Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-10
.LO0KER.0N In IOWA

Eagle Grove. Nov. 9.--Naturally the
public is interested in finding out the
causes that have retired to private life
some of as good republicans as exist IN
Iowa, this referring to the unsuccess-
full election of different men regularly
nominated by republican conventions
and primaries. The writer speaks of a
personal knowledge in at least four
counties. where revolts end bolts have
put democrats or Independents In office.
Whether 1t is cause or effect In all
of these counties, bank or banker
favored the regular nominee. The
writer never has been able to under
stand why banker is handicapped IN
all of his political work a. e.. in Iowa),
but he is. Not only Is 1t hard work to
elect banker to any office, but any
candidate also carries weight IL any
banker openly works for his (the can
didate's) election. That occasionally
banker Is elected 10 public office
proves the exception rather than the
rule.
Again. in all of these four mentioned
counties the successful candidates
were elected because of revolt
against the actions OF the bosses. In
these counties. all containing usually
big republican majorities. we read OF
the election of a democratic state sena-
tor, democratic representatives. a sher-
lff, several supervisors and county
treasurers. Talk with voters and in all
cases it is found the party bosses dis
regarded strong protests and forced
their desired nominations.
And once more: Another cause
plainly seen after the election, and
euriously not before. is the action of
the old wheel horses of the party" in
ignoring the political pretensions of
young republicans. The old wheel
horse forgets that each year brings to
the front one or more young fellows
whose tendencies run towards and into
politics. As a ruie he is snubbed and
sat upon. One of three things hap
pens. Either he has nerve and knowl-
edge enough to force himself into the
inner circle of the powers that be or
perhaps takes his medicine, retires and
comes bobbing up next year. or ne
heads bolt. which If successful at
once establishes his rank in party
councils. and IL defeated ends his po-
litical career.
And after all is over, admitting that
some abuses are corrected some re-
form accomplished, It's pity that SO
many good men go down in the wreck
The writer has In mind the defeat Of
excellently we'll qualified men for their
nominated positions and the election OF
other men in their places not fitted by
natural ability or acquired experience
or education for the places to which
they were elected In other words. adj
uniting some gain for the county, there
is also positive loss TO said county.
Now's the time to begin the agitation
again. Down with the circle on the
ballot" In one county the writer is
told that Governor Cummins' vote fell.
off $50 votes simply because the bolt
ers were afraid of mis- marking their
ballots. and that number of republicans
simply marked cross in the demo-
cratic circle to make sure they accom-
plished their end in defeating some
particular candidate for representative.
sheriff. treasurer or supervisor. And
a dispatch to the T.-R On election day
was to the effect that in one German
locality in their desire 10 elect Ger
man treasurer. many republicans voted
the whole independent ticket, altho
another straight republican on the
straight ticket was prime favorite
for another Office. And the writer viii
venture the assertion that many hun
dred votes the state over were thrown
out on Nov. simply because those de-
string to scratch and not knowing how
to do 1t legally made errors such as
made it imperative on Judges of cleo
ton not to count them. The law
should be changed to this simple plan:
Require each voter to make cross
opposite the name of each candidate
he wishes to vote for. This was tho
aim and intent OF the adoption of the
Australian ballot system. Politicians
to prevent scratching added the circle
above the party name. Several good
republicans would have be n elected to
office on Nov. 8 IL this had been the
law on that date.
n IL eAy4-A,,