Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-10
UNUSUAL APATHY
IN THIS STATE
Far Less Activity In a Political
Way Than There Was Four
Years Ago
DEMOCRATS ARE WITHOUT HOPE
They Are Making No Pretension Of
Fiaht in the Second District-chair-
man Spence Holding Conferences in
the Districts-News Of Interest
From the State Capital.
pecial to Times-Republicen.

FROM the oIaLe SapIIdts
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Sept. 10. - Four years
ago at this time there was vastly
more activity than now. President
Mckinley had just published his for
NAL letter of acceptance in which he
discussed more than anything else the
foreign policy of the administration,
and already w. j. Bryan was out
upon the hustings discussing that
which was declared to be the para
mount issue of the campaign. The
state campaign had already opened
and speech making was going on.
There was intense activity in Iowa,
and one who was connected with the
state committee at that time states
now that already the republican cam
paign managers felt that there might
be such turn that hard work would
be needed in Iowa. Now all is Diff
ferent the campaign starts Off
without enthusiasm, the voters appear
to be Indifferent or contented, and it
is certain that there is much less en-
thusiasm in the democratic ranks in
Iowa under Parker than there was
under, Bryan, four years ago. Among
the republicans there appears to be
vastly more of confidence than in any
campaign within the memory of this
generation, with the exception OF the
ant-Greeley campaign. There is
hardly a pretense among democrats
anywhere in Iowa that they will be
able to hold their own save in the
Second district. The nominations in
the other congressional districts indi-
cate that, the democrats do not very
much care what happens in any Of the
other districts. In the Ninth pretty
strong man has been nominated. and
locally he would carry some weight;
but no candidate has as yet been
found for the Eleventh district and it
is possible there will be none.
Chairman Spence Of the republican
has just returned from the
circuit of the state, holding confer
ences. Only three remain to be held
in the First, Second and Seventh dis
tricts. A Second district conference
will be called probably the latter part
of next week, or it may be put off un-
til the 22nd when the campaign is
to open in Muscatine county, with
Leslie M. Shaw as the speaker
Seventh district conference can be held
almost any time as the counties are
in easy distance from Des Molnes.
Mr.. Spence reports that all the con-
ferences have been good not merely
perfunctory and formal, but that the
Of the county and local
have come to the meeting
with good report as to the organiza-
ton and effective workers. There is
no sign of apathy among these men.
They will do all that can be done by
and thru organization for the cause
of the republican party. The demand
is, as usual, for only good speakers.
The process Of educating the voters
up to high ideals of oratory has been
carried so far that it is now hardly
worth while for the committees to
handle any but first class speakers. If
a county committee can get one OF
at the right time it is better pleased
than to have a dozen OF the ordinary
speakers who are always seeking to
foist themselves on the party And so
the work of the committees will be
confined this year largely to securing
a few good meetings in each county.
In the matter of campaign funds
there is no doubt that the republicans
will this year have all the advantage
The democratic state committee will
not be able to secure any funds of
1t was current rumo,
that last year the democratic commit
tees got fine check from William r.
Hearst for use in the campaign, but 1t
is certain that the committee was
never flush of money and was unable
to pay all obligations when the end
of the campaign opened. But the re-
publican committee has more spacious
rooms than ever before and a much
larger office force and the campaign
will be conducted on a plane indicating
that all necessary funds are available
AS illustrating the Indifference pre-
ValIlnR as 10 pOItlCS u SlolS Is tolu vi 4
now Maurice O'Connor, attorney for
the M. & st. l.. at Fort Dodge. who is
the democratic cadidate for attorney
general of Iowa, made failure o.
mixing politics with business. He was
up in the north end of his county o.
business and had a little spare time a.
his disposal which he thought he
would make use of to encourage fine
vote for himself in hi"
home county.
II suppose you are going to vote 70
me this year. ne ventured to sugges
to an old friend
Vote FIR ye? Now what the devi
are We rtlnnin' fr this time?'
His neighhors had not learned n
was candidate. 1t illustrates pre-
vailing conditions.
Republicans are now well provide
with campaign speakers for fe'
good meetings in Iowa. They have
such notabl. speakers as Senator