The Saint Paul globe., 1901-08-13
COODCHANCE EINIOWA
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR COW
ERNoR IS NOT POPULAR
WITH VOTERS
PLATFORM IS VULNERABLE
PrOhibitionists VIII Not Support
Cummins, and 1t Is Doubtful If
He Can Command Support
of His Party.

DES MONIES, Iowa, Aug. 1.-THE
strong prohibition sentiment against
Cummins, the meaningless plank in the
Cedar RAPIDS platform on taxation and
the bitterness engendered in the ranks
OF the anti-Cummins faction during the
campaign preceding the Republican state
convention will be the important factors
utilized by the Democrats between now
and election day to elect Democratic
candidate for governor.
II is probable the most strenuous ef-
forts of the Republican campaign man.
ayers cannot hold the prohibition ele-
ment in the Republican party in line for
Cummins, who, in the legislature, took a
stand against prohibition and won the
lasting enmity of its most radical ad-
herents. There is a likelihood, too that
large part of the third party prohibition
vote VIII be thrown against Cummins
and to a. DemOcraUc candidate in case a
suitable one is selected. There is a move
ment on to nominate Senator George W.
Ball, of Iowa City, who would be ac-
ceptable to the prohibitionists.
Inc Democratic leaders nave from the
first recognized the vulnerable nature of
the platform adopted at Cedar Rapids 1t
Is not satisfactory to the majority of
the men who have been the advocates
OF Cummins In the campaign. The news
papers of the machine faction of the Re-
publican party hail the platform as a re-
brke to the independent press. which has
steadfastly advocated reforms in the
methods of railway taxation.
The Democratic convention will in all
probability adopt a strong platform, deal
ing with reforms in the taxation of rail-
roads and franchises and with the need
of a change in the laws governing the
railroad commission. At the present time
the railroad commission is recognized as
little else than nonentty IN doing any
thing that will benefit the public The
Democrats Will advocate a policy that
will enhance it's powers and enab1e the
people to get some good out Of it rather
than permit the railroads to make use of
1t for their own welfare.
While the hope of the ueutenants Of
Cummins is that the anti-Cummins fac
tion of the Republican party will sup
port him, the Democratic leaders are con,
vinced there will be a. good deal of bolt
ing Of the ticket. They are hopeful not
only on the goVernorship but believe
they can elect a railroad commissioner
and that they can defeat a number or
the Republican candidates for the legis-
lature in the close districts.
The Democrats are watching with de-
light every development that tends to
keep up the row between the two wings
Of the Republican party. One of the diff
ficulties the Republicans have to settle
now is the selection of a chairman of the
state central committee. When Chair
man II. o. Weaver was in Cedar Rapids
following the nomination of Cummins he
said ne would not again be a candidate
for chairman and would support for the
Craftsmanship whoever Cummins might
name. 1t IS understood Mr.. Weaver
spoke before Consulting with his superior
officer, ]. w. Blythe, Of the Burlington
road, and that the antl-Cummins men will
name the chairman and refuse to make
any concession. The committee is COM
posed of five Cummins men and seven
anti-Cummins, and 1t rests with the anti
Cummins men entirely what will be done.
In case the anti-Cummins men insist on
retaining control of the committee the
Democrats will look on it as evidence
that the two factions are being driven
still wider apart than before.