Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-30
CUMMINGS ON PRIMARY.

Des Moines Register and Leader:
That the plan of holding a presidential
primary in Iowa next spring Is entirely
feasible and can be held at no greater
expense than attends the present eau.
Gus and convention system, is the be-
lief of Senator Albert B. Cummins
Are you in favor of presidential
primary in Iowa next year," a reporter
asked Senator Cummins yesterday.
II am heartily In favor Of the plan,
Senator Cummins replied.
II have noticed the suggestion, which
I think was first made by the lowe
City Republican, heartily approved BY
| the Des Moines Capital, and empha
sized by The Register and Leader. The
plan proposed is a good one to settle
the presidential controversy in Iowa.
earnestly hope that 1t will be adopted
Senator Cummins does not think
there would be lack of hormony in
carrying out the will of the majority as
expressed by such vote.
81 am sure that all republicans would
accept the decision of primary and
work together to carry out the desire
Of the majority, according to the result
Of the election" he said.
If the presidential primary is decid
ed upon" Senator Cummins continued
81 think it ought to be held early. sc
that 1t will be out Of the way before
the people are actively engaged in the
campaign for the regular June pri
mary.
ut will greatly strengthen the re
publican party in this state IL we can
select our candidates for senator and
our state officers undisturbed by any
differences of opinion concerning dele.
gates to the national convention.
at is to be hoped that the influen
tial newspapers which have brought
the subject to the attention of repub.
lican voters will secure meeting of
the state central committee as soon
as possible in order that it may de.
wise a procedure and lay it before the
chairmen of the county committees.
"The plan Is entirely feasible, and
with the cooperation OF republicans
throughout the state. a presidential
primary can be held at no greater ex-
pense than would attend the system of
fighting it out in caucuses and conyen-
tons"
Since the matter of holding a presi-
dental primary in Iowa was first
preached by David Branr, editor of the
Iowa City Republican. the suggestion
has aroused considerable interest and
much discussion in the state press.
Following the publication Of an in.
terview with Senator w. S. Kenyon in
which he stated that he is in favor of
the proposal. there was much discus
sion at the state house regarding the
presidential primary.
The consensus of opinion among
several was that while the primary law
of Iowa does not make provision for
a presidential primary, the state cen.
trail committee has entire jurisdiction
in the matter and can act if it sees
fit
Council Bluffs Nonpareil 4The
effect on this side of the border will
likely not be appreciable The notion
that it will be detrimental to the ad
ministration seems to be without war.
rant on broad general grounds. A
proposal was made to swap priv
leges The proposed trade was looked
upon by the Canadians as too, favor
able to the United States and hence
they rejected 1t. The conclusion is in.
evitable that If it was going to be ben.
eficial or advantageous to the states
then the men in the states responsible
for making an advantageous bargain
could scarcely be held as censurable
on that score"
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