Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-10
FORMER DEC MONIES COUNCIL.
MAN MAY SEEK TO ATTACH
STATE JOB.
FRIENDS START HIS BOOM
FOR ILRoAp COMMISSIONER
No Politics Said 70 Be Back Of Aspira.
tions-standpAts Forced Division in
Jackson County by Threats 70 Bolt
Ticket - Prosrsssivss Still Have
Chance to Control State Convention.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, April 10.-John Mac
Vicar for member of the state railroad
commission. That is the latest plan.
The suggestion comes from members
of the manufacturers association and
large shippers liz Des Moines aifd IS
not in any sense political in its nature.
Mr.. MacVicar is recognized as man
Of broad views and much experience in
public affairs, with the capacity to hold
any official position. When the legis-
lature was in session last year Mr..
MacVicar took a prominent part in
presenting to that body the views of
business men as to public utilities
commission. He is an advocate of
public utilities commission, provided it
Is one SO made up that it will safe
guard the interests Of the public.
1t is almost certain that the next
legislature will make a public utilities
commission; at least it will IL the leg
islature is progressive and there is as
chief executive of the state one with
experience and skill in legislative mat
tiers sufficient so that he can guide the
matter Alright. Such commission will
unquestionably be formed out Of the
present state railroad commission by
addition Of members.
Upon such commission, 1t is ar
gued, Mr.. MacVicar, the virile and
skilled former councilman Of Des
Moines, would be an invaluable mem
Der, because Of his extensive acquaint-
ance with the franchise and corpora
ton problems in the cities.
committee has been appointed by
interests here, consisting of w. w.
Wise, L. E. Harbach and Paul Beers,
to present the matter to others in the
state, and if the suggestion takes well.
Mr. Macvicar will be entered in the
race.
N. s. Ketchum and Chris Ottosen are
already candidates for the place.
1t is now up to Muscatine and Chero-
kee to finish up the great political race
in Iowa for this year. If they all are
loyal to Iowa the progressives will have
a slight margin over the standpatters
in the state convention, the final figures
showing two or three only difference
between the factions.
Jackson county divided because OF
the threat of the standpatters that they
would do the regular thing If the pro-
gressives. who controlled the conven-
ton, did not divide. That meant DEM
ocratic county officials. 1t was made
clear that If the progressives did not
yield the advantage they had. bolt
would follow and the county would be
sure democratic. ~
The standpat organs are Claiming
the state convention by majorfties
ranging anywhere from eight or ten
up to forty One Of the Taft papers here
claims Taft has 773 delegates, which
Of course includes everything not In
structed. These claims" are under
stood to have been put out this week.
with much emphasis. solely for the pur-
pose Of affecting the situation in H.
linois, Nebraska and elsewhere. In fact
the standpat committee published in
the Chicago papers glazing advertise
ments which included claim that the
farmers of Iowa In an open primary
had decided for Taft.
The progressives do not claim they
have any majority at the present time.
but do insist that by no possible fair
count of the delegations is it possible
to show that the standpatters now
have the convention in their grasp.
They may do it, especially if they get
Muscatine: but they have not yet done
it. Any claims to the contrary may
be set down as. at this time, utterly
without foundation, and intended to aid
the Taft men in other states.
E. ]. Kelly. a lawyer Of Perry, will
take charge Of campaign headquarters
for George W. Clarke. republican cand
didate for governor. But very little
money has been spent in the Clarke
campaign as compared with the ex-
penditures Of others and it is unlikely
that very much will be used. but an
active campaign is to be waged from