Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-26
MUCH SPECULATION AS TO IN.
FLuENcEs BACK OF HoLpEN's
CANDIDACY.
CORN EXPERT RELUCTANT
TO LEAVE CHOSEN WORK
Recent Conference at Which Candidacy
Was Sprung Not Largely Attended -
Must Sacrifice Much il He Enters
Racs-An Anti Clarke Move-Other
News of Iowa.
nacial 10 Tin1es.Renublican.

| Des Moines. Dec. 26.-The springing
Of the candidacy of Prof. P, G. Holden
/ for the republican nomination for gov
ernor started political gossip in state
affairs more than anything that has
/ happened for long time.
} Ii is agreed on ali sides that the
=! enthusiastic college professor will, if
he concludes that the political game
is one IN which he can DO most good,
prove 3 good vote get1er, and that his
/ candidacy would make absolutely Ger
tain deld OF candidates with the bare
possibility OF throwing the matter in
10 the state convention. This would
center attention upon the delegates 20
DC selected.
Professor Holden himself frankly
states that l1e has no desire 10 oe gov
erno- nor TO be Z candidate for governor
and ne has no notion that he can be
Nominated His declarations IS 10 his
entire lack % desire 70 become COVER
nor are most positive.
| I would far rather De engaged n
! this work have been doing" he says,
Than - be either governor or prssi-
dent Of The United States,
| Professor Holden has not as yet in
dicateG What platform he would an
Z nounce On which TO make q canvass Of
I the state Re IS arden1ly III favor Of 4
number Of excellent new laws affecting
agricultural Interests. Re Is in favor
! OF legislation that viii provide & COM
mission Of agriculture for each county
| 10 engage steadily II the propaganda
s for better farming methods The read
legislation proposed in recent years
had his aDroval He would expanG
the activities Of the state highwaE
commission and give il authority all
over the state for putting the road
business on new basis. He has pro-
nounced views as 10 the need Of greater
work being done al the state college
and in the extension work
Sic Game OF Politics Concealed.
In view Of the reluctance OF Pro-
fessor Holden 70 voluntarily get into
the political game there IS some spec
ulation az 10 the influences al work to
get him to make the race at the repub
lican primary. Professor Holden has
no other thought for himself than that
possibly he might be OF some useful
ness 70 the state: but IL is generally
believed that those who have been
pulling the wires have kept themselves
discreetly in the background and that
there is big game Of politics Of some
kind concealed in the movement.
Bu: Professor Holden has not de-
cided in his own mind whether he will
get irto the game or not. Some vigor-
Gus protests have been made by per-
sons interested in the work that has
been done for the better.nent of condi-
tons in the state. Professor Holden
will not decide for several days.
Few Present at Conference.
Professor Holden viii, if he enters
The political game, Immediately retire
from his professorship at the college
and the college extension work will be
placed in other hands. He has en-
gagements that would otherwise keep
him eor several months.
The conference held was in response
20 letters sent out for the purpose of
getting together members of various
organizations interested in the politi-
cal situation in Iowa. The attendance
was not as large as expected as only
twenty-five were recorded as present
and it was not unanimous that Pro-
fessor Holden should be entered in the
race against Mr. Clarke. There were
representatives present, however, of
the grain growers association, the
corn belt meat producers the state
grange. the Iowa Manufacturers Asso-
citation and the farmers legislative or
ganization formed last winter.
Sacrifice If He Makes Race.
The Of the for
making Prof. Holden leader of the
party in the fight Of 1912 are conf
dent that he VIII make a great cam
paign for the nomination and that he
viii prove inyincible against the dem
ocrars in the hard scrap that is re-
ga-ded as inevitable in November. we
believe ne is the right man for the
leadership next year said George c.
White, VINO called the meeting. we
expect him to command the strength of
the farming and industrial elements Of
the state. He is a convincing speaker
and no man in the state has wider
circle Of friends than Professor
Holden
Some Of those who were at the con-
ference expressed a desire that in some
way the candidate could make the
campaign and still continue in his
work for the college under the board
Of education. We realize" said one
Of the delegates. that it is great
sacrifice TO have Professor Holden give
UP for all time the great work in which
he has been engaged. but we believe
that he would be able to accomplish
with the legislature just what others
have failed to do and get something
for the farming interests Of Iowa. We
saw what he did lost winter when he
went before the legislature and over
the protests Of the board OF education
forced the legislature to appropriate
for his department. We believe he will
be able TO handle the next legislature
better than any man that could be
named. He is assured of being able to
continue in his agricultural extension
work as long AZ he desires, but We be-
lieve the office of governor is greater
field for him.
An Anti Clarke Movement.
Friends Of George w. Clarke, the
progressive candidate for govern
or, have been aware for some
time OF thu asst sT:. ssts:S. 81 hts &c
versaries to have, candidate against
him, and that last week the matter
was brought 20 q head and decision
reached to have the conference which
(, was neId yesterday. Iney i-ei tina. tina. :.
is mistake for Professor Holden TO
1 ciuo IVY, IN rrytfr6 IN ha~