Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-07

ex-governor Of Iowa, will stand as the
democratic candidate for congress
against Speaker Henderson in the Third
district follows quickly and significantly
the action of the democratic state con-
vention at Des Moines, In which he
appeared as leader in the fight to re-
pudiate Organism, free silver and tie
Kansas City platform. In that fight
the anti-Bryanites won, although by
the sleDderest margin, and they mean
now to make the most of that success.
Their purpose is to go ~strenuously on in
their effort to purge the Iowa democ-
racy of the disease which so fatally
attacked the party in 1896 and which
in Iowa has made it a joke ever since.
Previously to the populistic paroXysm
that in 1896 convulsed the Chicago con-
vention the democratic party had in
Iowa been built up, by wise and con
sentative leadership, to responsibility
and serious strength. The republican
party becoming involved in the folly
OF prohibition, the great German ele-
IA IA LCpdbAiIdh dhA
sound money to the core, Joined the
democratic party en- masse in 1882, the
year that prohibition carried. With
the Germans that year, and increasingly
each year Aafterward, went the business
men and the more conservative repub-
licans generally; and almost to a man
they were for sound money. The re-
suit was that in 1889 the democratic
party, wisely and conservatively led,
carried Iowa and elected Horace Boies
governor, re-electing him two years
later. Iowa thus was made in some re-
spects a doubtful state. The demo-
cratic party had certainly become for
midable. But it had become SO solely
as a conservative political organization.
The action Of the Chicago convention
in 1896 instantly shattered the demo-
cratic party in Iowa. The exodus from
it's ranks on account of popullsm was
as great, as instant and as determined
as the exodus from the republican party
in 1882 on account Of prohibitionism.
The Germans left in a body. The bust
ness men hurried out. Not only so,
but thousands of old-line democrats
either openly repudiated Organism or
sullenly stood aloof. OF that able body
of leaders who had led the democracy,
hardly M cared to help. Nearly all
Of them wished to see it Inundated by
defeat, and not a few contributed di-
rectly to its defeat.
This year at last the conservative
democrats made an effort TO rehabilltate
the party. They knew that the very
first step must be Reputation of Bryan
ism. A hot fight therefore went ON for
six months before the late convention
and q doubtful one. The issue was Of
course on the reaffirmation or rejection
of the Kansas City platform. So deter
mined were the Observation-Disclosures
that they refused to take any part In
the congressional districts until after
the state convention had actually gone
ON record. In the Third district it was
boldly declared that Boies would not
run until the Kansas City platform had
been turned down. In the Eleventh
district, where the nominating conven-
ton was held ahead OF the state con-
v~ention, not 3 solitary conservative dem
ocrat could be prevailed upon to accept
nomination, because Of the doubt as to
what might be the action of the state
convention; and after it had been offered
TO and declined by half a dozen men, it
was finally thrust upon one who was
not present to protect himself-and he
a democrat tainted with popullsm. A
similar situation existed in several other
districts.
But after a close fight the democratic
state convention a week ago turned
down the reafirmationists. On the test
in a convention OF 1000 delegates a
change Of two dozen votes would have
changed the result and would have re
affirmed the Kansas City platform. II
is a victory for the conservatives and
the an~ti-Bryanites, although not a con,
elusive victory. II encourages them &c
continue their effort to rescue the party
Therefore BOies is to be brought for
ward as a strong and popular man fol
congress in the Third district. There
fore. also, many Of the old-time leaders
who have for years stood apart arr
now bestirring themselves in the othel
districts. IL is an effort to take absolut,
control or the democratic party organiza
ton in Iowa, but ON the undisguiseC
basis Of the reputation OF Organism
and all that the leadership Of William
Jennings Bryan has stood for sine,
1896. There can be no other basis. Tn,
Iowa democracy has thus taken the FRS
step in the way which they expect t
lead them in line with the conservativ,
element Of the party in the national con
test two years hence. and 70 rid the OF
ganization Of It's recent pOpulistic man
agement.
Tdurord En0Iaaf.a ,-hn Ala -