Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-03
Gathered in the By,Oays
tBy Ora wnliams.1


able history Of the Grant Club few
events have been more satisfactory to
the membership than that of last
Tuesday evening when. upon invita-
ton, Senator Cummins appeared and
told in calm and simple language the
| story OF the past years events as re-
lated to the party Of which he has
been lifelong member. The banquet
hall was filled with the flower of Des
Moines' business and professional life,
following the admirably delivered adj
dress there was much Of mutual con-
gratulations and exchange of compile
ments. And apparently no person
save and except few who have all
ways been critical of the senator has
| arisen to complain of what he said or
to indicate disapproval.
1T gave me great pleasure" said
| Johnson Brigham president Of the
Grant Club, ito witness the spontan-
eous manifestation Of good will toward
! Iowa's senior senator at the Grant
| Club banquet and to hear from many
sources warm words Of commentator
for his speech. 1 am sure that prac-
tically all those who heard him were
delighted. From what I heard at the
banquet and since it is evident that
substantially all those who have for
years been his loyal friends and have
made it possible for him to continue
in his usefulness to the state, are en-
tirely satisfied and glad that he gave
such clear presentation of the recent
history of our party. Both as to these
long time friends and those who for
one reason or another. or at one time
hnx no, cnlx IN
antagonism to him. there seems now
to be entire agreement that there shall
be no opposition to him for renomin-
alton He was fortunate in what he
said in leaving an excellent impress
sion among all fair minded men
whether they have been with him or
not with him in other years"
In political circles about Des Moines
only good words have been heard Cor
the senator since the Grant Club BAN
quet Not a single republican, so far
as heard from, has arisen to find
fault with him, and this is such
novelty as to his career that it is at
tracing attention.
81 heard Senator Cummins' Grant
Club speech" said Judge ]. H. Hen
derson, commerce counsel, and l con-
graduated him upon it. I thought he
owed it from me that say to him
that I liked it very much. 1t might
have been the thought OF some per-
sons that the speech lacked fire. but
it was not controversial address,
rather report on conditions and
statement or situation Tet he didn':
back up on anything. He didn't bend
in the least from the position he has
maintained He declared frankly his
disappointment. There may be those
who will say the speech was merely
for political effect; but that is to chal-
lenge his sincerity and honesty and no
man who knows him will do that. Yes,
it was the right speech for the oc-
casion and the times
The clause of the speech perhaps
most commented on was that in which
the senator declared that while he is
just as sure he is right as ever he
was, he Is not quite SO sure as once
he was that those who differ from
him are wrong. That illustrates the
softening and SOLDERING effect of age
and responsibilities" said one friend.
But the expression shows better than
anything else could progression in the
senator's mental attitude toward af-
fairs in general"
Governor Clarke has not taken up
the matter of the fixing time for the
Second district special election as yet.
Most of those who have presented any
views on the subject are saying that
they would like to have a date not
very soon. None OF them want
January election and some would pre-
fer it later than in February. In fact
there are a good many who would be
just as well satisfied if there was not
to be a special election but to permit
the matter to lay over until iii the
fall. The present session of congress
is likely to be short one in view
of the very long session last year.
Delay would give both. parties opportu-
nifty to make nominations in the regu-
lar primary in June. Nothing has been
heard from any Of the third parties"
as to what they would like. The gov
ernor is quite willing to do whatever
seems to be the desire OF the major
ity Of the people Of the district, but
so far as he has investigated assumes
there is no way to do other than to
call a special election "as soon as prac-
ticable."
me suggestion Wnich senator cum
Minis made as to some method of maxi
ing it more difficult for men to dodge
voting or rather much easier to exer-
else their elective franchise. has been
somewhat criticised here. He pointed
out that 100000 persons entitled to
vote did not vote in 1912 in the United
States There are $4,000, 900 voters and
only 100000 voted. eff there were
10 900 900 voters" said one critic, who
did not have sufficient interest in the
issues of the day or who We're not well
enough informed so that they cared to
rive any help to decide between men,
think it better that the election
should have been decided by those VINO
did vote. I do not believe that any
scheme for compelling the ten million
to vote indifferently would have helped
matters at ALL" This assumes that
most of those who did not vote pre-:
ferred not to vote rather than that
they failed to vote because Of the
trouble and annoyance Of the cumber-
some election machinery.
Another side light on democratic
troubles in Iowa is given by Jack
I H. ~