The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-05-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial C0rrespOndence)

Washington, May 4.-The nrst
week in May finds the Iowa cam
paign on in full tilt with the primary
less than four weeks off. The last
week has been marked by a settling
down in politics. The Savage ad-
herents are organized for their prl-
mary fight on Senator Cummins and
the old organization of regular re-
publicans are solidifying and mar
shaling their forces. The effort to
drive Judge Lee from the race. for
governor against Clarke failed, and
the contest between the two has set
tiled down with one side raising the
question of eligibility and the 9th
er side crying taxation.
The Savage candidacy seems to
have stirred republican ranks as
deeply as it was expected to. The
press is full of it. The Manchester
Press objects to this 'raking up
memories of past fueds' and open
ing fresh wounds of inter-party con-
hicts,' and can see no motive for the
Savage candidacy except "irreconcll-
liable malice and factional frenzy run
riot To this, opponents OF Sena-
tor Cummins retort that it is no un-
worthy motive to seek to prevent the
nomination for senator of one who
desert ted the party two years ago and
turned against its candidate for
president. There were 1880
Iowans who voted for Mr.. Taft for
president in 1912, one paper says,
while Senator Cummins voted for
Roosevelt. 1t is reasonably to be
contended, it asks, that the Taft re-
pubicans have no other end but the
qualification of malice against Cum
Minis? The press is lining up on
both sides. The Fairfield Ledger
says in Savage the republicans have
an opportunity to cast their ballot
for man Tin whose republicanism
and steadfastness there can be no
question:" The Iowa City RepubE-
can thinks Savage's candidacy would
be futile for the "Cummins crowd
would knife him almost to a man, as
they have done with every prominent
republican who has been a candidate
for office and who had the hardwood
not to support Cummins." The
Eagle Grove Eagle says: "Cummins'
election is impossible and his nomi-
nation would mean the election OF
democrat" Cummins' successor, it
says, will either be Savage or demo-
crat. The Fort Dodge Chronicle says
that Savage was one of the leaders
of the constructive legislature" and
it is inclined Ito thank God that
Cummins will have to be defeated by
a democrat" The Shelton Sun says
Savage will get licked good and
plenty" The Marion Register says:
Savage looks like a man OF senator
ial SIZE All this is evidence that
the G.. O. P. factions are preparing
for such fight as the Cummins-Per-
kins state campaign.
Judge Lee has started out in the
gubernatorial campaign as the ag-
gressor. He fired first volley when
he strenuously denounced the charge
that he was ineligible to office be-
cause he was serving as a district
judge, declaring that the term eli
gibility to office" referred to the
time of taking Office and not to the
time of election His term as judge
expires Dec. 81, 1914. The term OF
governor begins the second Monday
in the following January.
Judge Lee opened his speaking
campaign at Boone with speech
on the tax issue He declared that
'.at this particular time we are con-
fronted with an enormous increase
in taxes" and that many believe the
tax is greater than the taxpayers can
afford to pay He asked who is re-
sponsible for this increase?' The
blame for this he laid on the execu-
tive council. After the legislature
he said ''the executive
council did what former executive
councils had refused to do, raised the
of property SO as to enor-
mously increase the amount which
would be raised by levies already fix
ed by statute AS head OF the
executive council he blames Cover
nor Clarke for this.
& The republican press Of the state
Il. worked up over the governornhip
tight In the party. The Mason City