Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-11-20
: LOOKER.ON In IOWA
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Dysart Nov 19.--In many places one
hears that it was a great mlstaBe 10
take the circle off the printed tickets
used in the lost election. In one voting
precinct many tickets are found Win
lust one mark in the first name at the
top of the ticket. In others. the bottom
names on all the party tickets fail to
have any mark opposite the names.
And in every voting place everywhere
the time used in counting the tickets is
supposed a tremendous argument IN
favor of putting back the circle, and
thus allow the judges OF electlon u
go home and get into bed at the usual
hour. Much of this criticism comes
from the friends of defeated candi-
dates. some of it from the active poll
ticians that desire more straight party
votes, but the people at large are more
than. pleased with the vote at the last
election and the way the people voted
They rejoice in the number of scratch
ed tickets They say it's the nearest
an election wherein the people actu-
ally expressed their political and per-
red in Iowa.
So much comment on the last cleo
ton is preceded with an "if' that it Is
worth mentioning. Here are a few OF
the ifs:
IF the democrats had stuck together
they would have won out"
'.If the Dubuque Telegraph had not
shown up e railroad influence behind
the democratic ticket, Porter would
have been elected"
"If Cummins had not been run as a
third term candidate, the republican
party would have had $4,000 plurality"
"If the republican platform had had
a straight out and-out immediate re-
vilsion of the tariff plank, Cummins
would have had 100000 plurality
IF the democratic platform had put
in square local option plank, Porter
would have won."
IF ,Cummins had insisted on the par
ty platform being as plain as his
speeches are on public questions, his
majority would have been 100000"
"If Porter had not helped clean out
the saloons of Centerville he would
have been elected"
IF the circle had been on the tick
cts, Cummins would have had 1000
more votes"
'If Bryan had kept out Of the state,
Porter would have been elected"
. IF the republican party Of Iowa
keeps up it's civil war, the democrats
will soon control Iowa."
It's no wonder the tickets are not
marked intelligently. Since election
day the writer has been In town In
Iowa, where some of the voters did not
even know of the names of county Of
ficials to be voted for. In one place in
Poweshiek county one voter in CONVEX
sation with the writer, had Hamilton
elected as governor, and Porter had
beaten Lacey for congress. Some years
ago, democratic delegate returning
from the state convention in Des
Moines, got off the cars the next NOR
ming at Carroll, and was asked who
was nominated for governor. His re-
ply was: II didn't just catch his name
but it is some fellow that lives in
Omaha"
No small town in Iowa has shown
more improvement during the past
year than Victor. Located in one OF
the best counties, one OF the richest
counties of Iowa, it has been one of
the last to make need and necessary
improvements. But they had the fever
of Improvements last year. Over $15,-
900 was invested in new brick stores
on one street Over $4,000 was put
into new, modern up-to-date resi-
dences. And much more is promised
the coming season. This town had
and has every year peculiar exper-
fences politically. The county line be-
tween Poweshiek county and Iowa
runs thru the western residence por-
ton of the town, so that many of the
business men live and vote in Powe-
shiek while their business places are
in Iowa county. Hence the local poli-
tics of the merchants and business
men are double. The democrats Of
one county desired to do some. effect
i've work in the other county, but that
invisible line checked them. Republf-
cans in Iowa county "were dying to
vote in Poweshiek;" somebody's head
needed knocking off, Luckily they
could scratch and scratch and scratch
the tickets to their hearts content.
down to county officials, and then they
had to quit "There was as much
Lacey and anti-Lacey business in Vic
tor as tho he owned the whole town."
u Me41~L