Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-07-20
DANGER OF LETHARGY.
ReDublicuns Are Urged by Chairman
weaver to Exert More
Energy.

Des Moines, Ia, July 16. II notice
that in the discussion of the coming
campaign the leaders Of both sides
seem to agree that the fight Will be IN
the west" commented H. o. Weaver,
chairman of the republican state com
mittee, "but they leave Iowa out OF the
list of states wherein they think the
battle will be fought. Now, this is line
tribute to the state, to the good sense
and stability of her people, but it IS
fraught with some danger, especially
to some of our congressman. II the
campaign is Hanaged on the theory
that it is unnecessary to pay any atten-
ton to Iowa, we shall have some vain
regrets after election. Not that
think the state is close, but Iowa re-
publicans are often afflicted with the
disease of over-confidence and we never
made as good showing as we shoaio
in the state. except in 1896. because re-
pub.icans always felt so sure OF sue
cess that many of them were inactive
and many even failed to vote
81 see signs of an epidemic OF this
disease in Iowa. Everyone is saying
that the fight was settled in our favor
at Kansas City. when the democrats
came out for their real issue, 16 to ana
the Chicago platform. nominated bry-
an and turned down Towne.' Rerub-
leans seem to think that the only thing
for them to do is to wait patiently for
the formality Of the election to be at
tended to by others. In 1896 they were
thoroughly frightened and they went
to work and never let up till they polled
vote of 2s9,2s3 for Mckinley. This
was more than $4,000 above the highest
republican vote polled in the state be-
fore. that of Mcfarland for secretary OF
state in 1894. Harrison in 1892 had
$4,000. Note how the republican vote
has fallen since then. In 1s97 Shaw had
$4,000 for governor and the next year,
| when the election of congressman
should have carried the vote away up,
Dobson. for secretary of state, had $780,
OCn votes. In 1899 Gov. Shaw succeeded
in bringing the republican vote up to
239, 900. still $4,000 short of the vote of
1896. Every county in the state but
four, Clarke. Monroe. Monona and Palo
Alto, showed republican losses in 1890
compared with 1896. The total repub-
lican gains were 14t. while the demo-
cratsg gained 5S9in seven counties, name
ly: Benton, Bremen. Cedar. Chicka-
saw, Muscatine. Osceola and Scott
"And what have the democrats been
doing all this time, Mr.. Weaver?>
"They have been doing better than
we have in getting their vote out, - re-
piled the chairman, though last year
we beat them little. In 1892 Grover
Cleveland had 10000, to which should
be added for comparison the 10000
populist votes cast that year. In 1894
the democratic vote was l49,9s0 and
the populist vote 34,907. In 1896 Bry-
an had 223,741. and the next year
Fred White, the democratic nominee,
. for governor, had 1883, falling-off
of only 13 per cent. At the same time
} the republican falling-off was 90 per
cent. of the vote of 1896. In 1898 the
democratic vote in Iowa was $4,000
and in 1899 Fred White again for gov
ernor had 1926, a reduction of IS
per cent. from the vote of 1896. The
republican vote of that year shows a
reduction of trife less, II per cent.
from McKinley's vote.
"Talting the congressional districts
it is we'll known that the First, Sec,
ond, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Seventh
districts showed republican losses last
year, as compared with 1898. The
Second district gave republican ma
, jority of only forty-dve last year.
ut will be well for the republicans
of the state to think of these things
, 1t would be almost as bad to have the
|! republican vote Of the state run down
so we would have only small major
,, ity as it would to lose a congressman
!: or two, and both may happen if the
republicans do not do their duty.
have no doubt we shall elect all on,
:, eleven congressman, but it will be
+ done by every republican doing hi:
: share. It must NOT be forgotten thai
the democrats are better organized il
! Iowa this year than they have beer
for several years, much better than il
. 1896. They have had their headquar
l ters open and in active operation IL
Des Moines for several months ant
: have been securing the state To-
funds" ~.