The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-09-15
THERE CAN BE NO HARMONY.

We are told the eleven congress-
ional candidates running on the re-
publican ticket in this. state met at
Des Moines recently for the purpose
of patching up differences and uniting
both factions of the party at the polls
at the November election. The Ca
zette is very much afraid that the
eleven anxious and worried gentlemen
will find their efforts futile and the
road to Washington rocky one. just
how the progressive faction expects
the standpat enemy to forget and for
give the insults administered to Presi-
dent Taft at the recent state conven-
ton, and just how standpatters like
Kennedy, Smith and Towner, in view
of their support of the tariff bill and
all other obnoxious measures enacted
into laws by Cannon, Aldrich and
their henchmen, can hope for pro-
gressive support, are two problems
perplexing in the extreme.
In the First district all signs point
to the election of Joe Pollard to con-
| gress. His opponent, Mr.. Kennedy,
has been lined up with the reaction
aries in every battle. He is an ard
ent supporter of Speaker Cannon,
obeyed his every command and is
one of those who are responsible for
the infection of the present tariff law
upon the American people. Every
vote he has cast while a member of
congress has been in favor of those
measures which the progressive wing
of his party holds hostile to the best
interests of the nation. The fight
this fall will find the tariff question
ho obi of IT iS
| to presume that those who supported
Mr.. Brookhart in the June primaries
will prefer as their representative in
congress man like Pollard, who be-
| lieves in real revision of the tariff
and will bend his efforts that end,
to one like the present congressman
who has proved himself the willing
tool of Cannon, Aldrich and other
firm advocates of a high protective
tariff. 1t must also be remembered
that Mr.. Kennedy must contend with
many grievances because of unwise
postoffices appointments in several
localities. He has played fast and
loose with former friends in his fran.
tic endeavor to placate enemies, by
liberal slices of federal pie. Mr.. Pol
lard, on the other hand is backed by
a united party and has the great re
spects of both factions of the republic
can party, who recognize in his mani
fold fine talents all the qualification.
which go to make up an admirable
representative of the people. Will,
the campaign has not yet begun, Their,
is every indication that the old Firs
district will be one of the battl,
grounds and that the people will hay,
the opportunity of hearing the issue
well defined by the ablest speaker
in the country.
Reports from Des Moines state tina
Porter's election seems very probable
The fierce primary fight from whicl
his opponent emerged the victor b,
a scant majority over Warren Garst
his Indictment on the charge of Grim
inal libel and the bitterness engen
dered by the clash of the factions a
the state convention have all greatl
weakened his candidacy, and it is ad
mitted by republican leaders of bot
the standpat and progressive bran
that it is in critical condition.
AS a matter of fact the Democrat
situation all along the line is graft
flying. From what the Gazette ca
learn from reliable sources, the re
publican party is certain to lose con
gressmen in the First, Second
Fourth, Sixth and Seventh districts
and that the democratic party vii
keep the Eighth in the Democrat
: ranks and has more than fghtin
chance in the remainder of the dis
tricts
OF course, all this cannot be az
complished without hard, persisten
and consistent work on the part G
: every member of the party. But viz
: tory is in the air, enthusiasm and pei
: feet harmony abound and there
> no reason to doubt that every ma
will do his full duty and aid his pal
ty in winning triumphant victor
at the November polls.-Burlingt
Gazette.