Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-13
Gan TAFT SECURE
IOWA DELEGATION! !!
Secretary Naturally Being Dis
cussed Now That Roosevelt is
Out Of Running
TAFT DID NOT ENTHusE STATE
Doubt Expressed Among Progressive
Republicans as to His Ability to
Convince Many That He is the Man
Of the Hour-shppers Score Victory
ove. Railroads.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. 13.-Can IoWa's
support be secured for Taft for presi-
hdent? 1t is a vital question among
Iowa republicans just at this time.
A more sober second thought on the
attitude Of Roosevelt is convincing
many that the president is out of 1t
| entirely now and tha progressives
There, is no denying that it is a grave
disappointment to hosts of the pro-
/ gressives who have been saying all
along that Roosevelt is not bigger than
j the American people and that if the
party demanded it he could not re-
fuse.
But the president raiterates his
statement that he will not accept
! a denomination and wise politicians
declare that in the face of that declar-
alton the party can never insist on
! nominating him with the possibility
and probability of his refusal to ac
cept the nomination. Roosevelt does
things differently from other people
and there could be no great surprise
in the fact Of his statement If he re-
fused the nomination if it were ten
dered him, and he can't be renominat-
ed without fight.
This is something Of the trend
Of the discussion among the politicians
in this city. With Roosevelt elm
mated Taft is the very next thought
of the politicians, and the question,
will the republicans of Iowa unite on
Taft is a very patent and important
one just at this time. Secretary Tat
undoubtedly has many adherents in
this state. But when he came here
on a trip recently he talked about
the conduct of the Philippines and 9th
er important state matters that did
not particularly interest Iowa repub-
licans who have had attention for
troll and the tariff. Undoubtedly that
trip cost Taft support. Republicans
still recognize him as somewhat in ac-
cord with the policies of Roosevelt,
but there are many ways In which
they see vast difference between the
two men.
Looking the situation squarely in the
face progressive republicans declare
that there is grave danger Of the
election Of Bryan unless the republi-
cans can pick on progressive of pro-
nounced type who will hold together
the party. They point to the fact that
there is a large independent body Of
voters who are more tied to men Of
striking personality than to party
fealty and these men will vote for
Bryan in preference to any reaction-
ary or even in preference to Hughes.
Furthermore they claim that much Of
the corporate interest support will be
thrown to Bryan because by his cleo
ton with the election of republican
congress they believe that matters
would be so tied up that there would
be no legislation and that is just what
the, corporations would like to have.
Politicians are undeniably somewhat
at sea. Many Of them see only chaotic
lead them out of the wilderness.
The representatives of the shippers
scored a victory over the railroads in
the hearing on the sheep rates. in
Iowa before the railroad commission
and they believe that they will win
their point. They asked the commits
sion to make a fiat reduction Of %
per cent in the sheep rate in Iowa.
The commission made the rate but
later on the request of the railroads
withheld the time of putting the order
in-o effect till further hearing
could be had. This hearing was mad
yesterday.
The real contention between the
sheep feeders and the railroads in
nutshell is this: Are the farmers of
Iowa entitled to the same privileges
and rates as those Of Kansas?
1t was shown to the commission
that the rate on sheep from Grants.
New Mexico. to Kansas points and
from there to Chicago is s45 car
less than the rate from the same place
to- Iowa farms and then to Chicago.
The sheep travel over the same line
Of railroad exactly.
For fully ten years some Of the
roads and for the last several years
all the roads would allow the sheep
men to ship sheep to their farms,
feed the sheep for three to six months
and then ship on to Chicago at one
rate Recently this privilege was
withdrawn from the Iowa shippers
and they were made to pay the sum
of two separate rates. which is s45
more than the single rate. The Kan
sis people still have the privilege.
The railroads claimed that the sheep
transportation charges are not re-
rnunerative and that they did not de-
sire the business. Many of the farm
ers went on the stand and testified
that the railroads We're soliciting their
business.
BY one witness it was shown that
there is a greater disparity between
The rates on cattle. sheep and hogs in
This state than In any other state. in
all other states the rates being more
nearly the same.
Since the greater part Of the sheep