Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-22
COURIER PUBLISHER, WRITING
FROM NEW YORK, GIVES I'M
PREssloNs ON RECENT ELEc-
TioN IN THAT STATE.
RESULT SHOWS THE
PEOPLE DO RULE
>MR. POWELL SEES ANSWER TO
BRYAN's QUESTION IN ACTION
OF CONVENTION IN NOMINAL.
ING HUGHES.
lRY. JAMES E. PoWELL.l

(BY. JAMES F. PoWELL.)
New York City, Sept. 1910 the
average citizen of Iowa the result OF
the New York Republican state con-
yention is especially interesting.
It demonstrated that the man the
people want can be nominated in
states where the primary election law
does not exist. The people Of New
York state at large wanted Hughes
nominated for governor.
He was nominated.
1t is possible that under the pri-
mary system he might not have been
nominated.
A great many people often want
measures, policies and men, but
many people of those same people will
not take the trouble to go to the polls
on election day and vote for them.
That has always been so and prob
ably always will be SO. In Iowa on
June of this year there were more
than hundred thousand Republicans
who didn't vote at the primary Un-
doubtedly most of these voters had q
preference for one or the other Of the
candidates for the different offices, yet
that preference was not of enough
Importance in their estimation to in
duce them to take the trouble to go
and express 1t at the polls. Mckinley
in 1900 had 100000 votes and in 1904
Roosevelt had the same number, but
at the primary this year, the total
Republican vote cast was but 100000.
30 d f
II New York state had held q pri-
mary this year, the element opposing
Hughes, (being to large extent COM
posed of the race track and sporting
element Of the big cities), would have
voted to man and would have been
aided in all possible ways by the
Democrats. Those representing
Hughes side Of the matter are all over
the state. 1t requires more time for
the farmer to so to the polls than it
takes the man in the city, and often
he will not neglect his work to do it.
The majority of the Hughes support
ers live outside of New York city, and
Brooklyn, and they might have stayed
home like many of the Iowa farmers
did. In that case Hughes might not
have been nominated. A partial ex-
preston might have resulted in the
defeat of what the majority wanted.
While it Is probable that Hughes
was not the personal preference Of a
majority of the delegates at the con-
vention, he was the preference of the,
Republicans of the state and the
pressure of public sentiment was too
great power to buck. So Hughes
was nominated, not because all the
delegates wanted him, but because
stance public sentiment interested as
to numerical strength, had just as
much power as it could have had had
it been unanimous in the party, and
a great deal more force than it could
have concentrated by polling Of
part of it,
Further, the action of this conven-
ton answered for New York at least,
Mr.. Bryan's great question "Shall the
People Ruler" 1t demonstrated that
the people do rule in New York state
politics. Of course do not presume
that Mr.. Bryan desires to insult Tam
many by asking if the people shall
rule New York City.
was in Maine the day after the
election and from what | could learn
during my days stay 1T seems that
the Republicans are highly pleased
over the result. The issue there was
purely liquor problem National is
sues were covered up in a prohibition
fight. Maine has had prohibition
law for many years, and the issue
was as to whether the question should
again be submitted. The Republicans
were against resubmission and the
Democrats were for it. The Demo
Gratis were aided by outside
financial help and started their cam
paign about six months ago and work
ed continuously, while the Republicans
only got actively in the game about
two weeks before election. Senator
Borah, who made several speeches in
the state says that Maine will give
Taft 10000 majority.
Bryan does not seem to be taken
seriously here. 1t is openly stated
that Tammany will trade Bryan for
Chanler. 1t is evident that Tammany
cares little for national matters. but
does want to control New York state
and New York City 1t wants to get
cnance at the commission boards
that have been established by Gov.
Hughes So it would seem that the
fight that will be made on Hughes
will help swell the Taft vote. 1t is
telt that the president will personally
use every endeayor in the election in
the state, and do all in his power that
he consistently can for both Hughes
and Taft.
The Republican national headquar-