Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-14
Not in Accord With Party in
Iowa on Many Important
Questions
DISAGREE ON PRIMARY BILL
Take. His Party to Task for Opposing
Bill With a Party Declaration Clause
-l4is Attitude May Cause Change
Of Front by Iowa +eaders-1ryan is
In Earnest.
Special to Times-Republican

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, FEB. 14.-The last time
William j. Bryan came to Des Moines
for a political address, which was just
before the last election, he clashed
with the present democratic party or
ganization in the state over the ques-
tion of permitting corporations to die
tate the political policies of the state
His coming this week and speaking be-
fore the legislature and at demo-
cratic banquet, developed that Mr.
Bryan does not think that the demo-
cratic organization in this State is en-
tirely democratic in it's attitude to-
ward measures for getting back to the
people. He clashed with the party
bosses on the primary bill.
Mr.. Bryan found. on coming to the
state, that the party organization I'M
der the lead of Chairman Miller of the
democratic state committee, who be-
came conspicuous by his presence in
the railroad rump convention in Chi
assistance to those who hope yet to
defeat all primary legislation in Iowa.
The democratic organization plan was
to make the excuse for opposing the
bill on the ground that democrats be-
lieve there should be no requirement
for the voter to make party declara-
ton. If Chairman Miller and his capi-
net have their way, the primary bill
that will be presented for final action
will be opposed by the solid demo-
cratic vote which will unite in de-
mand for q wide open primary, where
every person could vote any ticket he
pleases. This method of giving mate
rial assistance to the anti-primary re-
publicans, and making it uncertain
whether any primary bill is to be
passed, has been relied on by those OPP
posing the primary to effect its COM
plete defeat.
But Mr.. Bryan was given little
members of the legislature, and on this
occasion he gave his views in detail on
the form Of a primary bill. He learned
that the democrats had, so far as their
leaders could pledge them. agreed to
make fight for party declaration in
the primary law. Mr.. Bryan de-
nounced the scheme and plainly told
his partisan friends that they. should
give support to q primary bill with a
party declaration therein.
Some of the democrats present un-
dertook to argue the question and to
convince the Nebraskan that a wide
open primary is the thing for demo-
Gratis, but Mr.. Bryan had an argument
for each and every one, and convinced
the majority Of the members that a
party declaration is just as valuable
to the democrats as to the republicans.
The discussion developed some sensa-
tional features, and for time it looked
about ready to break with their party
leader in order to carry out some po-
litical promises In Iowa.
About two weeks ago Mr.. Bryan, in
his newspaper at Lincoln, took occa-
sion to tell the Nebraska democrats
that it is their duty to give support to
a primary measure in that state. He
left no doubt that he is in favor of a
measure that will permit republicans to
nominate their candidates by majority
vote and permit democrats to name
their candidates by majority vote of
their own party.
1t is expected that the primary bill
will be reported to the general assem-
bly, in few days by the sub cimmit-
tee having it in charge. In view OF
the declarations Of Mr.. Bryan it is pos
sible the democratic. organization here
h 10 oh
Of attack in regard to the party dec