Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-06

!: LOOKER.ON in IOWA !


story City, Dec. 5.-When in Nevada
the writer generally manages to set
some copy by interviewing Mr.. w. o.
Payne, editor of the Representative.
This time the Looker-On failed to
have a heart to heart talk with Mr..
Payne and what follows comes second
hand Nevertheless the sources are re-
liable 1t is we'll known that Mr..
Payne is really the only Iowa editor
that discovered Missouri" He insist
ed all along thru the campaign that
Missouri would go republican. And
when the big Chicago dailies want re-
liable interviews Mr.. Payne Is the
man they send to for 500 or 1000
word specials. So when the writer is
told that Mr.. Payne does not approve
or President Roosevelt 1t is signal
illustration of the independence of at
least one editor of an Iowa weekly
that has mind of his own and does
not fear to express his opinions. His
severe criticism on President Roose-
Welt is that Roosevelt lacks gentleman
ly characteristics and qualifications.
Then, too it is interesting to know that
Mr.. Payne has lately formed adverse
opinions concerning Secretary of the
Treasury Shaw. In this more of the
Story county citizens will join with
him. than in regard to the president
elect. Mr.. Payne's choice for the next
candidate of the republican party TOT
president is Fairbanks. Meanwhile Mr..
Payne remains as ever a firm standpat-
ter and is much inclined to CLASSIFY
those Of tariff reform ideas, !. e., the
Cummins crowd as bold bad demo-
Gratis. One other feature Of journalism
as understood by Mr.. Payne and In the
line of his management Of the editorial
pages of the Representative, is, ne does
not believe in quoting In his columns
articles from other papers that nave
no standing" Thus his readers are
spared the perusal Of much rot" found
in the columns Of Cummins papers.
80
What adds much interest to Mr..
Payne's views on public questions, ana
they are frequently expressed IN two
or three columns in each weekly IS
sue, quantity much larger than many
dailies print, Is that Story county IS
so equally divided on the Cummins
and -Cummins idea, that Mr..
PAYNE only breaches to half an audi
ence each week. Many Of his best per-
sonal friends openly scout his editor
ials and he is q strong Illustration OF
the old saying concerning a prophet
without honor at home.
So far the writer has been dealing
with facts as obtained from reliable
sources. Here comes some rumors. and
they are interesting, If true. II 10
talked that II Mr.. Cummins should see
At to run for congress-, as successor
to Mr., Hull, Mr.. Payne will at once en-
ter the field, as candidate against
him. Thus the issue will be distinct
" drawn. A standpatter against
tariff-ripper. Such contest would
simplify things very much in Story
county. Clarity the political atmos-
nhere as it were. If these rumors inn
nlv that Mr.. Hull has finally decided
to retire to private life and allow ms
mantle to drop Of the shoulders OF the
editor CT the Nevada Representatl y
II will be news indeed, and thus the
writer gets "a scoop on the Des
Moines papers
One thing IS sure. That In any nut
ure campaign IN Story county, .As
gCumnlins and -Cummins crowd
win line up for battle royal ard no
quarter be given. Both in Nevada and
Ames they even now armed for the
fray." Postoff1ce deals, in both places
while making strong friends for Mr.
Hull and the. standpatters, have also
produced a feeling In the other crowd,
not to be termed as political love
There's game called euchre, that
some years ago had quite run, even
in Iowa. And so when one meets the
prominent republicans of the two mem
toned towns, and some OF them say
they have been "euchred." several
times, this kind of language is fully as
expressive as Joe Cannon's phrase OF
STANDING pat" or Roosevelt's Square
deal" Curious it is that In the game
Of politics these card phrases should
At in so nicely. Furthermore, that
everybody knows exactly what they
mean.
a1 H.A9-A~-t