The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-06-23
DEN1soN IOWA. June %, 1899.


DENISON IOWA, June 90, 1899.
HOW TO ELECT SENATORS,
Extracts from Letter bys. j. Woodruff of
Dow City to Wallace's Farmer
s'When party organization degener-
ates to this we have machine politics of
the most pronounced type. There is
but one antidote: every citizen must
keep himself informed and hold those
SO intrusted to strict accountability.
The industrial public, especially the
farmer, can and should have the de-
Gliding voice in selecting Iowa's next
senator. viii they? Not much! They
will be too busy to bother about little
thing like that.
They will leave the entire prelimi-
nary struggle, which will practically
decide the question, to a few profess
sional politicians in each county, who
have already picked up convenient
and obliging candidate, whose vote. ex;
perience has shown, can be depended
upon. Talk about electing senators by
direct vote OF the people! Why go to
any such trouble? In such case from
the nominees chosen by the state con-
ventions the senator would be elected,
and if the farmers stayed at home and
plowed corn instead of attending the
summer conventions, where should be
the gain?
The state convention this summer
shouldn't Iowa's next senator and
save the expense and disgrace of a
deadlock or legislative scramble. But
this sentiment is being squelched by
the powers at headquarters. Already
it is next to impossible to get anything
published, in the dependent press, adj
vocating the nomination of senator by
the state convention. Nothing but the
concerted demands of the voters of
Iowa will change the decision.
S. j. WoODRUFF.n
We publish the above extract from a
we'll written letter by MIR. s. j. Wood
ruff of Dow City to the Wallace
Farmer, relative to trusts, and to the
United States senatorship. the ques-
ton as to the selection of United States
senator by direct vote of the people and
the question of the endorsement of any
particular man by the State convention
are certainly open to discussion and we
see no reason why either an dependent
or independent press should refuse
space to such communications. AS ia
the United States senatorship the RE.
VIEW has purposely expressed no opin.
ion. Two years ago Crawford county
went before the republicans of the
state and asked support for its candi-
date for Governor. 1t went to the
friends Of Cummins, Gear, Lacey, Dol
liver, Hepburn, Larrabee and all the
men who are senatorial possibilities
and asked and received support and
help. This year again Crawford coun
ty will present its candidate and there
seems to be no question but that he
will receive the nomination by accla
nation. Crawford county republicans
are therefore in alpolitical sense under
obligations to every county in the state
we can see no reason therefore why oul
county should take sides with any one
candidate. We are satisfied that any
one of the men named above would
make good and acceptable senators and
we are willing that the remainder of the
state should settle the question to suit
themselves. This is especially the cast
as we live in what has for fifteen years
been democratic county. The odds
are against the election of a republican
representative. 1t is our hope thai
these odds may be overcome. The RE
VIEW will strive to the utmost to hell
overcome them, but they cannot bs
overcome if we insist that our candi
date shall pledge himself IN advance tt
any senatorial boom and thus render
less ardent in the fight any number Of
republican voters. All we shall ask Of
the nominee is that he be a true blue
republican, a believer in sound money
and sound laws, and that he endorse
the platform of the republican party
as expressed in national and state CON
ventions. With such man We will de
all within our power to make a win
ming campaign, and we are willing tt
let the matter of United States senator
rest until after we find that we shall
have voice in the proceeding. There
can be no harm however in the public
discussion of the propriety of selecting
a senator by direct vote and the RE
VIEW for one will be pleased to publish
any communications from Mr.. Wood
ruff or any other person along this line.
THE Glvll SERVICE 0pnEo