Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-16
LACEY PROMISES
CLEAR CAMPAIGN
Former Congressman Selected
by Standpatters to Run For
Senate Says He'll be Good
CLARKE COULD NOT WIN
CLARKE COULD NOT VIII
His Record as standpatter Would
Not Stand the Test Of Radicals -
Proeressives Not Dispieased Nor
Alarmed Because of Lacey's seIec-
ton.
Special to Times-Republican

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Sept 16.-Ex- Congress-
man John f. Lacey, of Oskaloosa, who
was selected by the standpatters as
their candidate for the republican
nomination for the United States sem
ate at the conference late yesterday
afternoon. after his selection told the
conference that he proposed to make
a campaign for the entire state repub-
lican ticket and that he would not at
tack his opponent, and had confidence
that his opponent would not attack
him. Later in the lobby of the Saw
cry he told his friends the same thing.
clean, vigorous speechmaking cam
paign asking the support of the repub-
licans of the state on his record In
public life. with no allusion whatever
to the faciional difficulties of the re-
publican purity.
Republicans are saying today that
the selection of Lacey is wise one
if Lacey carries out his announced in
tention. s,tandpatters to large ex-
tent had hoped for Congressman
Smith, of Council Bluffs, but when
Smith refused they Joined heartily in
supporting. Lacey. They are saying
that Lacey is a typical standpatter. tho
James n. Trewin and Charles Johnston
said that was not the controlling thing
In his selection. If Cummins wins over
him it means something and II Lacey
wins 1t means something. 1t will be
a decisive matter.
The thing that elected Lacey was
the defeat of Clarke, Of the interstate
commerce commission. Clarke had the
inside ring and even standpat newspa-
pers predicted his Fselection in their
regular afternoon editions. But at
noon some of the leaders got
together and determined to head
off Clarke At the conference IN
the afternoon, therefore, they sprang
letter that Clarke had written to Cum
minis ple.dging his support to Cum
Minis. That ended it and backed TreW-
in and Bealer clear off the board. They
had pledged Clarke as a standpatter
but the letter or the copy OF 1t which
they claimed to produce was too con-
elusive. The selection of Lacey then
was an easy matter. But even then
many voted for Clarke.
There were two ballots taken and
they stood as. follows:
s'First ballot-Lacey 60, Clarke Al,
Trewin 12, Birdsall 12, scattering "a.
Second ballot-Lacey 113, Clarke 4S,
1t was claimed that there were over
300 present but the votes show that
there were but 164 votes cast. On the
second vote Clarke gained one over
his first vote.
1t is understood from very reliable
sources that Congressman Smith did
not feel that he cared to go up against
the steam roller awaiting the Novem-
ber election, as he has political ambf-
tions for the future. He is in line to
be chairman of the appropriations COM
mittee and it is said feels that some
day he may be speaker of the house
and later gain even greater political
honors, and defeat for United States
senator at this time would do him a
great deal of harm, as he is young
man-so much harm that he did not
care to risk it, Secretary Wilson had
his reasons and Shaw his for not rum
ming.
There were forty-five counties Of
the ninety-nine in the state represent
ed at the conference the most Of them
by one or two men. This is consid-
cred a pretty good representation for
such a. gathering. One of the notable
things was that the great bulk of the
conspicuous leaders present were men
who used to be in office but are not
now, but who would like very much
to get back into office, but that is a
different story.
Now it is proposed on all sides to
conduct clean campaign. The stand
patters thru Lacey promise to make
no false attacks on Governor Cummins
such as they have in the past. They
promise not to misrepresent him. 1t Is
certain that Cummins will continue to
conduct as clean campaigns as he has
ever done. This leaves it open to the
people of the state to make an unbiased
selection between the two men.
The selection of Lacey did not stir
much enthusiasm among the demo-
Gratis in the city. They had hoped that
the standpatters would not agree on
any one. They fear now that Lacey will
be just strong enough to hold the rad
ical standpatters in line to vote for
the legislative ticket and will thus not
assist the democrats any in carrying
the legislature.
Lacey's Acceptance.
Major Lacey's formal speech of ac-
al
"Gentlemen Of the Conference: Ev-
cry man in this gathering of republi-
cans knows that l have not sought this
honor, but nevertheless l greatly ap-
preciate it, Twice did volunteer in the
union army, each time as private
soldier. This is the first time that |
have been drafted.
"1'he exigencies of the statewide pri-
mary election law embarrasses US this