The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-25
IOWA.

One OF the big political fights of the year
will come OF in Iowa. For several year.
past the Republicans have been losing and
the Democrats gaining ground in tina,
State. Two years ago the Democrats
elected their nominee for governor. giving
him plurality OF 6,523, the totel vote being
360,673. The Republicans elected the other
state officers by small plural:ties. Last
year the highest state officer chosen was
the secretary of state. and the Republican
candidate was elected by plurality of
| 3, 366, in total vote of 800, 305. in 1889 the
Democratic nominee received 1884 per
cent. of all the votes cast, and the Republi-
cans had S.0l per cent. Last year, on secre-
tary OF state the percentages were practi-
cally reversed, the Democratic nominee get
ting 1870 per cent. to 1909 per cent. for the
Republican candidate. An explanation for
this is found, however, in the fact that in
1889 there Were &, 952 scattering votes,
while there were none in 1899. These
scattering votes were all Republican, and
were cast for the Republican candidate in
1890. The Denocatic strength showed a
healthy increase, the growth during the
year being S,129.
The HERALD is not among the enthusiasts
who say that the Democrats viii carry
Iowa We think the state is doubtful
Iowa always has been Republican, is yet
Republican, and it will disappoint no
conservative Democrat if it shall be found
in the wrong column for yet year or two
BoIEs' election as governor two years ago
was not due TO g plurality of Democratic
voters in the state, for if there had been
such plurality the entire ticket would
have been elected. Other things
than straight party politics con-
spired to elect the Democratic nominee,
the state still being Republican. While
we know that Iowa is Repu 3lican, the
steady losses by that party, and the CORE
spending gains by the Democrats, furnish
not merely encouraging proof but positive
conviction that in a little while, perhaps
in the course OF two years, the Democracy
will be in control. 1t will be interesting at
this time to note the decadence of the Re
publican party in that state for the past
nineteen years, the party's plurality in
1870 having been, N round numbers, 60, coo:
in 1876 the plurality had fallen to $4,000; in
1852 to %, GOO; in 1854 to 10000; in 1886 to
10 600, and in 1890 to 1900.
1t Is because of this showing that the
fight this year will be perhaps the most
desperate ever witnessed. The Republi-
cans realize what their defeat in 1891 would
mean. They know that Democratic vic
tary next fall would make almost certain
the turning over of the state in 1892 to the
Democrats. Next to Ohio more Republican
money will be spent in Iowa this year than
in any other state. The ablest speakers in
the party will be sent there, and all the
power and influence which can be welded
will be brought to bear to hold the state on
this occasion, and thus save the party from
BoIEs has been renomi-
mated for governor. His administration
has been able and honest, and his popular
ity has increased. He ought to be re-elec-
ted, and would be, beyond doubt, If it
were not for next years contest, which
will inspire the Republicans TO make fight
as vigorous as the situation is desperate.