The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-07-16
A REPUBLICAN SPEAKS
A Cummins Republican Writes OF
the TriCkery !Rdu!ged in to
Receive Nomination.

EDITOR REPORTER:-AS the "Organ OF
the Leon Machine Ring" failed, as we
expected it would fail, to answer our
letter and feeling that the people of De-
catur county, regardless of politics, arc
interested in an honest public service,
we ask your indulgence to again call
their attention to few facts. To our
mind, and in the opinion of great
many other republicans, the most im-
portant question now pressing for So
luton, in Decatur county, is whether or
not pair of Federal otlce-holders can
dictate it's politics? AT the recent coun-
ty convention which selected the dele
wood and Anderson, in contemplate
disregard OF the rules OF the depart
ment, bent their united energies to-
ward the election OF an anti -Cummins
delegation, in which they, in a measure,
succeeded. 1t seems to be the idea Of
these two worthless that it is incumbent
upon them to be as obnoxious as pos
sibic to q very considerable portion OF
the constituency whose servants they,
by virtue OF their official position, should
be. Ii Mr.. !-edgcrwood was onc-half as
Jealous in the discharge OF his official
duties as he is in serving the aforesaid
ring the service at the post-oficc would
be vastly improved and the party 10
that extent, strengthened and popular
lied. Tho question arises why this
unusual activity?' 70 which the answer
is obvious. rs VIC stated in our former
letter, 5he inspiration comes from Bur
lington and ClaGinda. IN unfortunate
combination of bossism and Official pos
tion, with certain powerful cmolumcnts,
which have very little regard for the
public zeal. 1t is an open secret that
the honorable Joseph X. Blythe is am
bilious to get into the United States
senate. The political developements in
the" this year have had this
ambition in contemplation. This it was
that caused a District Judge to adjourn
court and hurry home to help a man
whom he had openly dcspised procure
delegation to the Senatorial convention.
1t was this same thing that has caused
Capt. j. ID. Brown to announce himself
candidate for representative after hav-
ing been once defeated when he had a
united party at his back, and which
prevented his candidacy for senator,
the Office he really wanted, in the fear
that if he opposed Mr.. Stookey a man
who would not support Mr.. Blythe
would be nominated. member of this
t'ring" in conversation with another of
his kind in a neighboring town, recently
was overheard to say that "when Blythe
got into the United States senate he
was ready to quit politics. In all can
dor we ask the republicans of Decatur
county-are you ready to elect men to
the legislature whose candidacy is in
spired for such a purpose? For one who
has supported the party in the past
through thick and thin, through evil
and through good report, we say NO.
Mr.. Stookey has insisted through his
"NIan Friday" in the columns of the
'Ring Organ that the "Iowa Idea
would not be in the platform this year.
After reading the platform, if he got an
idea on the subject which he probably
has not had time to get yet, he failed to
give his readers the benefit of it. Or
perhaps he did not want to confess that
his prophecies of the last six weeks had
not been verified. He contented himself
with featuring the speeches Of Cou-
sins and Lacey, the only discordant
notes in the great convention. That
the convention was entirely in the
control OF the Governors forces is not
denied by any one who has any regard
for the truth. 1t is also equally well
known, as stated by the Sioux City
Journal, that mo platform objection
able to the Governor could have been
forced through the convention. 'If any
man can point out the difference be-
tween this platform and the platforms
of 1902 we would like to see the
"color of his hair" The Cedar Rapids
platform contained this paragraph:
we favor any modification ,of the tar
iff schedules that may be required to
prevent their alfording shelter to
monopoly" The platform recently adopt
ed says: "Tariif rates enacted to carry
this policy into effect should be just,
fair and impartial, equally opposed to
foreign control and domestic monopoly"
If this is not, in substance, the "Shel-
ter" plank of 1902 then we do not
understand the English language. And
this too is what the superannuated and
disgruntled Des Moines Capital calls
the "Iowa Idea" which Stookey, in the
Trust Organ has been telling it's readers,
.I,,r;,,oc tho no ,,DntIe ,,,o,,1l l..