Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-17
IOWA FOR ROOSEVELT
Announcement Of Director
Roberts.
IN LINE FOR PRESIDENT
HIS VIEWS ON WESTERN POLITI-
CAL SITUATION.
Expects Solid Republican Delegation
From That State-Crop Pros
poets and Farms.

Mr.. George E. Roberts, director of the
mint, has returned to his office in the
Treasury Department after an absence on
business in the west. The recent acquisi-
tion of important newspaper properties in
the west will not interfere with Mr.. Rob-
erts retaining his position here, and for
the present, at least, he has no idea Of re-
signing his office. In discussing conditions
in the west with Star reporter today Mr..
Roberts said:
Little is going on in the political field
in Iowa. All the republican representatives
in the lower house of Congress have been
renominated, except Capt. Rumple of the
second district. Capt. Rumple has been
forced to retire from public life on account
of ill-health. The democratic party is prac-
tically without organization in the state
and shows no sign of making a vigorous
contest in any congressional district.
There is every reason to expect that the
state will return solid republican delega-
tiou to Congress- The people are in the
mood to do this.
Iowa for Roosevelt.
president Roosevelt has the confidence
and cordial support of practically every
body in the state, democrats and republi-
cans alike. They believe in his integrity
of purpose and ability, and expect to see
him renomnated and reelected. There
will be no opposition in the state to a
solid delegation for him to the republi-
can national convention in 1904. Sentiment
is with the President upon all the issues
with which he has identified himself
The people of Iowa believe in generous
treatment for the Cuban people and govern
ment and in making q start for restrictive
legislation that will control the trusts
They believe with President Roosevelt that
this should be conservative, but that it
should be pointed and forceful.
Crop Prospects.
The crop situation is just the reverse
of what it was at this time a year ago.
Then the crops were suffering from Sc
we're drought. Recently there have been
excessive and destructive rains. The con-
ditions have grown better, however, than
they were ten days ago. The state rallied
last year and produced a fair crop of corn.
Although there was some damage by the
rains the weather has now cleared and
there is every reason to expect a full aver
age crop Of corn unless there IS change
in the situation.
Speculation in Farm Lands.
THE most notable feature of the business
situation in the west is the prevalent specu-
lation in farm lands West and northwest
of Chicago farm lands have advanced in
value an average of more than 90 per cent.
The farmers have been enjoying high prices
a long time, and have money to invest. This
has led to an increased demand for lands,
and the movement has attained speculative
proportions.
almost every town and cross roads is
deeply absorbed In the topic of the price OF
farm lands. There Is a great movement Of
farmers and spectators into Canada to buy
the cheap wheat lands of Manitoba and the
provinces west of 1t. BY the close of
other season there will be more residents in
that region who are from the United States
than from any other region. A great deal
of capital is being absorbed by this land
movement, and this accounts for the ad
vance of interest rates and the movement
of money this early in the season"