Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-26
WANTED-A SQUARE DEAL.

Sioux City Journal: Whatever may
be true of a few politicians the great
body of the republican party of Iowa
wants square deal at the state con-
vention. 1t would be folly for any
candidate to go before the people I'M
less he could show that his candidacy
Is based on square deal Under ex-
listing circumstances wherein will lie
the square deal? That Is question
which remains to be determined out Of
the wisdom and strength of the repub-
lican party as whole. 1t involves
lack of confidence in the party to ar
que that the question can not or will
ness to every interest.
1t is safe to say that all so called
leaders of the republican party-lead-
ers who really have party interest at
heart-are in hearty sympathy with
the rank and file in its desire that the
square deal shall be worked out at the
coming state convention. These re-
publican leaders are good men as we'll
as good politicians. There are two rea-
sons why they will not participate in
any scheme for Stealing" the nomina-
lions and overriding what they believe
to be the will Of a majority of the re-
publican voters of the state. One is
because it would be morally wrong to
pursue such a course. The men who
have attained prominence in the af-
fairs of the republican party have not
done so by encouraging policy of
moral wrong. They have earned their
distinction by a record of integrity and
Ino1ipu to- ~
stake in this campaign nor could there
be anything at stake in any campaign
that would warrant them in sacrificing
regulations now secure. 1t is idle to
talk of such contingency.
But even if the leaders of the Iowa
republican party were moral perverts
willing to engage in political burglary
in the hope goods could be delivered
by that process, there is another rea-
son why it would not be essayed It
would not be good politics The re-
publicans of Iowa are neither fools
nor knayes. They can distinguish be.
tween right and wrong, and they are
for the right. The average Iowa repuh-
lican could not be induced to become
accessory after the fact to the burg
larry of jewelry store. The average
Iowa republican could not be induced
to become accessory after the fact to
the burglary of state convention.
There is such thing as obligation to
party, but there can be no such thing
as party obligation to share In crime.
Let 1t go on record now that the man
who asks the republicans of Iowa to
follow him in a course of political de-
bauchery will not find them responsive
to his appeal. If there are those who
can not give the responsible leaders OF
the party credit for moral integrity
can they not at least give them credit
for enough political sagacity to com
prehend this?
The state convention will not be the
last of the campaign. The finish will
come on election day, two months
subsequent to the convention. At the
convention or afterward there must
be showdown. When this comes the
merits Of the preconvention contest
now shrouded in doubt, will be made
plain. If Governor Cummins should
win denomination by virtue Of dem.
ocratic votes, or by other irregulari-
ties at primaries and conventions. and
the fact should be made plain before
the casting Of the ballots. his candi-
dacy would stand sorry chance Of
enlisting popular support at the polls.
If one of his opponents should win
the nomination by means of conven-
ton trickery, and the fact should be
disclosed, as 1t must be disclosed,
what chance would he have of rally
ing an honest rank and file to his sup
port? So it becomes necessary, not
only as matter of political expedi
ency, that the state convention shall
settle on the basis Of the square deal
the questions now pending. In fact