Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-07-13
NEWS ABOUT iowa
Items of General Interest, Written
by Our Des MOines Cor
respondent.
ELECTION OF THE JUDI cIARY
Agitation of Primary Law, Prohibit
any Amendment, Over a Million
i'm State Treasury, Etc.

Des Moines, Ia, July 12:-One oil
the most interesting features to be
discussed at the coming democratic
state convention in Ottumwa ls the
incorporation in the platform of "a
resolution favoring a non-partisa'
election of the judiciary througheC
Iowa. This plan will be urg by
the delegation from Polk county.
Mr. Hubert Utterback, candidate
for state senator from Polk commty
urged this feature at the county
convention of which he was chair
man. He was named as one of the
delegates to the state convention
and will probably be strong can
didate for member of the resolu-
tions committee from the Seventh
district. Mr.. CJtterbacks plan for
election of judges as suggested at
the Polk county convention was
something after the commission
Moines. He purposes a separate
judicial ballot al the primaries with
the names of al candidates for
Judgeship printed upon it. Then
he purposes that if there are TO be
two judges elected the four having
the highest vote at the primary shall
become the candidates for election
at the regular election and be voted
upon regardless of party affiliation
on a separate ballot. The Ohio
democratic state convention in its
platform adopted a resolution en-
dorsing a non-partisan election of
Judges and North Dakota. IT is said.
is trying out such plan. Mr.. Ut
terback's enthusiastic support of
this plan puts him in the limelight
as a possible member of the resolu-
tiosn committee. Chas. o. Holly of
Des Moines, prominent lawyer and
formerly candidate for congress, is
also spoken of freely as a member
of this committee and capable
chairman. Mr.. Holly is known to
strongly favor the initiative and
referendum and also a recall law.
Whether Iowa democrats will en-
dorse any candidate for the presi-
dental nomination is now matter
of considerable speculation among
the minority party leaders here.
The name of Champ Clark of Mis-
souri, has been freely mentioned.
BY some it is believed this sugges-
tion has come from Bryan democrats
who seek to throw cold water on
the Harmon boom, to which Mr..
Bryan is known to be opposed.
Some of the more conservative
democrats are urging that Iowa
democrats can gain most by making
no presidential endorsement at this
early time.
With both insurgent and regular
demanding changes in
the present primary law it is appar
ent the legislature this coming win
ter will have the law to wrestle
with again. In case the discussion
is opened democrats will unques-
urge again the adoption of
the Oregon law which provides
election of United States senators
by popular vote regardless Of party.
1t is now considered quite prob
able that though the republican
party may take no stand on the
liquor question in the resolutions of
the state convention August 3, it
may take a decided stand in oppo-
sition to a constitutional convention
as being urged by the Anti-Saloon
league OF the state.
Under the constitution of the
state it becomes mandatory upon
the secretary of state to put on the
O1ncldl DdllOI cNcly ICheh yO"i shS
proposition shall convention be
held for the purpose OF amending
the constitution of the state?" This
is the year that question will be
submitted. The Allied Temperance
Union which is fighting for a con-
stitutional amendment announced
that 1t will not urge a convention
but rather try to get the amend-
ment by passing two sessions of the
legislature and popular vote OF
the people. However, the Anti
Saloon league now announces II
will urge the convention. The
principal objection to convention
is that II opens wide the entire
constitution of the state. If the
convention to amend 1t were asked
by the people that convention could
amend. not only regarding the