The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-08-29
KENYON WILL SUPPORT TAFT.
And He May Conclude To Resign
as a Candidate.

can ticket of 1912 from top to bot
tom. Furthermore, If such an at
titude is likely to embarrass the
good men on the republican ticket
who are running for the legislature,
Senator Kenyon will retire from the
field as a candidate for the United
States senate.
In a letter to State Senator Fred
Larrabee, Senator Kenyon sets forth
his position regarding the political
muddle With the consent Of Sena-
tor Kenyon the letter was made pub
lie last night.
Senator Kenyon denounces all
bosses, Barnes and Penrose and
other bosses in the republican party,
Sullivan, Murphy and Taggart of the
democratic party and Perkins and
Finn of the progressive party.
| If the time ever comes when Sem
ator Kenyon feels that the republic
can party is really boss ridden, he
declares that he will leave it.
| Roosevelt is commended by Sena-
tor Kenyon for the work he has done
in the republican party, but the
senator feels that the colonel could
have accomplished more by helping
progressives within the republican
party.
Senator Kenyon places the right
to exercise his own judgment above
that of being in public life. If such
a course causes his defeat he de-
clares that he will step out with the
best of grace and with good will
toward the world.
Following is Senator KenyOn's let
ter:
Washington, D. c., Aug. 16.-
Hon. Frederic Larrabee, Fort Dodge,
Iowa: l have received a number
of letters relating to present polltl-
cal affairs, in some of which ! have
been told what l must do and in
others l have been told what l must
not do in order to escape political
humiliation. l am rather tired of
being directed as to how l shall ex-
ercise the inalienable right of an
American citizen to vote as he
pleases. l claim that right for my
self the same as I accord it to every
one else. In no way am | trying to
dictate or to influence any mans
Judgment and ! do not propose to
be dictated to.
81 am republican and am sup
porting the entire republican ticket.
That ought to be clear enough.
1.-The methods at the Chicago con-
vention relating to contesting dele
cations were most distaseful to me.
The fault is in the system. ma
tional committee elected four years
ago ought not to be permitted to
pass on contests now. Republicans
have stood by and seen this system
- tot
states. I am in favor of striking at
the system. l despse the self-as-
sumptive bosses in the republican
party, such as Barnes, Penrose and
others. l do not believe they have
any ideals in politics that make for
public good and l propose to fight
them at every opportunity. There
is no choice between them and such
bosses in the democratic party as
Sullivan, Murphy and Taggart, or
such bosses in the new party as
Perkins and Finn.
81 do not propose to be driven out
of the republican party by these
bosses, but do propose to remain in
the party and fight there for the
things l believe to be right and for
the progressive policies of that
party.
"The republican party came forth
to fight a battle for human rights.
That is it's mission. 1t has accom-
plished much along that line, and II
the day shall ever come when those
who believe in legislation for the
benefit of special privilege and not
for the interests of the whole people,
are in control of the republican
party, l shall not hesitate to leave
it. That day is not here. The re-
publican party has been and can be
made to continue as the instru-
mentality to bring about the great
reforms which are demanded by the
people. No political party ever or
ganized can be perfect or suit all
it's membership.
81 can see no need for third
party. If Senator Cummins had
been nominated at Chicago, as l
sincerely hoped, would it be claimed
that the only test of progressiveness
was to follow the third party? Are
such men as LaFollette, who has
given his very life to the progressive
movement, to be rated as reaction
airy because, forsooth, they will not
support third party? I think not.
1t is better to be good loser than
even a good winner, and / sincerely
wish that Roosevelt had remained
in the party and fought there for the
good things in government. AS
president of the United States elect
ed as a republican, he accomplished
great good in awakening the Ameri-
can conscience to the wrongs In gov
eminent, and he certainly could have
accomplished more along this line
by remaining with the party and
there working with those men who
believe in nearly all the thinge that
he believes in.
II do not want to embarrass the
good men who are candidates on the
republican ticket for the legislature
by virtue of the position I take, and
would be glad if you would commun-
icate with them, explaining the sit
uation and if they find my position
embarrassing to them, I will with
draw as a candidate for the senate.
Public life is not attractive enough