The Washington herald., 1913-12-24
With the Political Procession.
ny r. b. G.

Chairman woods has been given an
unexpected opportunity TO show that hs
can do and In his own State. The death
lof Congressman Pepper, a Democrat. In
the Second Iowa District means a special
campaign and election, and with the
chairman of the Congressional COMMITTEES
coming from that State, the contest will
be watched with unusual interest the
country ever. Albert r. Dawson was the
Republican member prior to Pepper, and
was making a good record when the 1910
slump left him and many other good Re-
publicans at home.
As Dawson Is yet young and ambitious.
| he may be urged to take hold again as
the candidate in a special campaign, with
promise OF support from the entire Re-
publican organization Of the United
States. Whoever is nominated will be
given attention. never fear. and the Re-
publican National Committee will even
take a hand to achieve a victory OF great
moral value and effect on the future
Really the candidate named in the Second
Iowa District will find himself the most
talked about citizen of the country for a
short time, and the Democrats rather
dread such concentration Of Republican
cash, oratory, energy, and manipulation.
They have not forgotten the concentra-
tion when the Republicans wanted to re-
buke Democratic legislation and Demo-
cratic methods by defeating Congressional
leaders. For instance, in 1894 William L.
Wilson was singled out for slaughter be-
cause he was author Of the Wilson
bill, and a concentration IN Iowa would
achieve the same result, with an equally
cheering moral effect.
Iowa has two other Democratic House
members-Connolly. OF the monkey
wrench" district, who defeated Pickett,
and Kirkpatrick. of Ottumwa. Their dis
tricts are normally Republican, and both
Connolly and Kirkpatrick appreciate the
woe in store for them a year later in
case the entire Republican organization
OF the nation takes a hand in sending a
Republican from the Pepper district a
few months ahead OF the regular election.
Pickett is young man and liked the
Congressional game, so he can be ex-
pected back in spite OF the clever way
in which young Connolly has taken hold
of things. The Pickett district is the one
that first sent William B. Allison to Con-
gress before he became Senator. and
every Republican In Iowa reverinE the
name and record Of Allison has an inter-
est in seeing his old district continue in
the true faith. The wonder is that Com
molly, who is a business man as well
as lawyer, and a man OF affairs, should
be Democrat. but hopes are entertained
for his recovery.
John A. Bingham, who served sixteen
years In Congress and twelve years as |
Minister to Japan. once made the OBJ |
servation that the great men OF history |
have ever come from a mountainous or |
hilly region or from the seashore-that a |
low level fiat uninsplring country never
produced great leaders OF men in war or
peace. Some one interposed that Bing-
ham forgot Grant coming from Illinois
but there was quick reJoinder that Grant
was born in the hills of Clement County.
Ohio. and Sherman in the equally rugged
section OF Fairfield County and Sheridan
n the even more hilly and rugged coun-
" OF Perry, so that the three great gen.
erals Of the civil war came from the
'ame State and from sections noted for
Hills and valleys.
Every President has come from the
ills and the fat stretches OF prairie
lave never produced a President or great
olitical leader. Those of the West who die
Ichieve eminence were born in the east
rn hills or mountains or along the coast
There is something inspiring in a hilIy or
region that gives ambition
nd incentive to struggle. Ii
The Western States with long level (
tretches have not had great leaders in {
congress unless the leaders were born ]