Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-29
ga,ps- eush1ira,r. ssslrlltnu1 aIp,ra Apr 29 1908

under banner marked progressive"
or to designate as "standpatters" those
who revere the name of Senator Alli-
son and feel drawn to him all the more
closely on account of the infirmities
which he bears.
Deplores Age Argument.
Not long since 1 read in the COVER
nors organ at Waterloo this sentence:
allison, an old man in his dotage,
with one foot in the grave and the
other on the .standpat' platform" Is
it any wonder that republicans turnout
the state, by unnu1nbered thousands.
are turning away from a candidacy
which accepts without shame such
support as that? 1t is the good fortune
Of the friends of Senator Allison that
they may appeal to the record to say
except the platform Of the republican
party. And while none of us stand
very far from the grave, so that not
even the strongest ought to boast of
his strength, there is a peculiar sane
tity which in civilized communities Is
usually sufficient to protect from sheer
and insult the gray hairs of a good
man.
venture to say there was never any
reason for dividing the republicans Of
Iowa into two classes and stirring up
strife between them. 1t may be that
there have been some differences OF
opinion, growing out Of mems conflict
ing ideas about public policies. But all
these differences could have been made
the subject of friendly debate among
the people and brought to satisfac-
tory adjustment without rending the
party into hostile factions. We had only
to follow the leadership of Theodore
Roosevelt to have escaped the most OF
our troubles Fortunately for the par
ty at large his leadership was accepted
and we approach the election Of new
president with few traces of dissention
in our ranks. But even yet in Iowa
1t Is thought wise, in order to give the
governor of the state a certain indf-
viduality and to hold the allegiance OF
followers who have been led to think
that they are the guardians of pro-
gressive republicanism. to perpetuate
the notion that the friends Of Senator
Allison are not in sympathy with the
progress which is so much sought af-
ter. Such are the exigencies Of office
seeking. where speech is free and
printing is free.
Tho Same Old Crisis.
Whatever crisis there is in Iowa now
was here summer before last, and I'M
less we are content to feed the people
Of Iowa on steady diet OF humbug
nd n n
it that this unseemly disparagement of
one another, so profitable in securing
nominations and so embarrassing on
election dass IS effectually done away.
Unless sue tics as these come to an
end, the 81. If editors for the united
support OF on. nominations will be in
vain. You cannot lefame the charac-
ter Of one-half the membership Of your
party representing whole communities,
as under the corrupt influence Of COR
porations, without inviting a retalia-
ton, as deserved as 1t is inevitable.
There has been no crisis in our ma
tional life in which the representa-
tives of Iowa, following the counsel
and leadership of William H. Allison,
have not borne a manly and honorable
part. There are scores Of men in Iowa
who have heard from the lips Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt his hearty and sincere
tribute to the fidelity with which every
man in Iowa has stood by him since the
day poor Mckinley lay down the pres
idency with his life. If the Iowa dele
cation in congress stood in need Of any
words of commentator from me, I
couldn't do better than to repeat the
words Of Governor Cummins, standing
on this very platform, hardly more
than year ago, when he said: 1T is
the proud distinction Of our common
wealth that in the session Of congress
Just closed the delegation from our
state stood nearer to this great leader
than the delegation from any other
state in the union. And without in
vidious comparison I desire to embrace
this opportunity to lay this tribute of
my praise at the feet of our delegation
in congress"
Yet almost within a year the flow
ers of this tribute are faded. Some of
the congressman are driven in disgust
into retirement; others brought into
line by threats of defeat; others solic-
tied to be neutral, while our greatest
leader, the closest adviser of the pres
ident, not even excepting his own cab
met the man of whom President
Roosevelt, when the rate bill was up,
said in letter intended for the Con-
gressional Record: Il earnestly sug-
gested to all to whom I spoke that
they should communicate with you,
whose purpose and mine were identi-
cal'-this man is made to realize that
neither age nor service nor fame nor
the reverence of his colleagues, nor
even the solemn covenants of his adj
versaries, is able to protect his gray
hairs. VT
There was time in Iowa when men
were able to run for office on the pub
lie recognition of their talents, their
superior ability, their party activity
in word, on their merits All that
seems to have gone, and now candi-
dates are announced for practically
every office on the ground that they