Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-31
WHEN The ISSUE is INvoLvEp.


His friends and neighbors at hona
who love his genial personality and
enjoy the laugh which follows his tell
ing of a funny story have banqueted
their fellow townsman, the congress
man. and in order that there might be
no display of partisan or factionai feel
ing progressives and others were con-
spicuous at the ceremonies. Attempt
was made TO make the event an out
burst of local enthusiasm and to this
end there was genuine cooperation.
Now for the political effect OF the
welcome For fear that outside of
Council Bluffs advantage and perhaps
perversion might be taken of the DEM
onstration the Register and Leader
comes forward with a very pertinent
comment to the effect that in a well
come Of Judge Smith as a citizen all
Iowa could send congratulations 10 mis-
Council Bluffs neighbors but in BOOM
ing Judge Smith for the speakership of
the next house there must be a division
for the reason that Judge Smith has
chosen TO align himself with the So
called reactionaries of congress and
would be the Joe Cannon candidate If
he were candidate al all. The Regis
ter and Leader speaks Of cost 20
principle in such a crisis which would
be too great TO justify unanimity in
Iowa even in the face of Aa,tering
prospects for honor to come to this
state.
To those who understood the bar
beque at Council Bluffs TO be merely
local hand clapping of friends who
were wont to borrow the judges wheel
barrow and who had killed frogs with
him in times past discussion of a
speakersaip candidacy at this time will
sound as a discord when the occasion
would seem to demand harmony but
the watchers on the outside political
aookouts such as the Register and
Leader are not unnaturally alarmed
and the Des Moines newspapers
prompt definition Of the issue may be
taken as a fair presentation of the .eal
political situation in Iowa, as the Reg
lister and Leader is one of the prorni-
nent exponents of Very formidable
school Of political thought in this
state.
It is very true as the Register and
Lot VrI ~, =
a citizen can carry Iowa unanimously
whereas Judge Smith or anybody else
as Cannon candidate for speaker
would have a fight ON his hands. Cam
non and Aldrich. altho strangers TO
Iowa personally are leaders of a force
in congress which is in great disfavor
in this state. Many men and especially
that class Of men who seem to be gain
ing in political influence believe that
Cannon has led the reacdonaries In
congress. They look upon Aldrich as a
representative Of great corporate inter-
ests which seek undue favors and
Cannon and eAldrich are partners in .he
leadership Of d well defined faction in
congressional politics Roosevelt was
looked upon by the country at large
as leader of an opposing faction and
Iowa has sent men to the present con-
gress who have seemed to oppose It's
so-called reactionary movement. The
fact that Judge Smith has elected IL
follow the Cannon leadership, as his
Des Moines paper points out. mark!
him as a man whose honoring for the
speakership would involve too much G
the main issue to give his candidac,
for this speakership the same unanim
ity which could be cordially extended
to him as citizen. At home Judg,
Smiths welcome was unanimous
Abroad his candidacy would have t,
stand the strain Of determined politica
differences.