Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-04
Chairman Spence Attributes 1t
Partly to Harmony Among
Iowa Republicans
MoRRlssEY ALSO HAS A THEORY
Democratic Chairman Says the Labor
ing Men Are Tired of Shouting For
a Party of Promises Which Are Not
FuIfilIed-B. w. Garrett Says This is
Simply a Reaction.
pecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
been apathy in Iowa during all this
presidential campaign will be admitted
by everyone, and even in the three
congressional districts where fights are
in progress there has not been the
intense excitement which has charac-
terized campaigns generally In Iowa
. in the past few years; but as to the
cause thereof and the meaning the doc
tors disagree. The writer has attempt
ed to secure from representative men
some definite idea as to what 1t all
means and what it will lead to. The
general impression is that 1t repre-
sents largely reaction and that the
enthusiasm which is missing this year
is due to the Over-expenditure OF en-
thusiasm in recent campaigns in Iowa.
The republicans of Iowa must furnish
nineteen twentieths Of the excitement
in any campaign. For four or five
years or longer they have been going
rapidly forward and have been exert
ing themselves to the utmost. The par
| ty majority has been steadily increas-
ing under recent leadership and Is now
at the high point. But among repub-
licans generally there is regret that IN
this campaign there has not been
more spontaneous enthusiasm, not be-
cause it is needed to keep up the party
majority, but because it tends to dis
organize the party. This thought is
expressed by many.
The chairmen of the two state COM
mittees disagree as to the meaning of
the apathy.
I'm my estimation" said Chairman
spence, Of the republican state conf-
mittee, "the prevailing apathy Is due
to two things; first, to the feeling Of
confidence on the part of all the people
and feeling of security for the repub-
lican ticket, and second, to the fact
that we in Iowa are entirely free from
the intense animosity which prevails
in many Of the adjacent states We
are harmonious party and q satisfied
people. There is no occasion for ex-
citement."
..The laboring men of the state"
said Chairman Morrissey, of the DEM
ocratic campaign committee, VINO
must be relied on for most Of the ell
thusiasm and shouting in any cam
paign, have been fed on promises for
years, and now they realize that they
have been only promises. They have
not got the prosperity which they an.
ticipated. They get more in wages and
1t is all taken in expenses OF living.
They are not shouting this year be-
cause they are tired of shouting for d
party of promises and many of them
will vote for Parker and the demo-
cratic ticket"
A little different view Is that Of B.
w. Garrett, pardon secretary, one Of
the most far-sighted politicians in
southern Iowa: Il believe the apathy
is due largely to the fact that we have
been surfeited with politics in the
aast," he says, land this is the reaction
from the zeal and effort of other years;
also to the fact that there is no clearly
defined issue between the parties and
no occasion for hard fight"
Amos W. Brandt, deputy state aud
itor. takes the view that the situation
is little dangerous. I'VE can stand
it for one campaign" he says, but
If we go on with our campaigns with
out any excitement or any effort we
will lose out. We have been making
great gains in Iowa because we have
kept right at it all the time, whether
we had an easy victory or not. DO
not like to see republicans in the mood
to let matters political drift along by
themselves
And SO one may find hundred diff
ferent expressions on prevailing APP
athy and no two alike; but as to the
apathy there is not one to deny.
A reason for voting in favor of the
biennial elections amendment is found
in the plea of number of state Off
cials and deputies and clerks, and a
few OF the county officials. They are
going to vote against perpetual cam
paigns on the SCORE of economy. The
campaign assessments come too often.
The campaign collector comes around
about twice a year under the present
system and makes all office holders
pay up Therefore it will be economy
to cut off half the elections This
does not obtain in the departments un-
der the state board Of control, where
led.
"I visited in Orleans, N. Y. while in the
east" said Senator Charles Aldrich.
THAT is my old home where publish
ed a newspaper in 1851. 1t is the
home of Mr. Higgins the republican
candidate for governor of the state. He
is plain business man. Someone said
he was somebody's man. and would be
subservient. He dispelled that notion
very quickly He is rich man VINO
has made his fortune by his own ef-
forts. He is grocer who has stores IN
half dozen or more cities and towns
in that part Of the state and he Is very
popular for he is a fine example Of the
sturdy business man."
George Van Houten, of Lenox. Tay-