The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-28
low I REPUBLICANS
/ FEEL SOME ALARM
ELECTION RETURNS THRUoUT
STATE NOT SATISFACTORY.
Des Moines Results Show Remarkable
Advance of @tScratcher' Movement
Independent Candidate Will Con.
test Election of Mayor George w.
Mattern-Primary Bill Killed. .....-
Special to The Journal.


Des Moines, Iowa, March 2s.!The returns
from the municipal elections in Iowa. Monday
are being regarded with some anxiety and alarm
by republicans. In DeS Moines, where the re-
publican puralities are commonly between 5000
and 5000. Mayor Mattern was reelected by a
plurality of only 2oe, three OF the democrat
citizens candidates for aldermen We're elected.
The results from other parts Of the state are
no less portentious In a state which has been
solidly republican In state and national affairs.
. The result In Des Moines Is even more sur
PriSins In view OF the fact that Charles O..
Holly, the democrat citizens : candidate for
mayor. was not we'll known to the public and
was not supported by any Of the newspapers.
The ''scratchers' >" movement was Endorsed by
one Of the three newspapers. but this puhltca ton
centered its efforts on electing the citizens
a1derl,1a mic ticket gave little attention to
the head Of the ticket. ~ :
While it is true that the issues Of municipal
government are becoming more and more matters
of non-partisan consideration, republicans are
worried by the surprising success of the scratch
er movement. coming 1t does mt time when
the republican party is rent by factions and
the democrats ralying their strength In the
| expectation of making capital out of the dissen-
siOhS In the majority party. .. ::
! In Des Moines the fight was waged on anti
corpora ton lines by the "scratchers club, which
charged Mayor Alattern with being too friendly
to the interests Of the city Railway company,
and the force of the campaign was directed
toward defeating contracting aldermen. At
Sioux City, W. &. Sears, a democrat was elect
ed mayor Democratic mayors were also elected
at. Council Bluffs and Burlington. AT Abel.
Seymour, Boone. Clinton and West Union the
republican tickets were defeated.
! The result in Des Moines gives new interest
| to the democratic efforts bring out u strong
candidate for congress against Captain Hull, and
gives additional point TO the warning given by
Secretary l.. NJ Shaw in his Des Moines speech
| that the republicans must unite or the party
majority in congress would be endangered
! Charles o. Holly. independent candidate. fol
| T11r has hoo fhp 16rfin Of fcl
| a contest Of the election of George W. Natter
as mayor. Holly charges gross Irregularities ir
/ the count by the republican Judges. and alleges
the: colonization of voters in several precincts
| The contest will reach the courts.
New Primary Bill Killed,
All hope Of the enactment Of q state primar,
law was. killed. by the lower branch Of thu
| Iowa general ASSEMBLY. The senate refused tt
pass a primary bill offered early In the session
and second measure somewhat modified ant
! indorsed by Governor Cummins. was then pre-
sented in the, house. THIS bill; came to a .vot,
Yesterday afternoon and was defeated. 81 to 45
| the standpatters voting soldly against it, aidei
| by: the democrats.