Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-12
CHAIRMAN OF IOWA DEMOCRATS
DISCUSSES SITUATION IN
# WASHINGTON. q
SAYS TAFT IS POPULAR
Ottunwan Admits That Reciprocity
Has Been a Strength Gamer tor
President-Silenr on Party
Choice.

Iowa democracy, visited washington
D. C., yesterday and while there wa
| interviewed on the political sltuatlo !!
in the middle west. The correspond
ent of the Des Moines Register ane
| Leader tells of Mr.. Reeds views 81
| follows: :,
Democratic State Chairman N. r
Reed of Iowa drifted into Wasklngtol
today and talked about the poltlca
conditions in the middle west, espec
tally In his state. Mr.. Reed, ike mos'
democrats, has sanguine view OF tht
democratic outlook for 1912.
At the same time Mr.. Reed admits
that President Taft has gained some
strength in Iowa because OF reclproc
ity. He declared that the people O
Iowa were in favor of reciprocity ant
that the members of the Iowa delega
ton in congress who voted agalns
reciprocity would hear from it.
"But what about the alleged strong
opposition Of the farmers to reciproc
sity?"
Merely Alleged.
1T is merely alleged" replied Mr.
Reed, that expresses it exactly. i
does not exist. In the ninth district
where the special election was recent
ly held to choose successor to Wal
ter /. Smith, we would have won had
we had thirty days more time IN
which to make a campaign"
Mr.. Reed was asked about the com
ing republican state convention In
Iowa to select delegates to the republt.
can national convention. Senator Cum.
h~u 40 1o tha nl1aofiNr NJ In.
dorsing reciprocity will be put up, to
the convention. Mr.. Reed said that
by the time the state meeting rolled
around, he did not believe there would
be anything like a hard fight in the
republican convention.
~ do not think the opponents of
reciprocity will venture to make a
test OF it, said Mr.. Reed. "The Taft
republicans will be in the saddle. They
will control the organization In major
ity. I have no doubt the delegation
from Iowa to the national convention
will be for Taft
fractional Division.
While Mr.. Reed thinks the republic
can administration has gained through
reciprocity, he thinks the factional d.
vision among republicans on semi
Taft and other lines Is going to be
helpful to the democrats. In fact,
while Iowa is regarded as rock-ribbed
station. Mr.. Reed said he
believed the democratic prospects
were good for carrying it in 1912.
1--WE are in better shape for making
q fight than we have been in years, !"
he said. Eve have permanent organ
ization and in the next campaign we
will be In position to put up q strong
contest ] am convinced we will gain
a number of members Of congress in
the state"
! Discussing democratic presidential
sentiment as he found it in Iowa, Mr..
Reed said Champ Clark was strong
and was gaining perceptibly.
Wilson Has Support.
Wilson has considerable support"
he said. Harmon also has consider
able support; these three men are the
only ones seriously considered. Gov.
Marshall is occasionally mentioned,
but is not taken as seriously in the
running Iowa, l have no doubt, will
send an .uninstructed delegation to the
next democratic national convention"
Mr.. Reed conferred with Representa-
tive Pepper of Iowa and with various
democratic leaders while here He
dined last night with MIR. Pepper and
Charles Miller of Waverly. He de-
parted later for New York on business.