Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-11-30
Some Of the Standpat News
papers OF Iowa Opposing En-
actment Of Primary Law
SPECIFIC
STATE PLATFORM ST
Opponents of Proposed Measure Work
ina for A Law That Would Be In
effective-BeIieved Legislature Will
Obey State Conventions Instruc-
tions.
to Times-Republican.

Special to lneS-Repubilcan.
Des Moines Nov. 30.-In spite of the
fact that the Waterloo Reporter, Iowa
City Rep lblican and other newspapers
that boltcd the republican party are
endeavoring in every way possible to
advance arguments against the adop-
tion of a primary election law that will
answer the purpose and are endeavor-
step the state platform there are evil
dences that the next general assem-
bly, will enact an effective primary
election law. Some of the leading
standpatters of the state who are
members of the legislature have said
openly lately that they recognize the
state platform as authoritative and
viii enact law in accordance with
its provisions. The platform calls for
a primary law that provides for plur-
ality selection, that is state wide, and
| compulsory, and applies to United
States senators.
The platform adopted at the state
convention of the republican party in
this city declares in favor OF "pri-
mary election law which will provide
for the nomination by direct vote Of
all candidates for office to be filled at
the general election and an expression
of party preference in the selection of
United States senator's"
| Within the past few days it has been
disclosed thru the columns of the
newspapers that bolted the party that
the scheme to defeat the primary is the
same as WAS advanced during the last
session of the legislature, namely, that
of claiming to favor a primary law,
but of being opposed to all the good
provisions of every bill At the last
| session the fight was against plural
| ity selection and for law that would
be optional with the counties. Either
| of the provisions would defeat the
purpose of having the people select the
candidates for if requiring majority
| selection it would always be possible
to prevent a majority selection by
| increasing the number of candidates in
| the field so that none would get ma
jority selection and if the bill We're OPP
tional those opposing the primary could
| continue the fight in each county
| against It,
Inasmuch as the platform declares
| specifically for direct selection of
all candidates those opposing the pass
age of the bill on those two points will
have to oppose the platform or else
! find new grounds for opposing the bill.
1t would not surprise the friends of
the primary principle if the latter
course. We're followed.
| Iowa members of congress will all de-
part for Washington within a week.
| save Senator Allison, who will not go
| to Washington until after the holiday
recess: and soon there will be con-
| ference to decide upon the federal ap-
pointments for Iowa. These have been
| too long delayed already and there is
general desire that the Iowa delegation
make it's recommenda tons to the pres
ident as soon as possible. 1t is be-
lieved that the conference will be held
within a few days of the opening Of
congress.
| The news from Senator Allison is en-
couraging, and there appears to be no
reason to suppose he will be unable
10 SeTNe OUT his plCSCAl lSli w AilS
he has had a long siege of illness, it is
noted by those who have visited him
recently that he is in excellent spirits
and anxious to get back to his work in
Washington.
Congressman Hepburn has already
gone to Washington. Captain Hull is
at his home in Virginia and can go ov-
err to Washington almost any day.
Congressman Birdsall will start for
| Washington tomorrow.
Some surprise has been expressed
in some of the newspapers of the state
over the acceptance by Senator Thorn
as D. Healv of Fort Dodge, of the po-
sition of general attorney for Iowa for
the Illinois Central railroad, and there
has been some wonderment as to
whether or not the change Stuyvesant
Fish to Hartman control would af-
feet his position In regard to the lat
ter it is pointed out that there has been
no change in the general legal depart
ment The Hartman coup was merely
a part of stock jobbing game 1t will
in no way affect the operation of the
road. In regard to the attitude of the
! Illinois Central toward Iowa politicians
there has been conflict of opinion.
The facts regarding an incident of last
summer which have just come to light,
show very we'll the attitude of the sys-
tenn. One day the telephone bell rang
in the general offices in Chicago and
Mr.. Dickinson, the general solicitor,
was called for. He did not respond and
the late Vice President Yelling was
ca1,ad A demand was made on him
that a certain employe of the company
at Waterloo be called off from political
work or be made right But the
company was not in politics. Well, he
was Informed, it ought to get into poll
| tics at once The high official declar-
ed that the workmen of the company at
Waterloo had right to do as they
pleased in politics and that the COM
pany would not interfere. But VINO