Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-15
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Cedar Rapids Republican,

noon. This means that he will be the
next governor of Iowa, unless prov-
dence should interpose. The result
came earlier than was anticipated, due
to the critical test vote on the seating
of the two contested delegations. those
from Carroll and Jackson counties
1t is not necessary to review the
events of the pre-convention campaign
In many respects one of the most re-
markable pre-convention campaigns
ever held in the state Victory covers
multitude of pollucs.
The vote was a close one, standing
$50 i'll favor of Mr. Cummins or 80
more than a majority. A large num-
of single counties might have changed
the result of the first ballot 1t was
essential for Mr. Cummins to win on
the first baIiot. or on a very early bal
lot. In protracted balloting he would
have lost, perhaps more than he would
have gained. His managers early re-
allied this and with this realization
they forced Mr.. Herriott out of the
race in the ninth district. The test
vote on the Carroll and Jackson coun-
ty contests were fortunate incidents
for them, for on the face of the propo-
sitions the regularly certified delegates
had the best of the situation.
But saddest of all are the might
have beens This is especially true of
politics. The change of few votes
In the pivotal state of New York would
have made the gallant Blaine instead
of the ponderous Cleveland, president
of the United States.
One who admires pertinacity and
pugnacity must yield to Mr.. Cummins
admiration for his political career in
Iowa. Victory did not come to him in
a day, nor a year. He was twice de-
feated before the legislature for Uni
ted States senator and once for the
same Office before the governor of the
state as the appointing power. But he
came again and he finally has come to
victory But after all the fact that he
succeeded is really less remarkable
than the fact that he won by such a
narrow margin. Mr.. Cummins had a
compact organization, an organization
left over from the senatorial fights.
The forces against him were left with
out a leader and without an organiza-
tion by the death of Senator Gear.
They We're divided into several
camps, each more or less jealous of
the other, for there are rivalries in
politics almost as acute as musicians
riyalries. TIL, re was widespread feel
ing that after taking SO many defeats
bravely that Mr.. Cummins ought not
to be denied the smaller Office of gov
ernor. After a compact fight against
the odds and ends of what was Sen
ator Gears organization, Mr.. Cum
minis won by the narrow margin which
might have been wiped out by the
change of several single counties. The
remarkable thing really is that at the
close of such contest there were 781
votes out of 1641 cast against him,
and that after his followers had Sc
cured control of the convention on
the test vote growing out of the con
tested counties. And these 781 votes
were for the most part outright anti
Cummins votes. for practically all the
counties in doubt had been eliminated.
The Next Governor of Iowa.
Hon. A. B. Cummins of Des Moines.
who was nominated for the candidate
for governor at the republican state
convention held in Cedar Rapids We'd
nesday, is one of Iowa's representative
men, and man VINO would honor any
office in which the people placed him.
Mr.. Cummins is a scholar, lawyer OF
renown, d statesman, g cultured gen.
tleman, and as governor Of Iowa will
be a model executive.--Dss Moines
Register (Rep).
Mr.. Cummins is Nominated.
Mr.. Cummins was nominated on the
first ballot at Cedar Rapids 1t was
a splendid victory. Never in the his
tory of the state has the political can
didacy of any man aroused greater
enthusiasm. The Cedar Rapids con
vention will long be known as the Cum
INNS convention, and will be memor
able in the history of Iowa republi
canism.
From the beginning, unusual interest
has been taken in Mr.. Cummins' can
didacy-doubtless because the manner
In which his candidacy was made was
itself unusual. Appeal was made not
to the district and local bosses, not tc
the Iowa railroad machine which has
long dictated the states republican
ticket and platform. Mr.. Cummins
made his appeal direct to the people,
to the republican voters of Iowa. The
method was novel, complete innova-
ton in fact, but it seemed to please.
From the time that the first primaries
were held, the people gave evidence
they were preparing to enjoy the
new condition of things, and would
make their choice for governor as i'll
dividuals, without advice or dictation.
There has been complaint by those
who were opposed to Mr.. Cummins that
the campaign just ended has stirred
up an unusual amount of trouble, has
created strife and factionism which
will not soon be cured. 1t was to be
expected that a campaign in which
several hundreds of voters participated
would raise more dust than one in
which smooth-running, well-oiled ma
chine, directed by few self-appointed
steerers, did all the work. The battle
over, however, it will doubtless be
found the noise and the excitement has
considerably cleared the Iowa repub.
lican atmosphere, and-this much is
sure-than in Mr.. Cummins will be
found a man who will confound his
enemies and will not disappoint his
friends.-Des Moines Leader Qnd.))
The Battle at Cedar Rapids.
The political whirlpool at Cedar
Rapids today has been only another
intensified illustration of life N. of a