The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-08-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
BY ]. X. Dougherty.

| by J. X. DOugnerty.
Washington, D. c., Aug. 17.spec-
ial Correspondence Those who
have gone out of their way to make
Woodrow Wilson, and his program
of legislation for the people, the is
sue, may have very substantial rea-
sons to regret it next November"
This is the conviction expressed by
Congressman Maurice Connolly, DEM
ocratic candidate for United States
Senator, based on sentiment he found
in trip about the state after the
recent state convention.
I'm my short preliminary survey
of the state" said Congressman Con-
molly, II found an appreciable drift
toward the President and his policies.
Even while newspapers were derid-
ing and ridiculing his policy of
'watchful waiting, the rank and file
of the people seemed to feel he had
handled the Mexican situation with
great sagacity and patience. And
they now feel that his policy had
been amply vindicated by recent
events. l took occasion to talk with
commercial travellers on trains, with
merchants of the smaller towns and
with farmers through the country,
and they seemed unanimous in a
spirit of thankfulness that the gov
eminent was guided by genuine
lover of peace whose policy contrasted
so favorably with the direful and
distressing condition brought about
by the policies of European powers.
Those who had previously been
urging the government into war for
the benefit of those owning big con-
cessions and vast tracts in Mexico
seemed to have lost their power of
speech as the great majority of Iowa
people looked with disapproval upon
an effort to embroil America in a
Mexican war with it's accompanying
loss of our young manhood, with the
enormous financial burden that
would be placed upon the tax payer;
and a tremendous addition to our
pension lists that would prove sub
stantial strain on the government.
"The temper of the people of Iowa,
l do not believe will tolerate any fur
Their criticism of Mr. Wilson and his
policy of 'watchful waiting. His
course in avoiding international diff
ficulties stamps him as one of the
most genuine and sincere workers for
the cause of peace that has ever held
such high office"
Mr.. Connolly said that he found the
prospects for bountiful crop in
Iowa very impressive and the Iowa
farmers, he said, are looking at
market quotations that mean great
wealth and prosperity to Iowa.
ut is hard to see just at this
what the Republican party expects to
defeat the present administration in
November. Under present condi-
tons it should prove rather difficult
for the opposition to bear very heav-
lily on the tariff as an issue, as in all
likelihood there will be little or no
importation and consequently no
revenue could accrue to the govern
ment by a high protective tariff, but
the high protection would simply be
an added burden to the people with
out any appreciable benefit to the
government"
One of the most striking features
of the Iowa situation, Mr.. Connolly
declares, was the spirit of harmony
he found at the convention and in
his trip about the state. Il was very
we'll pleased with the tone and spirit
of the state convention" he said.
Some of the old party war horses
who have been attending state con-
ventions for years declared it was
probably the most enthusiastic they
had ever attended. And when the
great body broke up and the crowd
surged into the street the VERY air
seemed charged with fighting and
confident spirit that this will be a
year of Democratic victory"
Some of the most sincere sup
porters he found, the Congressman
said, were in the ranks of men who
had supported Mr.. Meredith but who
had taken their coats off to work
for Democratic victory. He found
that Mr.. Meredith is displaying
broad and encouraging spirit that to
him is one of the most gratifying
features Of the campaign.
Since his return Congressman Con-
molly has faced an unusual pressure
of work, the duty of looking after the
welfare, of scores of Iowans maroon
ed in Europe whose relatives had re-
quested him to place their cases be-
fore the State Department He has
also had several important meetings |
with administration leaders and |
heads of the campaign committees |
arranging the details of the partici-
patton of the national organizations
in the Iowa campaign.
The defeat, of Senator Bristcw of |
Kansas for denomination by former