Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-05
SITUATION IN IOWA CONSIDER
ABLY MIXED, WITH STAND
PATS DOING THE WORK.
PROBABLY WILL PREVENT
RElTERATioN OF PLATFORM
Do Nothing Policy of Prosressives and
No Loader in the Field, AIdrich Can
non, Crowd Has Best of Situation,
AItho Making Little Roadway
Against Majority Sentiment
special to Times-Republican.

primary election will be held. Appar-
emily there is to be no campaign other
than a personal one. such as the cam
paign for state superintendent and at
torney general. Unless something at
present unforeseen occurs the we'll laid
plans of the Aldrich- Cannon organiza-
ton and it's agents in Iowa to prevent
any reitieration of the Iowa position
or reassertion of republican principles
will succeed. At the present writing
there is no campaign.
The address of Judge Prouty at
Knoxville a week ago has had the eff
feet of stirring some interest locally,
but the campaign on behalf of Judge
Prouty must be to some extent per-
sonal in its nature and is not state
wide. It is expected that Attorney
General Byers will also say some
things that will arouse interest in the
seriousness of the political situation.
Darrah and Brookhart are both hard
at work and they are standing out
boldly in support of their party as
against the plans of the organization.
But thus far Garrett is the only as
pirant to a state position who has
come out squarely in favor of uphold
Republicans.
The situation in regard to a state
campaign seems to be about as fol-
lows:
First there are a number OF the
progressive republicans who, for sell
fish reasons or because of feeling
that there is no occasion for cam
paign this year, have steadily opposed
any state campaign.
Secondly, there are a number Of pro-
gressives who believe that a campaign
for principle can be carried on with
out candidates and without leadership,
and who therefor believe it wise TO
permit the standpatters to control all
the offices.
Thirdly, there are a great many of
the progressive republicans, men OF
the rank and file, who believe there
should be a campaign in the state this
year and therefore at least a candidate
for governor.
Situation a Standoff.
On behalf of the policy of do nothing
1t is pointed out that at best the sit
uation is a stand-off and that the
standpatters are not able to make any
Roadway. But Of course this is hardly
true, since already preparations have
been made to secure, or to try to Sc
cure, every state office except one, for
the standpatters. Organization by the
standpatters has been effected, they
are sending out literature, they are
holding caucuses, and they are seek
ing to enlist the aid of the powerful
organization at Washington which IS
in full control of the patronage in
Iowa. They believe they will be able
to completely crush the progressive
movement in Iowa.
On behalf of a state campaign it is
pointed out that, according to the fig
ures of the last campaign, the progress
sives are in a clear majority among re-
publicans The republican vote of the
state at the last election was $4,000.
The standpat strength at a primary is
about 100, 900. At the June primary two
years ago, when a perfect organization
had been effected at enormous expense,
when every vote was got out that ever
could be got out for the standpat cause.
the total cast was 105,8S1. Some of
this was probably due to Allison's per-
son popularity. AT the next test of
strength the standpat vote dropped to
95,S71. But at the June primary the
progressives had no organization, nor
did they have much of one later, yet by
j reason of the drawing power Of the
general election the progressive vote of
June, 95,324 was increased to 1859.
In other words on a fair test the pro-
gressive vote of the state is about 80
per cent as cast, the standpat vote 30
per cent and Is per cent unregistered.
State of Inaction Exists.
Under these circumstances there is
state of inaction in politics. Those who
synpathize with the Aldrich Cannon
organization are doing everything they
can to convince the republicans that
in an off year with no presidential cam
paign pending, it would be little short
of calamity for Iowa to have cam
I,aign or permit discussion of issues.
A great many of the progressives be-
lieve that this is just the year to take
action and that if they permit their
meager organization to fall to pieces
by inaction they will never again get
together.
AS to whether or not there will be
candidate for governor aside from the
present incumbent. the matter seems
not Ito have been settled. In the belief
OF many it is certain there will be a
candidate. It is known that a great
many OF the progressives believe that
a Candidate should come out. But
there has been no concentration on
anyone, and the sentiment which exists
IL without regard to any candidacy for
anyone or on behalf of anyone. All
the sentiment there is grows out OF the
conditions and circumstances without
references to the fortunes of anyone.
iRathburn Changes Mind.
Two years ago Major Rathbun an
nounced that he, at least, would be a
candidate for governor in 1910, and it
was undoubtedly his intention at that
time to submit his name. But appar-
emily he has changed his plans and is
satiSfled to permit matters to go on
as they are At the same time Carl
Keuhnle said he would be candidate,
or at least intimated as much, but he
has now become candidate for the
state senate. The radical prohfbitionists
had . candidate who secured 10000
votes and only recently they stated
that they would again have a candi-
data this year. They talked Of Senator
Ounham and Representative Meredith.
both Of whom are In favor OF putting
/ ~ prohibitory question into state pol
lios again by . campaign for amend
zng the constitution. But now 1t ap-
osAfSI tl1a t ssonethtng has, happened to
lnAke these Dr0hibitionist well satis-