Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-12

'DOlllNerS EXplanallOn, out There APP
pears to me one point which has not
been covered. Senator Dolliver has
made a grave mistake in making any
explanation at all. because none was
needed On the other hand, while it
was intended to supply Governor Cum
Minis enemies with ammunition, it will
fail of its purpose.
No man admires Senator Dolliver
more than the writer. l have said
many nice things about the senator.
and I do not intend to take anything
back. l think | am as loyal to him
as any man in Iowa. Nevertheless,
in this case, l think that Senator Dol
liver has made most serious mistake.
What was his object? Coming just
after a public address by Cummins, in
which he gave the senator unstnted
praise, and set at rest by positive dec
laraton the silly lie that he was schem-
ing for the senator's toga this inter-
view seems at first sight inexplicable.
for the reason that it was so unneces-
sary. No one had asked Senator Dol
liver publicly to support Cummins as
against Perkins. No one had asked
MIN to violate and pledge he had made
to Perkins. 1t may be conceded that
Mr.. Perkins is all that Senator Dolli-
yer says he is; what has that got to
do with this contest? He says that he
is proud of Mr.. Perkins record as a
soldier and as a citizen. Well Cum
Minis was not a soldier, but isn't the
senator proud of his record as cit;
zen? He says Perkins has exalted
ideas of public service; so has Cum
Minis. Perkins has been the senator's
friend; SO has Cummins. In the fight
he is now making-and which from
present appearances will fail because
there are too many Blythes in the sem
ate-Perkins has given HIM symathy
and encouragement; so has Cummins.
He says he cannot take part in the
camaign against Perkins, BUT he can
take part in the campaign against
Cummins. Why? He says he can
not remain silent Why?
To the keen observer the wberefora
OF all these why's is apparent Senator
Dolilver feels that the strongest force
IN Iowa politics is the Blythe organiza-
ton. The senator was a long time
marshaling his courage to break with
the Aldriches of the senate, so he will
be a long time marshalng his courage
to break with j. w. Blythe The sena.
tors interview is part of plan. He is
now being exploited by the Blythe
machine, just as he and Senator ALI
son and unwittingly exploited in 1904,
to head Blythe delegation to Chi
cago. 1t was necessary then to give
the Blythe movement responsibility.
The game was successfully PLAYED,
and the people duped. 1t is necessary
now to give the Perkins movement re-
spectabilty, the situation is serious,
very serious. The people of Iowa are
aroused, they are behind Cummins.
The movement is irresistible, and
heroic remedies are necessary. If the
we may look for an interview or
letter from Senator Allison, then
Lacey Hepburn, Cousins, Hedge, Daw-
son and Hull. The whole Iowa dele
cation, or so much Of it as they can
utilize, will be worked overtime to
boost Perkins. We are fast leading
up here in Iowa to parallel with
Wisconsin, and all these gentlemen
must remember that the result in Wis,
consin was a complete rout for the
"stalwarts." The people of Iowa not
only demand that the corporations re-
tire from politics, they also ask that
the senators and congressman keep
their hands off of state affairs; they
were not elected for that purpose. They
have only the rights in state elections
that the rest of us have, no more,
no less Senator Dolliver says: II have
no wish to assume the role of a boss
in our state affairs and l believe the
senator is sincere when he says this.
He also SAYS: such a role is suited
neither to my abilities nor my tastes.
And 1 know the senator we'll enough to
know this is true. But when Senator
Dolliver gave out that interview he
knew perfectly well that he was try
ing to influence a choice for governor.
and he knew perfectly we'll that ne had
a tremendous advantage over a private
citizen. Will the senator deny this!
He will not. He is too honest to do So
But am not done yet. Senator Dol
liver endorses Governor Cummins adj
ministration: he approves the princi-
pie of election reform embodied in the
primary bill recently defeated by the
Blythe Perkins organization. In his
last speech before the Grant Club in
Des Moines his remarks on primary
legislation were equivocal. l am glad
that Senator Dolliver has noted the
trend of opinion in Iowa. He also APP
proves heartily of the anti-pass move
ment, but he deplores factionalism and
then turns around and does all he can
to further the interests of the faction
that has been. opposed to Cumnins and
his administration. and primary and
anti-pass legislation. l like Dolliver.
I like him very much l am proud Of
him. When he is once thoroughly
enlisted in cause he is a power, but
1 regret to say, it is with profound sor-
row, that I am compelled to say that
the Washington interview does not
present him in a brave and consistent
light.
The men at Washington have yet to
learn that the voters of Iowa do their
own thinking; they do not look to the
Iowa delegation for inspiration; they
are capable of making their own selec-
ton, and the man who is candidate
for office will not gain, but lose, by go
ing to Washington for certificate OF
character. Such things are never re-
sorted to except in dire necessity.
cu n 1 N n M B a 20 EM EH az
IA