St. Paul daily globe., 1892-03-12
HOT CAMPAIGNS.
How Gov. Boies Triumphed Over
the Prohibition Cohorts.

How Gov. Boies Triumphed Over
the Prohibition Cohorts.
In the fight over prohibition he had
acted merely as an independent citizen.
In the national campaign of 1884 he
acted as a Democratic citizen and spoke
for Grover Cleveland in many counties
of the state. The year before he had
voted the Democratic state ticket, and
now in 1884 appearing on the stump for
Cleveland, he merely emphasized the
strength of convictions which he had
held for years.
His course proved, too, that the get
ting of Office had lot been and was not
now in his thoughts. The Democrats
were almost hopelessly in the minority.
1t did not look in 1888, when Mr.. BoieS
went into the Democratic party, that
the organization would be able to carry
the state until a generation of agitation
had passed.
But it was the unexpected that came
to pass. Iowa Republicans went through
course of instruction on the tariff long
before the country at large got its cam
paign of education on the subject.
There had been tariff reform propa
ganda in the state in the decade from
tracts and the farmers studied the tax
Question.ini the country school houses at
night meetings called for that purpose.
Consequently there had come change
of opinion among the people of the
state, and in Republican ranks there
were many who were ready to revolt.
The time for this revolt came in 1889.
Until a few years before the Demo-
cratic party had been so weak that it
could not be said that in any cam
paign had there been square fight be-
tween the parties. In the two or three
elections before 1889 the Democrats had
lost, as usual. butln those elections they
had made and kept some gains. And
now, earlyain 1889, the managers felt
that if they could find strong man to
run for governor they could make more
gains. They knew that there was dis
satisfaction among thinking Republic
ans, but they did not believe that it was
sufficient to warrants hope that through
it the Democrats could carry the state.
Not victory at the polls, therefore, but
another gain of votes was all that they
were looking for and working for.
Discussion about nominees began
early. Newspapers all over the state
urged that the best man possible be
found. Some journals advocated the
name OF Boies. Others seconded the
suggestion. Members of the state COM
mittee felt that he would be strong
candidate.
The cam paign was vigorous. The
questions of fanti-monOpoly legislation, of
tariff reform and of prohibition were
discussed. Especially was there argu-
ment tor tariff reform. Mr.. Boies made
many speeches. But he did not count
on being made governor. Only a short
While before election daV visitor at
home in Waterloo found Miss BoieS
packing some trunks. The visitor asked
Miss Jessie whether she was not rather
making early preparation. "For," she
added, you won't have to get to the
capital until January, and here it's
months ahead Of that time"
Ana then Miss Boies explained that
she was not packing things for a resi-
dence in DeS Moines, but was getting
ready for long visit to Europe.
Papa doesn't expect to be elected"
she said, "and as soon as the campaign
is over we are going abroad"
Well, they did not 90 abroad. They
went to Des MoineS instead, for the
lawyer had been made governor, and
for the first time since before the war
the state of Iowa had gone Democratic.
B0leS mad been elected by plurality OF
6.523 in total vote of $4,000 larger than
in the preceding gubernatorial election.
He was as much surprised as was the
Republican party.
From that day Gov. Boies has been the
idol of his party. His administration
was such that in 1891 his denomination
was demanded. He was not unwilling
to take the second nomination, because
Republican newspapers had opened
hot and incessant fire upon him for his
tariff reform vie ws expressed in the
speech delivered before the Reform