Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-05
IOWA AND TAFT.

lUWA ANU lAtI.
The Sioux City Journal does not
share the opinion expressed so con-
udently by a few insurgent author
tiles that LaFollette could carry an
Iowa primary against Taft-not at
least unless large numbers of demo-
Gratis come over and decided the re-
publican debate" The Journal then
begins to argue that Senator Cummins
can not carry Iowa for LaFoiiette upon
his say SO. putting the argument upon
the factiUnal and largely personal op-
position to Cummins. in short the Wolf
howl that if Cumnins has expressed
himself in one way or another il is
I up TO the opposition to get busy with
the old fashioned pounding process
/ 1t viii he impossible to pat the OPP
position Of Iowa to Taft's renomina-
t!cn If enc particular SPOT or upon one
individual. Too many standHatters
have spoken oal, there is a sullennes:
among the RANK ana tile of republican
conservatives in Iowa which SPEAKS
quite as definitely The senior sem
ator has done Even the Marion Reg
lister suggests that neither Taxi noc
LaFoi.e;Je has the situation toreciosed
ana proposes that another can
d.Cate should re brougn, for
ward The Registers suggestion
VIII be taken ~ those who
KNOW the paper as a confession o.
Tatt's Weakness ana OF LaFol.ct,e's
strength as opposed t. him. The Ne
s.l.a Representative, one OF tile mos,
!vrs has long ago repGdiated TAFT and
al! his works and forecasts defeat for
the party should he be nominated.
There are many other conservative
newspapers which while not in open
opposition 10 Taft are vastly d.ss.u4l-
tied by the probability that they vii.
De forced 70 supper, him in a losing
fight. The average standpat fed
cral appointee is lukewarrn De
cause he sees and understands
the weakness OF the candidate
Who is being forced uopn the
party These are not printing tneir
Tears but they are talking them n con-
hdence and these talks in confidence
and in corners are gloomy with the
shadow OF probable defeat That is the
Situation ever Iowa There is no en-
thusias-r.. not even desire for the pres
resultant from anything Senator Cum
,niEs has said or done. II arises ont
Of what TAFT has said and what he
has done and left undore. The uni
versal desire is for another and diff
ferent candidate.
Whether Senator LaFollette is the
candidate Iowa is seeking is as the
Journal indicates not at all certain.
However this question is not so much
Of LaFollette's strength as Of Taft's
weakness. They operate in inverse
in Iowa VIII operate 10 strengthen
whatever candidate may oppose him,
whether 1t De LaFollette or another.
II Iowa goes against Taft il will not
be because Senator Cumnlins has ex-
pressed himself as in favor Of another
but because Of the contrast between
Taft and his opposition. Il is a ques-
ton Of political character
Between the two men, LaFoIIette ami
Taft the choice would be made on
the records. II would be a question
Of trustworttiness, Of adherence to
promises ana principles. In a primary
that would be the way Iowa would
vote. And voting thus with the rec
crds of the men in mind and histor! at
hand the Journals assertion that TO
support LaFollette or any candidate
other than Taft is not TO be progress
secure il Iowa against another candi-
date will not De accepted By the OBJ
servant and thoughtful as conclusive.
Indeed the largest element Of strength
Il lle at CaHClCdcJ As the 1SeilNS
that he is to be made the nominee
whether or no and that the convention
has been foreclosed upon; but there Is
feeling that this negative pre-conven-
ton strength, this appearance Of health
will turn to weakness and general de-
bility on election day. And this gen.
eral feeling is an element to be well
considered when the results Of a presi-
Dental primary are considered and
Predicted
1t Is idle to attempt TO bolster the
Tai, candidacy by assaui, on Cum
Minis: the scheme IS outHorn and anti
quated in Iowa and likely to prove a
boomerang as 1t has done On other
occasions. When the test comes. If II
does come, Candidate Taft must stand
OF fall by his own record and that Is
e fair and adequate test, 1t 10 equally
true and fair for Senator LaFoiIstts or
any other candidate who may oppose
the president for the nomination, Civ
On such q test would Taft win in Iowa?
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