Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-21
EASTERN OFFICE
the PRESERVATION BREAK.

There is no installing the signif-
canoe of the Burlington contest before
the state convention 1t means the
triumph of the people. 1t means that
passless politics is popular.
Evidence was brought by the Des
Moines county progressives and laid
before the state committee, and later
before the credentials committee at
the state convention, showing pretty
clearly that the progressives, under
the leadership of w. w. Copeland,
actually won the day In the caucuses
in Des Moines county. The evidence
was such as to be convincing to any
unbiased tribunal The standpatters
under the Blythe leadership resorted
to the expedient of holding a caucus
in a shed after the adjournment OF the
regular caucus, and then went to a
convention called to order by a man
who admitted he was on a contested
delegation. In short, the standpatters
carried things with a high hand and
with disregard of all regularity, in or
der to make a showing at the state
convention. There being nothing at
stake, it was impossible that there
should be much interest in the matter
at thes state convention.
But even granting that the stand
patters can make good their claim to
still have the best of the situation in
Des Moines county, it is still highly
important that the progressiNes led
such hot fight that they compelled ].
w. Blythe to get into the state con-
vention only after a real contest. In
other days this would have been re-
garded all along the Burlington line
as disgrace. 1t shows plainly that
there Is progress. 1t shows that
things are moving. 1t shows, also, that
the situation is different since the
en-. ancipation from the tyranny of spe-
cial favors.
When the progressive delegation en-
tered the state convention hall, it was
greeted with cheers from the repre-
sentatives of more than half
the. republican voting strength
Of the state Not only did
these stalwarr republicans stand
proudly before state convention to
be counted for good, but from num-
Der of other counties In what has long
been known as "the reservation" came
lusty cheers for these Des Moines
county men. The reservation is there,
in fact, but there are big holes In it.
They can be seen from affair."
1t is true that every delegate who
voted for reputation of the primary
by selecting a senatorial candidate by
caucus convention system also voted
for the seating of the delegations
headed by j. W. Blythe" and thus
Joined in welcome to return of the
old system; but these delegates who
thus indicated repining for the lost
past did not represent a majority Of
the republicans of the state.
There are clean white spots all over
the state where the light of progress
is shining. Two years ago the promise
went forth to deliver three tiers OF
counties along the Missouri border
solid for a candidate who lived within
a stones throw of the South Dakota
cornfields. The promise was not made
good, but it was SO so nearly made
good that a glance at the map was
enough to convince anyone what was
back of the campaign. The political
map of Iowa has been changed slight
ly, and for the better. 1t is only a
matter of time, unless the people vote
to give power to men who would re-
peal the anti-pass law, until the old
reservation will be broken up and it
will disappear.