The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-05
THE SENATORIAL SITUATION.
Young and Curtis Lead the Field, But
Change niay Occur at Any
Time.

". H. Powells Des Moines lettel
in Ottumwa Courier: George NJ
Curtis candidacy for the Republican
nomination for senator to fill the un
expired Dolliver term has been the
subject of a great deal of discussion
among politicians since Mr.. Curtis
visit to Des Moines on Sunday. Judge
kenyon's friends seem more down
cast than do the active hackers OF any
other candidate. for before Mr.. Curtis
made his proposal the Fort Dodge
I trust buster had what looked like a
pretty good running start at the SEN
atorship.
Mr.. Curtis candidacy has also had
another effect. II has given good
many politicians grounds for believ-
ing that. after all, there may be a
primary election, just as Senator Late
Young desires. OF course, neither
Curtis nor the primary will win until
| it becomes evident tlat the legislature
can vote nothing but deadlock in
an attempt to name senator.
A deadlock would be a bad thing for
many legislators who live in close
counties and there are lot of coun-
ties that the legislators representing
them regard as close. There are a
great many legislators, having been
elected as non-factionalists. who
would be glad TO see a primary cleo
ton or some other method of settle
ment that would relieve them of the
responsibility of lining up with one
faction or the other in this senator
ship campaign
A deadlock would leave both fac
tons on an even footing for 1912. So
would the election of man who is
not to be candidate to succeed him
self A primary election would mean
a victory for the lone standpat can,li-
date. Mr. Young, unless all the pro-
gressive candidates but one should
withdraw. Even then Mr.. Young
might win.
Ryers Wants cummins' Support.
None of these fellows is going to
withdraw of his own accord, unless nc
is made of different clay than was
used in the construction of most
politicians. Who, then, is to cause
his withdrawal? Who but Cummins ?
And Mr.. Cummins isn't very likely
to take such an active hand in this
senatorial scrap as the selection of a
single candidate would necessitate.
he is credited quite gener-
ally with being for Attorney General
Byers, one of his firmest friends told |
your correspondent only yesterday /
that he knows beyond any question
that Mr.. Byers is highly indignant be- |
cause Mr.. Cummins doesn't give the |
slightest indication of that preference.
Instead, he has apparently acquiesced |
in the announcement of Warren Garst
and A. B. Funk.
Garst, in the Tenth district, and
Funk in the Eleventh, would weaken
sir. Kenyon's strength in that part I
,f the state materially should they
remain as candidates. With State
Senator j. A. Smith of Usage in the /
Fourth district, a rumored candidate. /
Kenyon is pretty well Iemmed in by /
progressive opponents, and unless Mr.. /
Summins has some very active and /
thoughtful friends, he is himself do I
ne his best to keep these three
mems names before the public as
ispirants for the Office. 1t is well u
Snown that Mr. Cummins would be 4
sreatly disappointed should Mr.. Ken
on be chosen, and it would seem that
lis friends, among whom is Mr.. Cur
is, have at last hit upon plan to
prevent the selection o. the Fort
Dodge man.
As ittstands now, Mr. Kenyon is in
bird place on the senatorial dope
heet, with Mr.. Curtis and the snort
ERIN first and Mr.. Young and the pri-
nary second. All the others are also
ans. The changes come so rapidly,
hough. that it isn't safe to look away
rom the field for more than few
minutes.