Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-25
MURPHY ENDORSES SELLS.


Telegraph-Herald, who succeeded his
father as potent factor in the affairs
of the democracy of Iowa, has given to
Cato Sells his endorsement as national
committeeman to succeed Charles A.
Walsh, who recently resigned. AL
though it is now quite certain that
there will be no one named for the
position until after the election the
contest is on, Mr.. Sells chief opponent
being W. w. Marsh Of Waterloo.
Although Mr.. Marsh is located in the
Third congressional district, where
where Mr.. Murphy resides, the Dubu-
que editor has nothing TO say in favor
Of him. In his editorial endorsing Cato
Sells he does not mention his oppon.
ent. but allows it to be readily inferred
from his language that he is not the
man whom the radical wing Of the
democracy want as their representa-
tive on the national committee. He
says:
''It would be a most grevious error
for the national committee to select
as Mr.. Walsh's successor any man,
however wealthy, however clever,
however enthusiastic, who, when the
party entered upon the great struggle
for the overthrow of the money power
in the nation, deserted the party, and
became active in his opposition to 1T.
cit would be a mistake for the nation.
al committee to select one, who, until
Mr.. Bryan's nomination two years
hence became a foregone conclusion,
opposed the Bryan influence in the
councils of the party and attempted to
organize the state to destroy the in
fluence of the Nebraskan in the party,
and the influence of the Nebraskan' s
friends.
ut would be unfortunate to name
one who was understood as opposed
to rate regulation.
"It would be an affront to the 100000
Iowa democrats who in 1896 were
loyal to the party now to select as ma
tional committeeman one who was
then conspicuously disloyal.
'"The party is not SO poor in mater
ial that it needs to pick up bolter and
convert him into national committee.
man. Nor yet so weary Of fighting for
the right as to put in places of leader
ship those who are devotees Of expe-
diency, and strangers to principle"
1t will be observed that the writer
carefully avoids the mentioning of any
name, but it is matter Of history in
the annals Of the party in Iowa that
Marsh is everything that Murphy says
member Of the national committee
should not be. Nothing is made per-
sonal, it is all political,
When a man bolts his party in the
limo VII, I sr -,
need, it is sure to rise up and plague
him when he thinks he is in greatest
need. Mr.. Marsh may be successful in
his candidacy for the place on the ma
tional committee. for the conserva-
tives have succeeded in securing con-
troll of the machinery of the party, but
nevertheless he will find, whether sue
cessful or unsuccessful, that it will be
hard for him to reconcile the men
whom he deserted.
On the other hand is Mr.. Sells who
was United States district attorney
under the Cleveland administration,
but has since 1900 been loyal sup
porter Of Mr.. Bryan. Like many
others of the Cleveland regime, who
did not go clear over to the republican
party, he was little slow in reconcil-
ing himself to the support Of man
who lad been adopted from the ranks
of populism, but he went to the Kansas
City convention as chairman of the de-
legation from Iowa and supported
Bryan and has since devoted consider
able time to the cause.
He is man who can come nearer,
probably, representing both factions Of
the party than any other Having
been such a supporter Of Bryan as has
been indicated, he is still one whom
the conservatives need not look upon
with alarm. He ought to suit the CON
servatives for he never made any
speeches for free silver, and he ought
to suit the other side for he took up
Bryan's sick soldier and anti-imperial-
ism issues and carried them all
through Iowa as faithfully as the peer
less one himself could have done.