Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-08
SPENCE AND HIS F1NEssE.

lDeS MONIES Leadef.J
Robert III. Spence, chairman OF the
republican state central committee, will
receive much of the credit for the ex-
traordinary victory won under his au-
spices. Attic there never was doubt as
to the result, he labored under many
difficulties and disadvantages, and to
his energy and good sense, aided by
Secretary Phillips, and Mr.. John Briar.
in charge OF the literary bureau, and
Mr.. A. F. Dawson, in charge of the
speakers bureau, the size of Mr.. Cum
Minis plurality, which was the real
matter on controversy, is largely due.
When "reminiscences are INDUCED
concerning the republican campaign OF
1901 the matter that will be the prin-
cipal subject of comment will be the
highly edifying game of finesse which
has gone on behind the screen of the
regular or formal campaign. Speaking
broadly, the element which did not sue
coed in beating Mr.. Cummins nomina
ton at Cedar Rapids, while yielding to
the inevitableness of his election, did
not wish his plurality to be large. IT
was hoped his plurality would fall be-
low that of Governor Shaw two years
ago, and if it did SO fall below it was
to be said: Behold, we told you So
Various things were quietly done in
the effort to keep down the vote. Such
papers as the Sioux City Journal, after
the democratic state convention, open
~ advocated making no campaign on
the republican side-saying it wasn't
necessary. A studied effort was made
by cetrain newspapers and speakers to
introduce extreme republican partisan
ship into the campaign, in the belief
that thus democratic sensibilities would
be aroused and fewer democratic votes
cast for Mr.. Cummins Chairman
Spence, altho not originally Cum
minis man, set himself like a stone wall
against this ramifying conspiracy.
1t is well known that the republican
campaign fund Is raised by contribu-
tons received from various Office hold
ers. Chairman Spence, turnout the
campaign, found that some subtle influ-
ence was drying UP his sources of rev.
enue. The impulse was traced close to
certain congressman who had passed
the word along that it wasn't "neces-
sary'' to contribute to the state COM
mittee it being intimated that contri-
buttons should be reserved for the local
comittees Others high in the man
agement of republican affairs took a
hand in this little by play, as letters
in existence show. In this sly way
Chairman Spence found himself embar
assed and his work impeded. the plain
object being to keep down the size of
the republican plurality. Chairman
Spence is given credit for having han
died the delicate matters with diplo-
macy. At least he kept the work OF the
committee going, altho it is said he has
had less "sinews" than any republican
chairman in many years.
In another way Chairman Spence
showed himself of the right stuff. He
was approached early In the campaign
by the newspaper Of the state which
has accumulated the habit of leeching
the republican party and organization,
with the suggestion that the republican
state committee take 5000 copies of its
issue until election time, paying there
for at Customary" rates. This sug-
gestion was not favorably received, and
it then grew into demand. Chairman
Spence, meeting insistence with resist
ance, fatty refused, and declared that
under his management there would be
no successful. hold ups Of the COM
mittee. He was not at all disconnected
when shortly afterward the rebuffed
publisher came out with an
elaborate attack on the state commit
tee, accusing it of consorting with dem
ocrats, etc.