Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1912-08-17
PRESS COMM EMIT.

ct by Iowa progressives who find, after
proper investigation, that they believe
the Taft nomination was stolen at
Chicago, why should Iowa standpatters
who find, after proper investigation,
that they believe Kenyon and other
progressive candidates on the state
ticket got there by the fraudulent aid
Of democratic votes, vote for progress
sive members Of the legislature to
support Kenyon's candidacy? And If
it's going to be hxed up according to
the Cummins orders, why and how Is
any standpatter bound to support any
insurgent on a ticket when he Is
morally certain that democratic votes
at the June primaries cut an important
figure in putting those names on the
state, congressional and county tick
cts? Let some good insurgent answer
these questions in the interest of re-
publican harmony, to help the progress
sives win and the standpatters lose.
Dubuque Telegraph-Herald: The
question of substituting the secret
ballot for the petition in deciding sa-
loon consent in cities and towns is one
which doubtless will occupy the legis-
la+ure at its next session. It might be
assumed in some quarters that the
anti-saloon forces would oppose the
change, but we find many OF them
advocating 1t. Their reason in part
is perhaps their secret hope that with
the secret ballot In vogue they could
make "dry" what is now wet" terri
tory; the liberal element, on the other
hand, possibly favors 1t in the belief
that 1t would effect to make wet"
what Is now "dry" territory. But
there is another large factor consid-
cred: it 1s community peace. The pc
tition OF consent has destroyed unity
OF effort in many Iowa cities because
of the division Of leaders Of thought
and action on the question of saloons
a division generally SO sharply and
bitterly defined as to leave enmities
that do not heal.
Fontanelle Observer: President
Taft's speech of acceptance is an ap-
peal to the conservative Judgment Of
the country. It will be read with an
accommodating effect as the campaign
progresses. It eliminates and sub
merges personal considerations and
puts the broad welfare Of the coun-
try uppermost. The assaults that have
been made upon him will be forgotten
when the principles of government
for which he stands are given honest
thought. President Taft has been un-
|derestimated, sometimes by design and
sometimes by Indifference.
Council Bluffs Nonpareil: Mr.. Lori
|mer's nerve was apparently not So
verely shattered by the refusal of the
senate to accept his credentials from
the Illinois legislature as valid. He
asks something over 100000 from
congress, presumably to reimburse
him for the expense incurred in seek
ing to validate title to his seat. AS
Ia piece of impertinence, this claim GER
tainly establishes new record. Lori
mer's appeal should be directed to the
Illinois legislature from which he re-
ceived certificate which the senate
finally agreed was counterfeit.
Denver Republican,: This new
party will have no existence beyond
the present campaign. The only thing
which could perpetuate it is the cleo
ton Of COL Roosevelt But that can
lie considered only as remote posi-
bility. Failing Of election, he will be
compelled to retire to private life.
Following that, the new party will fall
to pieces. The extremely radical
measures 1t advocates will not be ac-
cepted by any party. In SO far as 1t
|is progressive in the sense In which
that term applies to the principles
advocated by the leading progressive
Republicans in congress, the reforms
lit favors will be taken up in due time
by the republican party. The party
Itself disappearing. its members will
either return to the republican party
or 20 over to the democrats.
Dollar Street Paving.
Clinton Herald: The city council
has Just let the contract for a small
amount of concrete street paving
which will cost the abutting property
owners 81 a square yard. Few con-
tracts have ever been let in the state
at lower figure and the members Of
the council are delighted.
In ordering the paving OF a
street with concrete the city is en-
tering upon an experiment that will
be watched with great deal Of in
terest. II the pavement proves as
good, or substantially as good, as
4 -