The National tribune., 1906-08-09
STATE POLITICS.

i may be said that the Presidential Gam.
paign for next year may be opening
with the issues foreshadowsd IL not dis
tiuptly outlined
By faf the most important Of all wa'
the Republican Convention Of Iowa
which took quite unexpected turn.
Not since the years Immediately fol-
lowing the war has there been a more
acrimonious political fight than that be-
tween the Cummins and anti-Cummin:
factions in Iowa. This was carried into
every County and Township, and Il
would seem that every voter was ar
active partisan of one side or the other
The campaign in the Counties closed
with both sides loudly claiming victory
and so.idly lined up for fight for the
control of the Convention. which met
on Wednesday Of last week in De.
Moines. The fight was fierce in the
rooms of the Republican State Com
| dentials, with messages of defiance, en-
couragement and recrimination. and
proposals for adjustments passing be-
tween the assembled leaders. The Iowa
Congressional delegation, except Sena-
tor Allison, was present and actively
participating in the fray. Everything
looked very promising for one of the
most exciting and turbulent Conven.
tions In the history of Iowa. Gov. Cum
minis had an apparent majority of but
| SO on count of noses, and this could be
easily disposed of by proper handling
of contested delegations.
| Senator Dolliver seems to have been
| the potential peacemaker, though his
| political fortunes were involved in the
| fight against Cummins. Upon his ur-
gent advocacy Cummins was allowed
control of the Convention. with seat
ing of the Perkins delegates from but
one Of the eight contested Counties
The first significant roll call showed a
vote of 933 for Cummins for Governor
to 6O3 for Perkins AMI 104 fer Capt.
Rathbun.
Owing to Gov. Cummins's activity for
tariff revision there was deep interest
outside of Iowa as to the platform.
The resolutions adopted were so di-
plcma tically drawn that they were ap-
proved unanimously by the Committee
and the Convention. Gov. Cummins's
advocacy of the "Iowa idea" was in
dorsed by the wording Of the tariff
plank, but 1t was made so moderate the
Standpatters decided to make no obJec-
ton to it. This paragraph declared for
tariff Opposed alike to foreign con-
troll and domestic monopoly" and de-
clared changes should be made from
time to time to adjust Irregularities and
meet changing conditions. The resolu-
tions also declared for a Statewide
primary law applicable to all State Of
fees and United States Senators, for the
abolition of the pass. and prohibition of
campaign contributions by corporations.
The Michigan Democrats met at De-
troit Aug. 2, and had spirited contest
over the nomination for Governor,
which was at last decided in favor of
Charles H Kimmerle. of Cassopolis.
The rest of the ticket was nominated
pro forma. Bryan was enthusiastically
indorsed for President, and resolution
asking investigation of the charges
against Tom Taggart was unceremoni-
ously laid on the table. The platform
charged the Republican Party with be-
ing a promoter of the trusts by class
legislation, and the last session of Con-
gress showed that the party had no in
tention of reforming its policies.
The North Dakota Democratic Con-
sention unanimously indorsed Bryan
for President, and nominated a State
ticket with John Burke, of Ramsey, for
Governor. The Republican platform
was condemned as a mass Of meaning
less generalities.
The Michigan Republican Convention
was held at Detroit July 81. and little
contrary to many expectations, turned
out to be a lovefeast. Fred NJ. Warner
OF Pennington, was nominated for Gov
ernor, and the only symptom of fight
was a slight brush over Representative
William Alden Smiths resolution pledg-
ing the party to direct nominations Of
United States Senators. A compromise
resolution was adopted recommending
that the Michigan delegates to the Des
Moines Convention use their efforts to
secure an amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the United States providing for
the election of Senators by a direct vote
of the people. The platform cordially
indorses the Administration of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, and points to him as the
embodiment Of the high ideals of the
Republican Party, particularly for his
vigorous railroad policy. The utterance
with regard to tariff was:
I'VE emphatically affirm our contin-
ued belief in the wisdom of the Repub
lican protective tariff policy. Whatever
changes in tariff schedules may become
necessary should be so made as to pre-
serve the Republican principle of pro-
lection, and to aid the further advance
ment of American industry and achieve
ment."
AS Representative Littlefield had
5000 majority at the last election it
would seem that he is blowing the dis
tress call rather Drematurely. On the
other hand, the Maine elections have al