Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-13
g|AIECONY[N|IONDAI[
Many Favor Holding 1t Late
While Others Urge an
Early Session
ARGUMENTS OF BOTH SIDES
ARGUMENTS OF BOTH SIDES
An Important View is Voiced by
Member of the House That the Late
Convention Movement is for Purpose
OF Giving tho Roosevelt Opposition
Time TO Gain Strength.
pecial to Tlmes-Republlcan.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Jan. 13.--When will the
Iowa republican state convention be
held to select delegates to the national
convention? The question has been
asked many times this week, because
of the presence in the city the past
week of practically every member OF
the republican campaign committee
and of many leading politicians. The
members of the state committee say
that they have not discussed 1t among
been given to the calling of meeting
to fix the time and the place of the
convention. A we'll defined movement
has been disclosed in favor of a late
convention. This appears to be not
confined to persons of any particular
faction or from any part of the state.
II is proposed that. at least, the con-
vention be held after the adjournment
OF the legislature, which will be about
the first week in April. 1t is pointed
out by those who favor this that con-
vention held at any time during the
last month of the work of the legisla-
ture would merely break into whole
week of the work and prevent consider
alton of many matters in the legisia-
ture. So many of the members of the
Legislature are active In politics that
this would certainly be the result. On
the other hand there is q feeling on the
part OF many that II Iowa is going to
take an aggressive stand In favor OF
anything in the national convention, or.
against anything. or is to have a voice
In the councils of the party at large the
convention should be held early. In
Missouri the republicans were advised
by Colonel Kerens to hold Il late con-
vsntton because the republicans of MIS-
soLti area minority parry and ought
not to have much TO say about the
national convention. This reason does
not obtain here In Iowa. A member of
the house who has been on conferences
where the matter was discussed stated
today his frank belief that the move
ment for late convention. as for in
stance In states like Missouri. Is for
the purpose of enabling those who OPP
pose Roosevelt for the nomination TO
gain some strength and force and pos
sibly to work up movement large
enough to defeat Roosevelt. For the
very reasons that late convention was
urged in Missouri he would urge an
early convention In Iowa. not later than
the middle of March. On the other
hand, A. w. Weeks. secretary of the
national league OF clubs. who is an ar
dent Roosevelt admirer, is in favor
of a convention in April after the legis-
lature Is out OF the way. or possibly as
late as the first of May. II is under
stood that National Committeeman
Hart. who Is here in consultation with
other politicians of the state in regard
to the disposition of the delegation to
the national convention. favors late
convention of the party. ]. w. Blythe
has declined to express himself. but
has told senators who consulted him
that he would not have too early con-
vention and above all else desires to
avoid a fight In the convention. Before
the conferences break up here this week
1t is pretty certain that all these mat
tiers will be decided.
A good many conferences have been
held with regard to the possible cam
didates for delegates to the national
convention. The friends of Governor
Cummins who have been here the past
week have generally expressed them
selves in favor of having the governor
head the Iowa delegation and to sup
port him with delegation a majority
of which shall be with him on national
issues that are likely to come to the
front in the convention. j. w. Blythe.
on the other hand. desires to go to the
convention as delegate at large and II
is from him that the compromise is
proposed OF having the delegation d.
vded between factions. 1t is suggested
by the Blythe people that with Gov
ernor Cummins at the head of the
delegation and gaining the floor to pre-
sent, If he so desires, his views In re-
gard to the tariff and to carry there
the expression of opinion from the re-
publicans of the state, he would have
all the opportunity he might desire.
But friends of the governor are doubt
full of the value of such division and
rather disposed to let the convention
Of Iowa republicans make fair choice
as to who will go to the national con-
yention and what issues they shall pre-
sent there. 1t is understood that Gov
ernor Cummins has given the matter
very little attention up to this time and
is not disposed 10 mix in the fight now,
but leave the matter to the people
This much Is certain, that unless there
is a compromise agreed upon now very
soon and a determined effort TO pre-
vent fight in the convention the cam
paign will commence in earnest right
away, no matter what may be the date
of the republican convention. Persons
who refuse to allow themselves to be
ouoetd in the matter are already talk
ing sassy" about the matter and pre-
pairing for hard fight.
Now that the vote of the state on
governor and lieutenant governor has
been counted and the exact figures are
made known a meeting of the Veteran
lTippecanoe Club of Iowa will soon re
called for the purpose OF making the
award Of the banner and flag. These go