Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-11-20
SELLS OFFER REJECTED
Proposal to Withdraw in Favor
ofPorter Not Acceptable to
State Committee
WADE WILL STAY IN CONTEST
Second Proposition to sidetrack Iowa
City Man is Also Turned Down -
Sells Poses as the Original Bryan
Man-situaticn is Botherins Demo.
cratic Poiticians-Ths Sells Letter.
pecial to Times-Republican,

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, Nov. 20.-The offer OF
Cato Sells to withdraw from the con-
test for national committeeman from
Iowa provided Claude r. Porter is
named, and his second proposal to
withdraw from the contest If Wade's
name is not presented, will not be
accepted by State Chairman Miller and
the democratic machine at present in
control in Iowa. Mr. Miller announced
last night that the acceptance Of the
cred and that the second could not be,
as it would only prolong the fight for
supremacy
Animated discussion was caused
among politicians by the announce
ment of the terms of the Sells letter.
It was generally considered the most
important step to date in the conflict
between the tra-conservative demo-
Gratis, headed by Miller and Marsh,
and the Bryan wing of the party in
Iowa.
Friends of Mr.. Sells insist that he is
the original Bryan man of Iowa, the
stories told by his opponents to the
contrary Notwithstanding. They in
sist that he would be able to win
against the. state committee, but that
he is willing to give way to Mr. Por-
ter rather than create further friction
within the party.
On the other hand, opponents of Mr..
Sells claim that Mr.. Porter will snot
accept the position If 1t is offered to
him, and that Mr.. Sells knows it, and
he has no intention Of really giving up
his fight for place ON the committee.
Mr.. Sells letter in full is as follows:
''vinton. Iowa, Nov. 10, 1906. Hon.
c. w. Miller, Chairman Democratic
State Central Committee. Waverly,
Iowa. My Dear Sir: Those Of your
committee who We're favorable to the
appointment of w. w. Marsh as ma
tional committeeman, for Iowa,
and who now favor the APP
pointment of NJ. ]. Wade, have hn-
nounced in an address to the members
of the democratic national committee
that the withdrawal OF Mr.. Marsh and
the substitution of Judge Wade is in
the interest of party harmony.
II ardless of the reason why Mr.
Mars withdrew, certainly it must now
be apparent that the candidacy of
Judge Wade does not meet with uni
versal approval.
Il am more interested in party unity
and the ascendency of genuine demo-
cratic principles than l am in the per-
sonal preferment involved in being
appointed national committeeman, and
as an evidence Of my sincerity and to
test, your declaration for harmony,
propose to withdraw as candidate for
committeeman provided your commits
tee shall reconsider its recent action
and recommend Hon. Claude r. Porter
for the place. Mr.. Porter being our late
candidate for governor ought to be
satisfactory to your committee, which
conducted his campaign, and believe
he would be entirely satisfactory to the
democrats of the state.
'.As an additional reason why Mr.
Porter should be acceptable, / remind
you that he was unanimously nominat-
ed for governor by the state conven
ton which also unanimously endorsed
Mr.. Bryan and that Mr.. Bryan came to
Iowa and spoke in Mr.. Porter's behalf
IF you decline to so endorse Senator
Porter I have further to propose that 1
will withdraw provided Judge Wade
shall also withdraw with the agrees
ment on the part of all concerned that
no appointment be made and that the
question of who shall represent Iowa
on the national committee be submitted
to the state convention when called
to select delegates to the democratic
national convention for 1908.
Il will thank you for a prompt an
swer so that if both of these PROPOSE
tions are declined the matter may be,
without further delay, finally submit
ted to the national committee for de-
Very truly,
'tCATO SELLS"