Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-03
YOUNG'S PRIMARY
DEMAND a POSER
SOME OF THE PRooREssIvEs
WONDERING WHAT THEIR CON.
sTITUENTs WILL THINK IT.
THEY TURN DOWN THAT PLAN.
lBY w. H. PowMLL.1

los Moines, Jan. 2-(Spocial) BY
Tar the most important conferences I,
upon the senatorial situation among
the dozens that have been held during
the last few weeks took place at the
Savery hotel Sunday afternoon, when
George M. Curtis of Clinton and
number Of other prominent Iowa pro-
gressives considered the advisa bility
OF Mr.. Curtis candidacy for election
as senator to All the unexpired term
OF the late Jonathan P. Dolliver.
Mr. Curtis came to Des Moines on
invitation. not as seeker for ONCE
but in order to enter into council
with view to bringing about harmony
IN the republican party. While he did
not positively announce his active
candidacy he made three points plain.
They are: y-F q Il
He will not be candidate Tor ,SYaIas
senatorship in 1912.
He Is not candidate as aeafiS6S
anyone now In the field. SsS
He Is not IA verse, II a, majoriky I'M n
the repub blicans VI lowe regard III VI
the interest Of party harmony, tc iSdss
cepting the nomination for the sh61
| term.
Mr.. Curtis Is known as q progreseiyes
republican. He Is a personal and
political friend OF Senator Cummins.
He was for two terms congressman
from the second district, and has for,
many years stood high In the councils
OF the party. Should he enter the
lists as candidate for senator with
out any restrictions, he would doups.
less have the support of a number OF
progrc<sives who are now backing
some Of the other aspirants. He is
not distasteful to great many stand.
patters, for the reason, that, while a
progressive, he has been regarded az
conservative and fair in the interests
I OF tn party as a whole. His counsel
has been for harmony more often
than for war, and this fact places him
| IN a class apart from many OF the
other leaders among the progressives.
No Definite Announcement.
While the outcome Of Sundays con-
ference was not definite announce
ment Of Mr.. Curtis candidacy, men
who are known to favor him voiced
the belief that representative repll-
lican should be chosen for the short
term with the distinct understanding
that he is not to be candidate for
! reelection. As no other man has
indicated his willingness to accept the
nomination under these circumstances,
Mr.. Curtis is generally regarded as
receptive candidate for the short
tern.
Mr.. Curtis came to Des Moines for
Sunday and occupied apartments at
the Savery. He denied that he was
establishing headquarters and declared
4 that in all probability he will not re-
turn to Des Moines until the legis-
lature convenes.
Il had promised to come to Des
Moines for short visit during the
holiday season." he said last night,
"and am here. have discussed
with number Of other republicans
the various phases Of the senatorial
situation, and | am going back home,
may come back for day or twd
when the legislature convenes, but
am certainly not establishing head
quarters here"
While Mr.. Curtis has been men
toned as compromise candidate,
Yesterdays conference was really the
beginning Of his formidable candidacy
It is formidable, in spite OF his denia.
| that he Is actively engaged In the cam
paign for nomination. Both factions
! of the party can get out OF bad situa.
tion by adopting the plan which con-
templates Mr.. Curtis nomination. The
progressives can keep out Of pri
mary and the standpatters can escap
permanent defeat and still be on Q
equal footing with their rivals VT
the time comes to choose a success
1 To Mr.. Curtis In 1912.
Young's Primary Demand.
It's a queer situation that one see
when he undertakes an analysis Of the
senatorial situation. Undoubtedly
Lafayette Young has slipped on,
over ON the progressive leaders who
not long ago were demanding the d.
/ rect primary for the choice OF par
candidates for any ofice great
small. Mr.. Youngs requ st that tn
Republicans Of Iowa hold 3 primary to
mar their candidate for the Benatorii
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