Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-09
As TO POLITICS.

Moline. no matter how few in number
.n5 NO matter how indefinite their
conference, promises well in Iowa pol
itics. since it serves as an indlcatlon
that somebody, at least, Is interested
In leading the peoples fight for sueh
reforms as q primary election iaW'
anti-pass legislation, and courageous
COMMUNICATION Of state offices, as
against the domination OF mountainous
and conventions by railroad attorneys
Whether Cummins runs for governor
FOR congress or returns to the practice
Of law, is Of very slight Importance as
compared to the continuance Of the
struggle recently led by Cumnins to
free the republican politics of this
state from the dictatorship OF railroad
attorneys.
Last year the people Of this state
were deluded into the thought that the
fight was altogether one as to tarift
revision or standpat program, but
when political cut-throats had violated
their rentlemen's agreement in Polk
county, the real issue was disclosed and
]. w. Blythe stood forth. the absolute
dictator Of a great republican conven-
ton. He named committees, dictated
delegates, and when the Iowa delega-
ton went to the national convention
two United States senators, as well as
eight other distinguished republicans,
were compelled to step aside While the
political attorney for the c., B. & Q.
railroad took for himself the honors
Of Iowa and represented the free-born
citizens Of this state on the resolu-
tions committee to vote their state
against the Roosevelt tariff platform
adopted by all other states except such
railroa aberdeen states as Pennsylvania,
Wyoming and California.
This year the drift of politics has
disclosed the railroad attorneys sup
porting the tentative candidacy OF Mr..
Perkins for governor "in the interest
OF harmony" Mr.. Perkins resides IN
an anti-railroad district so that with
his district back of him and with the
districts controlled by Mr.. Blythe's
faction for him, Mr. Perkins has seen
success backing into him. So Mr.. Per-
kins has not hesitated to preach har-
mony in his paper, to sheer at chautau-
qua addresses and chautauqua speak
ers, and to ridicule the reform which
the progressive republicans Of Iowa
are trying to promote. Compromise
with Blythe and Mr. Blythe is a very
able man. are the themes of his edi-
torials.
Hence it is that the men who are OPP
posed to railroads dominating republi-
can nominations are asking themselves
questions about Mr.. Perkins. The men
Of the Eleventh district are progressive
anti Blythe republicans. II they sup
port Perkins as Blythe candidate they
fear that they will stultify themselves
in assisting Mr.. Blythe to dictate a
nomination. AS this phase Of the sit
uation dawns 1t is embarrassing.
Then 1t Is that the men Of indepen-
dent minds begin to talk about fight
Ing for candidate who shall stand
against the railroad attorneys; who
shall stand for progressive policies,
anti-pass laws, primary election laws,
honest railway assessments, and poll
tics free from the control of railroad
attorneys. Time will determine who
this candidate shall be, but certain 1T
is from the gathering in Des Moines,
that there are a few men in Iowa who
want to see the movement for
emancipated politics kept up in Iowa.