The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-12-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

washington, ID. c., Dec. 22.-SpeC-
ial Observation-Disclosures the
democrats down on Capitol Hill
think of that special meeting of the
republican national committee last
week they smile, for If conclusive
evidence was needed that the split
in the republican ranks is as serious
now as it was year ago, that meet
ing furnished such proof. Before
the meeting the progressive element
prided itself on having the whip
hand. The adoption of Senator Cum
Minis plan for a special national con-
vention in 1914 was given out to be
a foregone conclusion. Cities were
raising funds and bidding against
each other for the special conven-
ton. Senator Cummins was to be
chairman. Then the standpatters
came along and showed that they
still control the national committee
by voting down the special conven-
ton plan. John T. Adams, of Du-
buque, the Iowa committeeman, vot-
ed against the Cumm Minis convention
proposition.
Ex-Congressman Watson, of In
diana, who was Taft floor leader
when the party split at the last Chi
Ecago convention, and who since has
been rebuked by congress as lob
byist in the Mulhall expose, warned
the committeeman that it would be
dangerous to hold such special con-
vention. There would be discord
that would reopen the sores left by
the Chicago convention. The heat
ed tits at the committee meeting
he said, gave proof of this. Then the
committee adopted a resolution pro-
viding basis of apportionment, pro-
posed by William Barnes, jr., of New
York, the same William Barnes who
has been known as an arch-standpat-
| ter, and the committee adjourned
with the old guard leaders chuckling
and still in control of the party ma
chinery. The ringing progressive
platform which Senator LaFollette
favored was not adopted, Nor was
any platform. Just to rub it in
boom for Senator Elihu Root, Taft
chairman at the Chicago convention
for the republican presidential nomi-
nation in 1916, was launched, with
ex-President Taft and Senator Gal
linger, and Andrew Carnegie as
Roots sponsors. All of which at
! fords an explanation for the smiles
the democrats are wearing.
Another. political development Of
the week which added to the gloom
in the republican camp was the &C.
tivity of the bull moose party in ILL
nois, Iowa and Ohio. The Illinois
progressive party in conference
adopted a platform and agreed to
name full ticket. The Iowa pro-
gressive party leaders called a con-
ference to be held at Des Moines
January and for the same pur-
pose and bull moose leaders are at
work organizing every county in the
state for the campaign next year
The situation struck the moose lead
ers in congress as amusing and they
adopted a resolution declaring that
they viewed with interest the death
bed repentance of the republican
leaders for the sins of the late re-
publican convention and their pres
ent hypocritical offer Of reform. =
The added that they accepted with
profound gratitude President Will
sons Endorsement of the progressive
principle of direct presidential pri-
maries and pledge to him our sup
port"
An avalanche of letters and tele-
grams poured in on the department
of Justice from prominent lowans
defending State Chairman Nick Reed
from attacks made on him by Iowa
prohibition leaders who were here
at the recent meeting at the capital.
Mr.. Reed had stronger Endorsements
than any of the Iowa candidates for
federal posts. Both houses of the
legislature were practically unani-
| nous for him, so far as regards
democratic strength, as We're the
state committee and the chair
man of the county committees.
The old charge was advanced
that Chairman Reed was the
owner of more than twenty
drug stores which had been involved
| in liquor litigation. Proof was given
the president and attorney general
that Chairman Reed had an interest
| in only three drug stores, all at OF
| tumWa. that his stores had not had
a liquor permit for five years and
| that he had never been involved in
any manner in liquor litigation. The
! Ottumwa Commercial Association of
! which he is former president, the
judiciary, the bar, the leading bust
ness men and citizens and the lead
| ing temperance workers in his home
town rallied to his defense against
the bitterly unfair charges made
against him, and as result Chair
man Reed stands higher in the esti-
| nation of the White House and the
department of Justice than the men
who traduced him. The spontaneous
response of his neighbors to charges
assailing his integrity was taken in
| Washington to give the strongest
possible testimonial of his fitness
for the marshalship.
Congressman Irwin Peppers col
leagues in congress have learned,
| now that he is convalescing from his
attack of typhoid fever, that his con-
dition was much more serious than
| they had been advised. The Christ
| mas mails this week carried many
remembrances from Washington
friends in and out of congress to the
Clinton hospital. The congressman
associates in the Iowa delegation
! l. ~ P,,1l