Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-28
CAMPAIGN IN IOWA
Both Parties Aligned on Questions Of
National Policy.
ISSUE JOINED ON EXPANSION
Democrats Only Hope to Cut Down
Republican Majority
GERMAN VOTE UNCERTAIN

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
BURLINGTON, Iowa, September %, 1899.
They have a cear-cut campaign on ma
tonal issues in Iowa this year. Not much
has been heard in the east of the prospects.
The notion has obtained that the issues
were local AS matter of fact thev are
Just the opposite. The lines are sharply
drawn-and the result of the Iowa election
may be fairly taken as an index of public
sentiment in the west. In one sense 1t VIII
be a fairer test than in Ohio, because there
are no side issues and no fractional dissen-
sions in either party to cloud the real ques-
lions. A governor and other state officers
are to be chosen, but by common consent
the issues were made national. One reason
on the part of the democrats was that they
could find no fault with the republican
state administration. The republicans on
their part We're satisfied to have the subject
of expansion made prominent. They want
ed a square tight.
former Congressman Fred E. White, who
made the race for them two years ago.
The populists Endorsed the ticket, and &C
copied the platform. This platform reaf-
trmed the Chicago platform IN general
terms without singing out free silver for
special Endorsement. Mr.. Bryan who was
hanging around Iowa at that time, was
content with this course, when the plat
form raised the national issue on anti-eX-
pansion lines, and against the trusts. The
anti-eXpansion declaration was disguised
l'unGer the terms of militarism and imperial
ism, but nobody doubted what it meant.
The establishment of American authority
in the Philippines was condemned as the
war against the Filpinos.' There was also
a little buncOmbe about an AnglO-American
alliance.
Republicans RenOminate Shaw.
The republican state convention remoni-
mated Gov Leslie Shaw he iSSraS
raised by the democrats, with forcible
statements of party policy. The national
administration was indorsed in the most
hearty terms for its course, and was prom
ised support in establishing and sustaining
the authority of the United States in the
Philippines. Advanced ground was also
taken in favor of the gold standard. This
was made so specific that it stood out in
contrast with the failure of the democrat s
to reaffirm their devotion to free silver as
a separate article of party faith So. while
the democrats made expansion a leading
issue, the republicans have also kept the
financial question TO the front. They will
not allow the democrats To run away from
it, and the vote in November may be taken
as an Indication of the sentiment on this
question as well as on expansion.
The democrats started in what they
meant to be an aggressive camDa ign. Their
candidate, Mr.. White. is. by the statements
of his political opponents a CAPABLE cam
of the successful party leader. He made
one of the best speeches in favor of FREQ
trade that was heard in Congress when
President Cleveland was urging tariff re-
form upon that body, and the Wilson bill
was coming into life. He also made good
free silver speeches three or four years
back He was not named as the candidate
for the purpose of repeating eithe- lis
| tariff reform or his free silver speeches
| The Iowa democrats are no longer anxious
| to hear those topics discussed. But it was
thought that Mr.. White could take uD The
/ new issue of anti-eXpansion and make good
speeches on that subject also. So he has
| been at it for a fortnight or more decla IN
| ing against what he calls militarsm and
| imperialism. 1t is too early yet to judge
| the effect of the declarations.
| Moreover. the democratic candidate has
| had the field to himself. Governor Shaw
| has made Two or three incidental speeches
| but the republicans have not formally open
| ed their campaign. They will not Do SO
| until October I. when Senator Allison and
| other leading men will be heard. Ther
! they will have thirty days canvass They
think that is long enough TO get the issues
thoroughly before the people. The repub-