Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-09-14
DANGER IN iowa.
Chairman Weaver Gives
Warning to Republic
an Voters.
What a Ten or Twenty Per
Cent. Loss of Vote
Will Do.
Such a Falling OFF Would Elect
Several Democrats to Con-
gress from Iowa.
Urgent Necessity of Keeping Up lowa'
Republican Majority. Which Sus-
taius the Credit of the State.

| what would be the effect in the con-
| gressional districts Of Iowa OF fall
ing off in the republican vote OF ten
to twenty per cent? asked Chairman
Weaver. of the republican state COM
mittee. as he took down a copy OF the
official register giving the vote by con-
gressional districts in 1896 and 1898.
1.-THE only serious danger which con-
| fronts us as party and as cam
paign committee in Iowa this year is
the apparen< overconfdence of repub-
lican voters. They seem to think that
it doesn't matter much whether they
vote or not, that everything will be
all right anyway. l think l can show
these men the danger OF the course
they are pursuing and convince them
that it is necessary for every man
to have his vote counted this fall II
he expects to be satisfied with the
results.
LET US take the First congressional
district. In 1896 the republican vote
was 2l,944 and the plurality 1926. a
falling off of 20 per cent. from that
vote would give the district to the
democrats by large majority. for the
full democratic vote will be polled
this fall. In 1893 the republican vote
was 17.S17 and the plurality 3,24o.
Twenty per cent. loss from that vote
would give the democrats comfort
able margin. They are counting on
Just this thing happening, and that
is the reason why they are claiming
that they will carry the First dis
trict. That district is made up very
largely of strong republican counties,
offset bv some democratic strong
holds. The democrats will all vote.
The republicans up i'll the country
are expected by the democrats to stay
at home. Democratic expectations
are based upon republican careless
ness and a close organization on the
part of the democrats. This they
have throughout the state this year
very much better than they have ever
had before Secretary Walsh, OF the
democratic national committee, boasts
that he is in personal communication
with 80 600 precinct workers in Iowa.
"Take the Second district. In 1896
the republican vote was 23,2o2, a
plurality of 1920. In 1898 the re-
nuhlican vote was 1890 and the
plurality 1882. Even ten per cent.
loss here would defeat Capt. Rump-c,
the republican nominee.
TT will be said that the Third dis
trict is safe because in 1896 it gave
Col. Henderson majority OF 1O,A23
and in 1898 majority of goal. But
it has not always been so in this dis
trjct. In 1890 Col. Henderson carried
the district by plurality of 1913 and
in 1892 by 1859. If there is heavy
falling off in the republican vote in
that district this year it will encour'
age the democrats to make another
fight on Col. Henderson ana he Will
have to stay at home two years from
now and defend his seat in congress
The same may be said of the Fourth
and Fifth districts. They have gooo
safe majorities now. but both of then
have in recent years been carried by
the democrats and if the republican:
relax their hold for single year, j
will be necessary to make another big
fight to hold those districts.
I'm the Sixth district Maj. Lace!
was elected in 1896 by a plurality o
1901. His vote was 1870. In 1895
he had a plurality of 1,417 over Gen
Weaver, the republican vote that yea
being 1878. It does not require
much figuring to show that tel
per cent. loss in the republican VOTE
in that district this year would lant
democrat in congress. The demo
Gratis are making a special effort tt
carry the Sixth district. Col. Hepburn
had 24,7s3 votes in the Eighth distric
in 1896. but his majority was only S27
In 1898 his vote was 22,327 and hi
majority 2.G05. That is another dis
trict which democrats are claiming
and will make a great effort to carry
If ten per cent. of the republican,
in that district were to refrain from
voting Col. Hepburn will be defeated
The same would be true in the Nintl
district. where the republican vot'
in 1896 was 24.9O4 and the ma orit,
2.o45. Two years later Smith Nc
Pherson, with 1896 votes. had a ma
ioritv of ISIS. The district is snov
considered safely republican, but i
there should be slump in the re
publican vote this year it would b.
again placed in the doubtful column
The Seventh. Tenth and Eleventh dis
tricts have always been republican by
large majorities in recent years. But
there is no surer way to disrupt the
politics of a district and make trou
BILE for the party than for the re
puhlicans TO show a lack Of interest i1
The election of their congressman anG
allow his majority to reach low-watel
mark.