Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-15
cuMMlNs ron SENATOR.

cUMMiNs FOR SENATOR.
Davenport Times. Now that the
last tributes have been paid to the
venerable man whom Iowa people
loved ana respected SO highly, 1t is
not improper to turn to considera-
ton OF the senatorial vacancy. How
shall the place be filled and who shall
be named to fill it cannot much longer
be left to the uncertainty of the future.
A party program must be mapped out
in order that there may be a general
understanding of what will be done to
the end that party harmony and CO
operation may be maintained during
the remainder of the Iowa campaign.
Without such a program the sena-
torial question will not down 1t will
be ever present during the campaign
The nominees for the legislature will
be polled, and the man who refuses to
express his opinion will be looked
upon with suspicion by not few in
his district, and the nominee who de-
clares himself is also likely to run
counter to the wishes of consider
able number of Republicans. If the
senatorial matter is left open without
any agreement in advance, without a
party program, it is possible that in
not a few close districts the Republi.
can candidates may be defeated. And
If the contest becomes acrimonious
and bitter, as it may without some
early settlement, the whole ticket in
the state may be jeopardized. What
all Republicans want is peace and
harmony, and the way to secure
Inn nj r,ifu IF ooroor,on4 i ~ bo,,o .,
party program that may be accepted
by the entire party in the state.
How this problem may best be
solved can be discovered by brief
study of the recent senatorial primary
election. 1t is found that Allison re-
ceived large vote and that Cummins
received only about 10000 less votes.
1t is admitted on all sides that many
men voted for Allison, not because
they were less friendly to Cummins,
but because they loved Allison more,
respected his gray hairs, approved his
work, considered his services merited
the reward of reelection and felt
that man of such national promi-
nence and prestige ought not to be
retired from the senate. Duty and
sentiment were strong factors In IA
vor OF Allison. And yet, notwith-
\ standing all this, and in the face of
the fact that Cummins had made some
enemies by his recent law-enforce-
ment program, Cummins received
with 10000 of the number Of votes
cast for Allison. The opponents of
Cummins have no man for the senate
upon whom they would be likely to
agree, and certainly no man can be
named for whom sentiment would
play so great part as it did in the
last primary. Under these circum-
stances Cummins appears to be the
man upon whom all ought to agree for
the senatorship. No other man in Iowa
has such strength with the voters.
Prior to the primary election Gov
1 ernor Cummins made the announce
ment that the primary would settle
the contest as between himself and
Allison. At the state convention at
Waterloo, which passed resolutions
praising the administration of the
governor, Cummins declared himself
| satisfied with the result of the pri.
mary because the voters had had a
| chance to express their preferences
He announced then and there, in un.
mistakable language, that he intend.
ed. to get out and work for the election
of the entire Republican ticket from
Mr.. Carroll down. He gave no evil
dence OF sulking, but on the con.
trary made it clear that he was for
the whole ticket. Such action on the
governors part ought to be recipro
Gated by the party now. And that
can be done by agreeing that, owing
to the changes that have taken place
4 the whole party now will be for Cum.
| minis for senator.
| AS result of the primary election
the state ticket Is fairly divided be.
tween those who supported Allison
and those who favored Cummins
Harmony requires concessions in the
spirit of give and take With Allison
winning the senatorship, and Cum.
minis accepting the situation without
reserve and pledging his support for
the election of the whole ticket, pros
poets were bright for peace, cooper.
alton and harmony. 1t is due to
nothing that the friends of Cummins
have done that conditions have sud
denly changed. The new state of af
fairs has been precipitated by a
power beyond the control of men. II
one mans friends were willing to &C
cept what had happened at the pri
mary, the other mans friends ought
| to be no less willing to concede the
place to Cummins now. The Times
supported Allison, but is now in
favor of Cummins for senator.
Mr.. Cummins has not yet announced
his candidacy as an aspirant for the
vacant place. He was misrepresented
by the Chicago newspapers and
denies that he ever said more than
merely words Of praise for the man
who is gone. He has not hastily and
with poor judgment rushed forward
as CLAIMANT for the empty chair.
| But even though Mr.. Cummins has
not yet made an announcement The
Times believes he is the logical man