The daily sentinel., 1909-11-23
tBY TAV.)

contest rolls around, the three parties
are here now so far as Iowa is con-
cerned. They are the Democratic,
Republican and Progressive.
Each of the three parties has a
/ separate and distinct organization in
Iowa. Indications are that in the
near future each organization will
have its own ticket in city, county and
state primary elections. And If the
| Republican insurgency keeps to its
present course, overspreading the Da-
/ kotas, Nebraska, Kansas. Minnesota,
I Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana, it is
not too much to prognosticate that
| the next presidential election should
see a national progressive ticket in
/ the field. II would seem that the
only way the present tendency toward
| the formation of a third party could
4 be halted would be for the progress
/ i've leaders to reunite with the reg
| ulars. In that event the present fol-
lowing of the progressive would be
divided, one part remaining repub-
lican and another part coming over to
the democratic party.
But in Iowa the progressive party
is here now. And within the next
| eight or ten months this state will
decide whether the infant party is to
remain a pigmy, or whether it shall
become "A giant Iowa has come sud
denly to be recognized as political
battle ground in which will be fought
out momentous struggle between
insurgents and stand-patters There
fore a peep from the inside is worth
while.
am writing this from the heart of
the insurgency regions, after having
visited various sections Of the state.
/ have discussed politics with mem
bers of the house of representatives,
federal officials, state officials, mem
bers of the Iowa legislature, editors
of newspapers. political bosses, busi-
ness men and plain citizens.
Here are some of the most striking
phases of the Iowa situation, as they
exist today:
Measured in political strength, the
republican and progressive machines
of the eleven congressional districts
of Iowa are of equal strength Wheth-
er the progressive or republican ma
chine is to be supreme in the state
will be decided at the primaries next
June.
The sentiment of the voters of Iowa
dency of the politicians is to cling to
the regular organization Reason:
old organization has unlimited
lis to ibnte-l those who
can swing votes. while as yet the new
organization has no pie"
! Republicans are bitter towards
progressives. The intensity of this
bitterness is growing daily. No end
of the feud is in sight.
A progressive is much more friend
ly to democrat, whom he considers
as half-brother-and to whom he
looks for encouragement than he is
to republican.
To an Iowa standpat republican.
his old-time foe, the democrat. is a
most desirable citizen when compared
to progressive. The standpatter re-
\ CARDS the progressive as IA knocker,"
"a traitor" and as one who cannot
| be trusted.
The strife between standpatters
and insurgents should not be passed
over lightly It is more important
than the questions over which the
republicans and progressives dis
agree. The feud between old friends
is the key to What will be the re-
suit of the insurgency movement"
problem.
THE bitterness between insurgents
and regulars may he expected to in
crease in the prima ries," explained a
leading Iowa republican. speaking
| frankly on the subject. Nor will the
bitterness die out after the nomina-
tions have been made. In districts in
| which a regular wins the nomination,
the indications are that many of the
progressiyes will quietly lay down,
and allow the democratic candidate
to win. Many regulars will also
knife insurgent candidates.
| This view was frequently expressed
to the writer, and augers well for the
| prospects of democratic majority
| in the next house of representatives.
! Close-hand scrutiny of the ranks
of progressives brings out the fact
that, when seen "at home" they in
clude many types of politicians. Re-
cruits are appearing for service, and
they are frequently accepted without
| examination.
Some of the newcomers are poll
ticians. who. because of one or more
of a dozen reasons, have fallen out
with the old party. 1t may sound
harsh, but it is true, that some of the
progresSiVes are such because they
felt that the old party had not treat
ed them with sufficient generosity in
the distribution of patronage, such as
offices, federal contracts. etc Still
another class of progressives repre-
sent men who were piQued because
they could not become leaders in the
old party. Others are progressives
by reason of necessity. and this class
ification takes in quite few mem
bers of the lower house. With them
II was case of follow Cummins or
LaFollette, or be retired to private
life. One or two progressives de-
parted simply because they were mas
ter politicians. Their political in
stinct told them the people had
enough of rule by the special inter.
ests. and that the time was ripe fol
party with new banners.
The great majority of the progress