The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-04-14
CONGRESSMAN WADE OUTLINES
POSITION,
Gives His Reasons for Opposing the
Instruction of IoWa's DELEGATION.

Washington, d. c., April 81 have
had so many inquiries regarding my
views upon the. presidential situation
that l have prepared this manifold
letter, which take the liberty of send
ing to men to whom know the cause Of
democracy is very dear, and whom l
also feel are among my personal friends.
have no fault to lind with any man
because he is a supporter of MIR. W. r.
Hearst, or of any other man. l do not
seek to interfere with any mans honest
preference, and give every man full
credit for honesty OF purpose.
But am opposed to any effort to in
struct the Iowa delegation for any can
didate, whether it be Hearst, or Parker,
or Williams, or German, or any other
man.
This opposition is based upon the con-
ditions which prevail in our party in
Iowa. For many years the party has
been torn asunder by internal dissen-
sion which has weakened its usefulness
and destroyed it's power. The last year
or two much has been accomplished to-
ward bringing the contending factions
together, and within year or two the
old bitterness should be forgotten.
Now every democrat in the state
knows that III attempt to instruct for
presidential candidate will revive the old
conflict and the bitterness which viii,
be cngendered will undo all that has
been accomplished toward solidifying
the party.
ut is condition, and not q theory"
which confronts us-I do not argue the
right or justice of imposing instruc-
tions. | simply say that the interests
OF Mr.. Hearst or any other man are Of
less Importance than the welfare Of the
party. 1t must be borne in mind that
our convention will be held two months
before the national convention. Several
men have been mentioned who would
make creditable candidates for the COM
ing campaign. Wisdom dictates that
we should proceed slowly and intelli-
gently in this matter.
There are two things that must be
borne in mind in the selection of a can
didate:
FirstrHis fitness, his democracy.
Second-His capacity to get votes in
those states which must elect the presi-
dent.
No matter what mans ability NAV
be, if he cannot be elected, he can ac-
complish nothing for the party and
nothing for the country. There has
never been time when the welfare of
the nation and the honor of the flag so
urgently demanded the election Of a
democratic president.
With a republican senate which will
block every effort at legislation against
the trusts, or for reducing the iniquit-
Gus tariff upon which they fatten, we
cannot do all that is desired, yet we
could with democratic president, turn
the rascals, high and low, out of Office.
and we could inaugurate system
which would do away with depart
mental rottenness which today "smells
unto heaven
The nation needs a democratic presi-
dent. We are in a crisis; the party is
in a crisis; with sensible action we can
save the honor of the nation and bring
glory to the party.
There are in this congress 2O8 demo-
cratic senators and representatives.
but there are not fifteen who will OBJ
emily express themselves in favor of any
candidate. They are representative
democrats. They are waiting and
watching events, hoping that before
July 9th circumstances will develop
which will indicate course which
can be safely pursued, and which will
bring victory to the party. They can
realize the gravity of the situation, and
they are ready when the time comes to
join in support of that man who will
be most likely to win. There is no rea-
son to fear that they will come to the
support OF any whose democracy can
be questioned. They are earnest DEM
ocrats who are interested in success
not only political, but personally.
1t seems to me that the democrats
of Iowa can well afford to follow the
example of these men, who defer their
final conclusion until sentiment is more
fully chrystalized, Even in Rhode Is
land in the recent convention where