Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-11-15
LAcEy's DOWNFALL,

lACEY'S DOWNFALL,
AMajor Lacey's defeat has been tine
subject of much comment of the manly
sort in progressive newspapers. There
has been no disposition Oh, their part
to exult over his downfall. On the con-
traiy, there has been q generally ex-
pressed regret that he was defeated and
a still more general recognition OF his
service as congressman. These papers
have refrained from entering into the
causes of his defeat, causes evident
CROUCH TO be plain to the ordinary citi-
zen whose inquiry into politics does
no. include local difficulties, postoffice
sores and the complications of county
politics. All these and more entered
into the congressional campaign IN, the
Sixth district.
The Keokuk Gate City's assertion
that .all the evidence goes to show that
Major Lacey is the victim of Governor
Culnmins ifordirate ambition tc, be-
come United States senator" is as UNI
true and unfair as the conclusions of
the coterie of railroad newspapers, to
which the Gate City belongs. usually
are on ''evidence" that bears on a cor
poration fight. Others of that syndd-
cate have been diligently impressing
the same unjust ard erroneous con-
clusion. Some democratic newspapers
are telling their readers that Lacey was
beaten on the tariff.
Major Lacey was beaten ON the issue
Of no corporation control of Iowa poll
tics. Other causes entered into his de-
feat, but the underlying reasons for the
detection that elected him to stay at
home may be found in the ma jor's atti-
tude toward that element in Iowa poll
itics which has demanded, and to a
very large extent has succeeded in the
preme control of the republican party
In this state. He was beaten ON his
opposition to a primary law, OIL his
support in Iowa of every. movement that
had its origin in the office of the Bur-
lington boss; on his assertions tlpat he
would be willing to be crushed in the
ruins if he could succeed in pulling
down other men and policies that had
been approved by the voters of the re-.
A.
state; because he insisted In antagoniz-
ing the actual sentiment of his dis
trict; because he was arrogant and in
tolerant; because the district is too
close, and all these and still other
causes combined to tunn the independ-
ent vote, not so much in favor Of Ham
ilton, but against Lacey. There was no
Cummins movement against Lacey. On
the other hand, there were thousands
Of progressive republicans who voted
for him simply to keep the faith. Had
the progressive forces OF the Sixth
started out to make reprisal on Lacey.
the returns would have told another
story.
Major Lacey was beaten. by Jasper
county, If a mann is honest enough to
study the returns. In Jasper the stu,
alton was local. In Poweshiek, the next
county adjoining, where the Cummins
men are in an overwhelming majority,
he was supported almost up to the
head of the ticket, and his campaign
was waged by Cummins man who
happened to be county chairman. There
was no CuInmins movement against
Lacey in the district, altho 1t is need
less to say that progressive republicans
in his district, and out of it, are not
shedding any tears over the fate (which
has overtaken Lacey.
In Jasper the situation was local. 1t
dated back to the pre-cunvention fight,
when five men from the Perkins bu-
reau, then presided over by the motor
ious Ed. Hunter, invaded Jasper county
with unlimited money and began driv-
ing every country road The county
convention broke up in a bolt, the anti
Cummins men bolting In a procession
headed by a Des Moines lawyer then
travelling ON I'd. Hunters expense mon
ey, and a. Lacey postmaster. The pro-
ceedings Of the boilers. convention had
been prepared in typewriter form and
were held In the hands of the Des
Moines lawyer. appearing in the Des
Moines Capital almost an hour before
the bolt actually occurred. Contrasting
delegations went to Des Moines. The
Cumimns, or Maytag delegation, were
seated. Here the Maytag men made
the first offer Of compromise which
might have saved Lacey. They offered
to let half OF the -Cummins dele
gates sit and vpte the county half and