Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-21
The PAST MEEK
N IOWA POu||CS
Results at Ottumwa and Bur-
lington Mean Fight in
State Convention
cREsTon FURNISHED SURPRISE
Cummins' Victory in Union County
Considered a Knockout for Stand
patters = The kretschmer and Nor
row iStuation - Progrcssives Have
Best in the WapeIIo Split.
specta. 70 Times. Republican.

Spe.cia! 20 Times Republican
Des Moines. May 21.-Pollticians
generally are not Understanding the
Importance of political events in Iowa
the past week. The situation is be-
coming doubly interesting.
The storm centers have been Bur-
lington, Ottumwa and Creston all
right on the main line of the standpa!
system. The fact of divided delega-
means that great deal of Importance
will attach to the temporary organiza-
ton of the state convention and to the
caucus selection OF committees. 1t Is
now certain there will be contests from
both these places. No foundation has
been laid for a contest from any coun-
ty previously.
Those who attended the convention
in Ottumwa say that the record has
been made so that there cannot be any
doubt whatever as to the better posi-
ton of the progressives. That which
was done, or attempted to be done, by
the standpatters, was irregular and
faulty; and on the face of things the
progressives have the best of 1t. AT
Burlington the situation is reversed
and the standpatters appear to have
the best of the game. But no matter
how men may argue about it and dis
cuss it, and each one claim his side Is
,tfrt>t io, N ht1
state convention. and the shutting out
OF the contested counties until after
the preliminaries are had
The Union county situation came as
u surprise to all save Il few who had
been wat, hing afsairs there. There are
two ways of looking at it. The first
suggestion made was that 1T was done
in the interest of W. w. Morrow for
state treasurer, that he and his friends
realized that the state convention will
be in control of the progressives, that
they realized that every nominee must
be such by favor of the progressives,
that under the circumstances MOrroW'S
friends merely lay lown and acquiescei
in the choosing of Cummins delega-
ton from Union. In short it was a
band wagon performance in the inter-
est of Mr.. Morrow for state treasurer.
But on the other hand some of the
staunch Blythe people from southern
Iowa insist it was nothing of the sort
and that the result in Union followed
q fierce and determined, tho not noisy,
fight between factions, and that under
no circumstances do the friends of
Morrow desire to be counted as Cum
minis men. Ex-senator Harsh led IN
the fight for a CunlminS convention
and he is leader among the progress
sives, the dislike of the standpatters
for Harsh being the highest co1npli-
ment to his ability and >steadfastness.
Among the Well informed it is re-
garded as morally certain that the
progressives victory in Union was a
knockout blow for Morrow.
But Immediately on receipt Of the
news from Creston friends of Morrow
here suggested that if Union county
comes to the convention instructed for
Cummins and Morrow, it will put the
progressive majority of the convention
in an embarrassing position. Morrow
will then become virtually the pro-
gressive candidate for state treasurer.
But what of Fred Kretschmer and his
Dubuque contingent of twenty-eight
votes? If he names Cummins men on
his delegation, will he not be in posi-
ton to demand favors in return?
There is a good deal of inquiry as
to what has become of kretschmer
Whether there is any foundation for it
or not rumor persists that Kretschmer
went to Washington instead of going
nj hiC district corral
delegates, that overtures have been
made to him to throw the progress
ives of the Third district and to have
him name a Blythe delegation from
DUBUQUE and that he is Wavering.
This may be rank injustice to the Du-
buque man, but it appears that none
of his friends is in position to make
denial.
But the fact of the matter is that
the progressives are not going to de-
pend on either Dubuque or Union
county for a majority in the state con-
vention. The only way for Kretschmer
to gain standing in the state con-
vention is for him to name his delega-
ton and make it emphatically pro-
gressive, and do it at once. The only
way for Morrow to place himself in line
with the convention majority is for him
to come out and announce his position
at his county convention.
A good deal of misinformation has
been scattered about in regard to this
treasurership. On behalf of the Du-
buaue man it has been asserted that a
compact was made by which if he
would give Dubuque to the progressives
they would nominate him. Nothing
could be further from the truth. But
the logic of the situation was for him
to join the progressves in his county
and district and thus be in position
to ask favors of the convention. His
friends say he has done this and that
he is man incapable of guile or dis
sembling, and that he will play fair
with his friends at home and in the
state.