Iowa was doomed. When
men like the present governor
of the state, lifelong Republicans,
were compelled to leave the ranks of
their party, it was only question OF
time when Democratic supremacy
should be insured
With the organization of the conven-
ton held last week in Iowa, was open
ed one of the most interesting as well
as one of the most important political
campaigns of the present year. 1t was
demonstrated last year that, in spite of
an unfriendly gerrymander, the Demo-
Gratis could elect more than majority
of the delegation in Congress. They
did this while losing the state by plu-
rality of about three thousand This
year the campaign will be conducted
not only upon State lines, with the pur-
pose of continuing an administration of
local affairs such as it has enjoyed un-
der Mr. BoIEs, but also upon lines of
national policy. The MCKINLEY law
will be an issue in Iowa no less than it
was last year or than it is during the
present year in the State of Ohio where
the author of that law is himself the
candidate of his party for Governor.
For the first time in the history of the
Democracy of the State of Iowa, speak
ers will be drawn from every part of the
country to discuss before her people the
important political questions which di-
vide the whole country. 1t will no
longer be possible to appeal successful
ly to the memories of the lAte war, OF
to put life into old and dead issues.
The Republicans must fight this year
for their lives. They have everything
to gain. They must win back the state,
or it will be idle for them to attempt to
make serious canvass for votes in any
western state at the Presidential cleo
ton of next year. If they cannot win
back Iowa, they cannot hope to win
back Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Mich
igan or Wisconsin, nor to hold either of
the DakotaS.
There is every indication that the
Democrats will be able to re-elect Gov
ernor BoIEs. He has made an admin
istration excellent in every way, thor
oughly honorable to his State. He has,
indeed, brought to it honors which have
long been its due, but which have been
haltingly given because of the fact that
it has put forward weak and insignifi-
cant men for its highest honors. Now that
it has again conferred them upon a man
who has thoroughly merited them, the
people of the State are not likely to for
get him or the courage that he has
shown in the discharge of his duties.
The country will watch with unusual
interest the canvas now in progress in
that trans-Mississippi State.
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