Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-02
THE TERRoRs OF DAYLIGHT.

THE 1ERRORS Of DAYLIGHT.
1.-THE democrats have not attended
1.-THE special session for nothing. AS
soon as they discovered that there
were a great many republicans who
were loath to face the responsibility
of voting yes or no in the open on
Cummins for the senatorial vacancy
they Immediately became strenuously
anxious that the legislature be
forced to vote on it. Anything that
worries a republican is the thing to
do, from a democratic standpoint, and
hence the resolution in the senate yes
terday declaring that we do proceed to
this election.
The probabilities are that the legis-
lature win have to face the situation
The law prevents the governor making
an appointment after the legislature
has convened. If he had appointed
some time ago the appointment would
have expired by law as soon as the
legislature convened. The only objec-
+:on to electing now is that some re-
nubicans uncompromisingl opposed
to Cummins do not want to vote for
him under any circumstances and
fearing that a majority of the repub-
lican members of this legislature are
for him, they do not want the roll
called Then there are few who are
raised with a candidacy for reelection
which might be made rough for them
if they are made conspicuous now
And lastly, there are those good friends
of the governors who hesitate lest
some enemies be made who might be
induced not to oppose him in the pri-
mary.
Climbing over these objections is
the indisputable fact that it is the
legislatures duty to fill the vacancy
by election, Cumnins or no Cnmmins,
and, this being SO, men are running
away from duty in wanting to procras-
innate. Then the friends of the gov
ernor argue that the whole state ex-
poets the legislature to elect him, and
if, in the interest of supposed dar-
mony, his friends fail to see that this
repudiated by his friends as too fac
tional to be touched. 1t would preju-
dice his standing in the primary. They
argue that he held the short term in
lis power and voluntarily gave it up
by calling the legislature so as to de-
eide by primary ballot what would
have wrecked the republican ticket if
left to rough and tumble and that he
is now entitled to the vote of all the
friends he has in this legislature.
Governor Cummins will undoubtedly
be elected to the vacancy if the va
cancy is filled. If any other course
is pursued it will be with his free
consent and by the will of his friends
In the interest OIL IL SetluS
passing strange, however, if the long
term is to be decided by a primary
why any republican should be violently
opposed to a legislature electing the
governor for a short term Of a few
weeks unless it be that any reprieve is
desirable and that the final day of
recognizing the progressive candidate
is to be delayed to the last possible
moment. Men who have long been
known as progressive or standpatter
need not think that their record has
been forgotten. They need have no
fear Of coming out in the open and
being counted consistent with their
records. Inconsistency would be dis
astrous, but consistency merely pre-
serves the statu quo at home And a
caucus having determined the major
ity, it is but good republicanism to
yield. There ought to be no serious
trouble