The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-07-04
.SANKEY NOT CANDIDATE

non. L..J. Sdnkey Says ne is not d
Candidate for Congress from
the Eighth District.
The editor of this paper, says the Mt.
Ayr Press, addressed letter to Hon. E. j.
Sankey of Leon relative to being can
didate for the democratic nomination at
the primary next June. MIR. Sankey
replies that he would not accept the
nomination if rendered him. We know
that Mr.. Sankey made his last canvass
very reluctantly. He has other matters
that he wishes to give his attention.
We had a conversation with him in
Des Moines over year ago and he
then stated that he wished to give the
remainder of his life to his family and
his business. He deserves as much but
he is a good man and If he could see it
that way he should be honored by the
nomination as he would honor the party.
We insist that it is none too early for
the democrats to be casting about for
this place. There are two announced
candidates for the republican nomina-
tion and at the same primary the demo-
Gratis must nominate their candidate.
Ii we do not have candidate that the
people believe to be good man we
will lose many democrats from our party.
They will be drawn into the republican
contest and when they get there in the
primary they will stay at election time.
The contest for U. s. senator and con-
gresham in the republican party must
not be allowed to overshadow every
thing and attract our attention from
our own business. We must get to
work.
We are going to make another sugges-
tion of candidate and we would like
to have any democrat in this county
write US suggesting candidate for
state senator. We believe Ringgold
county has man that would be COM
petent for the place. We have not
consulted him or any of his friends.
We do not know what he would say
about it but we will let him have the
sensation of being talked about little
anyway. He is one of the most prom
inent men in the county, and if he can
not stand to have us talk of him little
his modesty needs stirring up. We
will suggest the nomination of Hon. T.
L. Shay Of Benton township, and we
hope to have some democrat reader of
SilAo puPOI oOCOAu LA1O UlOu OuT
next issue. Are you interested? Do
you think Tom Shay good man? II
you do say SO, if you know of any other
speak up. We want to hear from you.
AS to the senatorial situation we wish
to print Mr.. Sankey's letter. 1t tells
in the right way some things that
should be known. 1t follows:
LEON, Iowa, June 25, 1907.
H. G. Beard, Mt. Ayr, Ia,
DEAR SIR:-Your letter of the 24th
inst. received. In answer, wish you
abundant success with your democratic
newspaper. Ringgold county has long
been a rock-rooted republican strong
hold but a good democratic paper
there would aid in campaign of educa-
tion that should make the doctrine of
equal and exact justice to all and ex-
elusive privileges to none more popular
and eventually lead up to a democratic
majority. AS to the senatorial contest
in the republican party of this 5th
senatorial district, Senator Stookey
desires denomination and Capt. j. ID.
Brown will also be candidate. They
are both standpatters and strong demo-
cratic candidate might win, for the
reason that the people demand reform
in regard to economic questions that
will come before the next session of
the Legislature and if they could have
assurance that corporate greed would
be restrained by the election of a
democrat they might elect senator
even in this district. The new primary
law worries the politicians here. They
are not sure of the action of their
own party but the effect of a primary
nomination will be to strengthen the
candidate at the polls. In regard to my
work on the two-cent passenger fare
bill. prepared the bill myself un-
aided, brought it before the house on
minority report of the committee of
railroads and commerce and fought it
out on the floor of the House and
brought it before the people OF the
state and went to the democratic state
convention at Waterloo and had the
pleasure of having the 2-cent fare bill
endorsed by the convention and made
a part of the platform. The republican
convention was held later and they did
not dare to ignore or antagonize it in
their platform. So success was as
sured by persistent effort and now the
railroads propose to put in flat 2-cent
rate on all railroads and not further
antagonize public sentiment in hope
that their action will allay the growing
demand for national ownership. OF
course we cannot know what changes
may come before the next nominating
convention which will be year hence,
but one thing is evident and that is the
people are growing restless under
present conditions and we believe the
road to public tranquility is the demo-
cratic doctrine of equal and exact
justice to all men and special privilege
to none. 1t will cover every question
pertaining to public welfare. Now as
to myself, do not want the nomination
for state senator in this 9TH senatorial
district, and at this time would decline
a nomination if rendered. Kindly thank
ing you for your good will and proffered
support, am
Very truly yours,
e. j. SANKEY.