Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-05
cUMMINs' REPLY TO PERKINS.
CONTINUED from Page ~

answer!
81 have made myself as clear as pos
sible upon these things because both
you and the public have right to
know that l believe that the greater
number of contests made and proposed
in your behalf are mere shams and
manufactured in the vain hope that
through them majority can be turned
into minority l am wflling-more
than willing-to do whatever can to
reach a peaceful conclusion upon every
fair and honest controversy, but we
will not be robbed of the victory we
have won by the pretense of contests
where none exist.
Issue for Delegates.
81 cannot, however, accept your pro-
pcsal with respect to such bona f1de
contests as may have risen during the
course Of the campaign, for variety
of reasons. First, neither you nor
has the shadow of right to enter into
any arrangement for the purpose of
determining the title of any delegate
to sit in the convention. The contest
ing delegates have the primary inter
est, and nothing that you or l might
do should or could deprive them of
the privilege of submitting their title
to the convention itself. Not only so,
but all the delegates who have been
chosen to represent the party have
right to decide for themselves who
shall constitute the convention.
"The interests of large number of
candidates for other offices are involv-
ed, and the policy of the party, as it
may be declared in its platform, may
also be directly at issue. We have at
least two candidates for lieutenant
governor, three candidates for secre-
tary of state. and number of candi-
dates for railroad commissioner, and
they are just as much concerned IN
the contesting delegations as we are.
Even, therefore, if it would be wise I'M
der any circumstance to resort to ar
bitration the candidates for governor
ought not to assume the prerogatives
which belong, in part at least, to 9TH
erS.
Bars Outside Interference.
Second, my firm conviction is that
party peace and harmony would not
be secured by referring the controver-
olSS Ill llllo SldlC W IAC AdIlOudl WILL
mittee The practice would be full of
danger and discord. In the end, the
national committee would become the
master of the party as to it's policies
and nominations, and our republicans
would so resent the interference that
it would disrupt our organization and
tend to our defeat 1t is far better for
us to adjust our own troubles. We
have been able to do this with high
success in the past. and am sure that
we can do 1t in the future. doubt
much whether state convention
should. under any circumstances, ask
the aid of an arbitrator in the adjust
ment of controversies which may
come before it. 1t may be Influenced
by partisanship, and may not always
do perfect justice, but it's decisions
concerning it's own membership will
be more apt to bring good feeling than
the judgment of any outside person.
Good government seems to require
that contested seat in a legislative
assembly shall be determined by the
legislative body itself, and the reasons
which support this practice apply with
still greater force to political con-
vention.
Would Promote Harmony.
Believing that it would be unwise
to adopt your suggestion. l am still
heartily in accord with your desire to
promote the strength and harmony Of
the party l want the convention to
do it's work in the time honored way,
and although I cannot agree to the
withdrawal of any part Of its respon-
sibility, there is method through
which you and I can allay much of the
bitterness to which you refer and in
sure a convention that will be full of
enthusiasm, and begin a campaign
that will end in a complete victory in
November.
LET us from this time forward put
away the thought that the convention
will be unfair. Let us stamp out the
idea that it may terminate in disunion
Let us make our friends and followers
understand that we will not resort to
technicalities of procedure, and that
the delegates who have been selected
by majority of the republican voters,
in substantial compliance with the
custom of the party, shall take their
seats unvexed by opposition. In this
way you and can render good service
to the party, and can remove every
trace of i'll feeling that has been
aroused"