Evening times-Republican., 1902-10-29

among the younger element in polittca
life and hopes to sweep in many hun
dreds of republican votes from this
quarter: young men who are repub.
licans, bred in the bone and who vote
the ticket, but who will make just one
little scratch opposite the square where
Mr.. Sorter's name appears upon the
ticket.
Mr. Sorter has made q unique bid for
newspaper support in proposing To
furnish weekly newspapers with a let
ter from Washington informing his
constituency concerning the status OF
things political and legislative here In
Washington. That certainly was q
master stroke in the realm of practical
or peanut politics, just as you like
Washington is still discussing MT
Sorter's startling proposition, altho II
is feared that not much serious consld-
Grafton is given 1t. Washington likes
to be amused and Mr.. Sorter seems to
sGme claims as a getter of things, and
not without some justification. He Is
good mixer" is popular, 1t is asserted
be of a humorous bent; at any event
should he by any hook or crook sue
ceed in breaking into congress he
would instantly be touted as wild and
woody specimen of western freak. The
idea of a brand new congressman writ
ing a letter to newspapers purportine
to give legislative inforlnation-unless
lit be information conc .rning events
that have become history-such a
proposition strikes Washington, where
the status Of a green congressman is
pretty well known, as distressingly
funny. The Fourth district has quite q
reputation as being the home OF people
of eccentric bent. Calamity Weller's 8
memory is still green in Washington.
He occasionally comes in for slam
in the local papers, and one Walter II.
Butler, who represented the Fourth
district two years in the lower house,
carved out a reputation in that brief
space Of time as an originator of
strange bills that bids fair to live on.
MIR. Buffers motives were above criti-
.cism and a large minority II not ma
jority of the American people incline
to his views, but he erred in attempt
irg to revolutionize things too sudden
ly. There is a sort OF unwritten, yet
usually followed, law in the house that
q new congressman the first couple OF
years shall give a good deal of atten-
.tion to listening to roll call and to what
others say rather than to springing
rev and undeveloped business upon
the house burdened with press Of un-
finished business Of Importance.
Recurring to the situation Of today
in the Fourth district II may be said
that Iowa politicians in Washington do
HaI{1 Il : u -
republicans in the Fourth district will
vote for Mr.. Sorter. 1t seems to be
conceded that In his own county of
Cerro Gordo he will run ahead OF the
ticket as will Mr. Haugen in his home
county Of Worth.
The congressional committee has no
advices of any serious or even incipi-
sent disaffection in the Fourth district
and that district is put down In the
dead-sure column and good for from
four to five thousand majority for the
republican nominee.
Mr.. Haugen has made good con-
gresham. He has pursued precisely
the policy In the house calculated to
give him weight and influence. He has
not undertaken to pose es star during
his first term, but has looked carefully
after the interests OF his constituents.
attended to committee work, answered
always when the roll was called and
by his good Judgment and dignity
gained the good will of the leaders. He
is Just reaching that point where he
will be useful member and command
influence. Mr.. Haugens record enti-
ties him to the votes Of his party in the
Fourth district.