The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-01-24
The cummins Candidacy.

lie cAUSCtSu AoO AoPpSASN
and A. B. Cummins has at last come
out from under cover and declared
himself a candidate for President.
Those who knew the senator felt GER
tain that he could not resist the temp
tation, although he was one OF those
who urged La Toilette to become a
candidate and pledged him his sup
port. The alleged sickness, the alb
sence of enthusiasm, the apathy and
air of waiting put on by the insurgent
leaders of the state, all pointed to
the candidacy which has just been an
nounced. AS to how far Mr.. La Fol-
lette may have been the victim OF the
flnesse of which Mr.. Cummins is
master, we leave to the insurgents to
settle among themselves.
Mr.. Lafollette was of course the log
ical candidate OF insurgency. Wis
consin has something to show on it's
statute books, which has the ear
marks of the progressive in politics.
Outside of the two-cent fare law
which was passed after many states
had set the example, and the primary
law, which was simply a matter Of
political expediency being framed for
the purpose of allowing democratic
sympathizers to control republican
primaries in behalf of the insurgents,
Iowa has nothing to show for it's re.
sorm wave except tremendous vol
ume of sound and A. B. Cummins. The
board of control bill was passed while
Gov. Shaw was in Office, and the Cos
son laws during the administration of
Gov. Carroll.
The fact that insurgency was oblig-
ed to play its ace of trumpS, the
'favorite son" dodge, is an acknoW-
Judgement of weakness and tribute
to the strength of William Howard
Taft as the only logical and reason
able candidate of the republican party
at this time The only excuse that
Cummins can make to his friend La
Toilette is that Taft would have car
ried Iowa had he (Cummins) not en-
tered the field
ii Mr.. Cummins is a candidate in
good faith and because he has been
deluded with the idea that he has a
fighting chance, it must be his aim
10 unite the factions of Iowa. 10 do
this he must accord the right Of sec
ond choice to all. He must be con-
tent to secure delegation which will
support him enthusiastically SO long
as he is in the field but he must not
attempt to dictate the makeup OF the
delegation that he may use it simply
to vent his private spite against the
president Mr.. Cummins will un-
doubtedly have no difficulty in obtain
ing a delegation from Iowa.
The favorite son business is old
and shop-worn but it never fails toI
work.
If the Cummins' candidacy is not in
good faith, the signs will soon appear,
they will come in the form OF attempts
to secure radical delegation, pledg-
ed not only to the support OF Cum
Minis, but to radicalism and to any
body to beat Taft The acid test is up
to the insurgents, with candidate for
the Presidency they are the ones toI
make the advances towards perm
anent peace in Iowa. They are the
ones who should say to the stalwart
republicans, support Commins first
and in good faith, and support whom
you please afterwards. If this is not
done it will be unmistakable evidence
that the candidacy is not in good
faith, but merely for the purpose of
controlling the party machinery inI
Iowa and defeating the candidacy of
Taft if possible.
One effect of the Cummins candid
acy will be that the Iowa platform
will be a very mild and innOcuous
affair." 1t is surprising to learn that
our own reform fireeater is now pos
ing as a conservative. Had anyone
accused Mr. Cummins of being con-
sentative a year ago, he would have
been branded as liar and traitor.
But with the presidential prize dang
ling before enraptured eyes it has
been suddenly found that one of Mr..
Cummins' chief assets is that he is a
conservative"
Some papers took exception to our
statement that the track OF the Cum