Fergus County Democrat., 1908-09-01
Democratic Ticket
For President:
WILLIAM J. BRYAN
of Nebraska
For Vice President:
JOHN w. KERN
of Indiana
MAY LOSE IOWA.

AS the campaign warns up, the re-
publicans are exercising increased
concern over the outcome of the
election in Iowa next November.
That state, which has generally been
considered stronghold of republi-
canism, is right now the scene of a
bitter factional fight among the repub-
licans In this connection, a recent
press dispatch says:
"Iowa republicans have called a
great harmony caucus" to be held at
Des Moines August rs. 1t will be a
remarkable gathering, almost without
parallel in the politics Of the country
Its purpose will be to get the party
leaders together and seek way out
of the complication which threatens
the republican control of the state
legislature and state ticket in the COM
ing election, and which menaces even
the electoral ticket
Present indications are that in
stead Of producing harmony the con
ference more likely will widen the
breach between the two factions Both
in and out of the state great concern
is felt among party leaders about the
results of the gathering.
Briefly, the Iowa situation may be
stated thus: The republican primary
in June named Allison for senate,
over Cummins by close vote. All
concede that against any other than
Allison, Cummins would have won
Allison died two months after he was
nominated.
consequently, the instructions
which the primary had given to re-
publican legislators to vote for Alli-
son were nullified. Unless some 9TH
er nominee is named by the party
the legislators will be free to support
whom they choose Cummins is a
candidate. There will be several 9TH
ers.
"The Cummins partisans all over
the state are ready to knife anti
Cummins legislative candidates an,d
the anti-Cummins people propose tc
defeat Cummins candidates. Either
side seems fully willing to let the
democrats have the senator rather thar
to allow the victory to go to the op
posite republican faction.
with Allison gone there is a va
cancy. Gov. Cummins has the powel
to appoint for the remainder of tn,
Allison term, or until the Legislature
which meets in January-shall elect
Whether he will do this or call tn,
legislature in session to elect, or al
low the vacancy to continue ad in
terim, has not been decided Som
of Cummins' friends want him to re
sign as governor and at once be ap
pointed senator by his successor, tn
present Lieutenant Governor, Garst
who is strong Cummins supporter
Others want him to leave the va
cancy. Others urge that he call tn
legislature to elect
"Still others insist that he call tn
legislature together and get it t
adopt an amendment to the presen
primary law, under which provisio
shall be made for second primar
when vacancy occurs, as in tn
present case. Then they would hav
the legislature elect to fill the preser
vacancy and adjourn. The Governe
could announce his candidacy for II
noination at the second primary ar
there is considered little doubt th
he would be named. But the ant
Cummins element opposes this ide
1t urges that the expense of seco1
primary should not be saddled on Il
state. More than this, and mu
more forcibly, it urges that if a p
mary be held the nominee of til
primary, whether he be of one facti
or the other, will be knitted at t
polls by his ancient enemies of t
other crowd. The legislature will
democratic, and Claude R. Port
whom the democrats have nominal
to receive their support for senat
will get he seat vacated by Allis,
"The situation is complex a
difficult one. As a possible way