Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-09-26

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Sept. 26.-Perhaps the
question that is Of chief interest to the
politicians of Iowa is the question of
what Governor Cummins, who has
been leading factor in the state.pol-
itics for SO many years, will do at the
expiration of his term OF office as
governor January 1, 1907. The ques-
ton has been argued vigorously by
politicians at times as they have met.
There are politicians who have taken
and still take the position that it will
be impossible for the governor not to
be candidate for third term as
governor. There are others who
have been equally sure theat the
governor will try issues with Capt.
j. A. T. Hull for the control of
Polk county and the congressional
nomination and they still maintain
that that is the only possible course
for the governor to take. There was
published in this correspondence some
months ago the statement that the
friends of the governor wanted him to
forever settle the question of tine con-
troll of Polk county by running for con-
gress and that before he could go to
the senate the politicians Of the state
would demand that he show his
strength at home by popular cleo
tion because of the fact that it seemed
to all intents and purposes In the last
election as though the county had
gone against the governor.
When that was written 1t was the
situation but since that time the PEN
dtltrnl has swung once toward the
chances OF the governor being u cam
di1iate for governor for a third term.
It is now, seemingly, from the trend of
political discussion. swinging back to
the idea of his being a candidate
against Capt. Hull for congress, and it
is probably just as certain that in time
the discussion will again switch back
to the third term idea. There is no
Disgusting the fact that the ambition
of the governor and his friends is the
seat in the United States senate. AS
to whether the governor runs for
congress or for a third term as gov
friends feel to be his duty to the peo-
pie and the questions he advocates,
when the time comes. 1t is absolutely
certain that the governor has not de-
cided on his course and his warmest
admirers disagree on what course he
should take. 1t is claimed on the one
side that If the primary election and
anti-pass laws are not passed at the
coming session of the legislature the
duty of the governor will be to remain
in the governors chair to work for
these measures as they are tire most
important next move to get Iowa COM
pletely and forever out of the control
of the railroads and their domination.
There are some that advocate that
even If the primary election law and
anti-pass law do not pass the COVER
nor should remain in the office SO as
to be in a position to champion the
rights Of the people on other questions.
There is another opinion and it is
that the primary election law and an
ti-pass law, If they do not pass the
coming session Of the legislatu ure, are
sure to be enacted into law sooner or
later anyway whether Governor Cum
minis remains in the governors chair
or not as they are in the line of pro-
gressive politics of the day and that
where Governor Curnmins is most
needed at this time or will be needed
soon is down at Washington, in COM
pany with LaF,ollette and such men in
order that a little of the western idea
may be instilled into the machinery of
the federal government.
This would naturally lead to his be-
ing candidate against Captain Hull
as there is little or no talk Of his being
a candidate against Senator Dolliver.,
The Hull men here who support Gov
ernor Cummins are the advocates pref
ty generally of the governor being a
candidate for a third term as governor
and their position is easily understood.
The friends Of the governor who are
for him first, last, and all the time.
irrespective of anybody else. are just
now the people who are favoring his
running against Captain Hull and the
old arguments are again revived that
an election at the hands of the people
in his home district would fix the po-
sition Of the governor before the pub
lie and establish the claim that he is
rather than weaker with the
people. There is a feeling that the po-
sition of congressman is a little lower
in the scale of political preferment than
that of governor, but it is argued in
that connection that Captain Hull has
had such hard fights to maintain his
position in congress that anyone who
should defeat him for the position
would at once jump to national prom
inence because of his victory
Governor Cum1nins will return We'd
nesday from Pennsylvania and on Sat
urday will go to Ames where he will
introduce Governor LaFollette, who
speaks at the harvest festival affair
there.