The Washington times., 1908-10-11
REPUBLICANS IN IOWA
DOUBTFUL OF STRENGTH
Close Inspection Shows That Bryan and Roosevelt Have
Both Had Good Effect Though Labor
Class Is in Confusion Over Taft
BY JOHN SNURE.

DIES MONIES. Iowa. oct. 9.-Iowa
gave President Roosevelt in 1904 a plu-
rality Of 49, 66 votes It would seem
incredible that the Democrats should
be solemnly taking about having pros
Poets Of carrying the state and that the
Republicans should have the slightest
doubt about the electoral vote of Iowa
being given to Taft by an enormous
figure. And yet on careful inquiry here,
at the capital Of the state and the cen
ter of its politics, one finds plenty of
Republicans who are saying there will
be a neavy slump on their side Of the
fence and that the situation is far from
being as satisfactory as they could de-
sire.
Most Republicans who know anything
of conditions in the State Will tell you
that Taft Will carry Iowa, but that for
this state the plurality VIII be low
From 10000 to f0,0Jc is the prevailing es-
innate Of Ta'Ts plurality among we'll
advised Republicans.
This would be the lowest Republican
plurality in iowa since the 1892 election.
In 1896. Bryan lost the State by over
5000. and IN 1900 by over $500 In 1892
the Republican plurality was upward
Of 1890. Few Republicans who have an
understanding Of Iowa venture TO put
MI Tafrs plurality at over 5000 This
would mean that Bryan had made dis
tinct gains in the Hawkeye state, and
that he has made such gains is pretty
generally admitted.
No Need of Apprehension.
Mr.. Pryau's repeated visits 10 Iowa
in this campaign point 10 the fact he
has hopes of carrying the State. It IS
true some Of the more timid Repub-
Leans are shaking their heads and say
ing they don't ike the looks Of things.
but on the whole there is little in the
situation that warrants the belief that
there Is any need for Republican appre-
hension, save as 10 the size of the plu-
raIity.
As the situation stands today it looks
as if it would be impossible for the Re
publicans to prevent Bryan getting a
larger vote in the state than ever be-
fore, with a corresponding decline in
the vote Cor the Republican candidate.
This Iowa situation IS peculiarly In
teresting from the fact that this Com
mOnwealth, under the leadership of
Gov A b. CUmmins. has been pTOlni-
nent IN the movement for progressive
policies IN government. What the
radical Republicans Of Iowa viii do IN
this Presidential contest, II Is Tx ely
the radical Republicans Of neighbOr-
ing States viii do 90 a large extent.
What are the causes that will Op-
crate to cut down the Republican vote
I'm this region Of rock-ribbed Repub-
licanism, as II has usually been con-
sidered?
This question has been put 20 a
number Of Republicans prominent In
the politics Of the State. They say
that in the first place the Democrats
are united this year, that y whatever
Democratic vote Roosevelt got viii
this year be cast for Bryan. Further
than this they pretty generally admit
the great bulk Of organized labor in
Iowa, and IL is a large vote, Will this
year go to Bryan. 1t was cast for
Roosevelt in 1904. and has been for
the most part Republican.
Sherman As a Factor.
A further factor IN the situation IS
the nomination Of Representative
James s. sherman on the ticket with
Judge Taft. Many Iowa Republicans
were anxious 10 have a Western man
put on the ticket with Taft They
would have been pleased at the nomi-
nation Of Senator DoIliver or Govern
or CUmmins. This applies. of course
20 the progressives or CummIns men
IN the party. The standpatters OF
anti-Cummins Republicans. for rea-
sons connected with the SenatOrship
and with the lOngstanding factiOnal
/ fight in the State, did not want DClIi-
yer named, lest II would open the way
for Cummins TO the Senate. and did
not want Cummins nominated for the
reason they are strenuOusly opposed
TO anything that will advance the po-
litical fortunes of the governor.
Furthermore. a good many Of the
prOgressives dislike some Of the fea-
lures Of the Chicago platform. and
are asking whether the Denver plat
form does not more nearly represent