The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-03-22
THE sENAToRsHIP.

10 the credit OF iowa DE IL SpOhel
that throughout the long weeks OF the
senatorial deadlock there has been no
breath of scandal, no hint of bribery,
no touch of faint. Iowa may make
mistakes, but no one can say that
the toga of her senators has been sold
to the highest bidder.
Many names have been considered
by the legislature, there has been
gradual wedding out process which
would have been impossible under the
primary plan. Whatever bitterness
has arisen has been among a few
politicians and the great body of the
electorate has been comparatively in
different, so that some good man was
chosen. Had the matter been set
tied at primary, republicans would
have been arrayed against each other
from one end of the state to the other,
there would have been thousand
feuds to one that has been created by
the deadlock, and it would have been
much harder to get the party to work
together than it will be now.
We have never believed in the pri-
mary for the selection of officers
where the candidates were, necessar-
lily, to large extent personally un-
known to the electorate. We believe
the people are perfectly competent
to select their representatives to the
legislature. or to any convention and
we believe these men so elected are
competent to elect a senator or to
nominate state officers. In fact, we
think the primary law is weak just
where it should be strong. We be-
lieve that every man who desires to
represent his party as delegate
should run the gauntlet of public opin-
ion to the fullest extent, and that hav-
ing thus been elected he should have
full representative powers.
We feel that the senatorial dead
lock, though long drawn out, has been
distinctly worth while. 1t has shown
that such matters can be contested
with honesty, with little bitterness,
especially among the people as a
whole, and that in the end good man
will win.
We believe that Kenyon, if elected,
will be entitled to "a fair hearing, and
a fair trial. By his fruits we shall
know him He will be amply tried
by the work of the extra session and
of the succeeding congress before
there is another senatorial election.
We think no good republican should
take sides against the man elected at
this time. Rather, he should have
back of him the united republican
support. If he proves worthy OF the
trust he should be reelected, II he
should not, there will be time for OPP
Dosition after he has been year in
She senate chamber.
The Review would be prepared to
stand by Senator Kenyon if it pos
sibly could. If he should do those
things which we believe to be wrong,
we should not hesitate to say so, If
his career proved that he was not a
fit representative of republicanism as
we have learned to know and love it,
we should feel free to oppose him, but
we would from the start stand back
of him and give him the benefit OF
every doubt. This is the only way in
which the republicans of Iowa can
ever get together. 1t is the sane way.
1t is the patriotic way.
Personally we have known and have
admired Mr.. Kenyon for many years.
We knew him during his school days
at Iowa City, we have followed his
career as rising young lawyer, as a
Judge, as corporation attorney, as
an attorney for the United States and
as a candidate for senator with in
terest and much pride. We have no
newborn affection for him, it was born