Evening times-Republican., 1914-01-15
agoREr MEETING HELD IN pES
MONIES TO MAKE EiottT ON
4 cuMMiNS.
ROBERT G. COUSINS MAY
BE PICKED eY OPPOSITION
Conference Held to Plan Primary Cam
paian For Purpess Of Worrying SEN
ator and Giving Hope 70 Democratic
Opposition-plan May Be Rejected
and Senator Given Support.

Des Moines, Jan. 15.-Whether the
anti-Cummins faction Of the republi-
can party in Iowa will put up candi-
date to oppose the senior senator in
the primary campaign will probably
be decided at conference to be held
in Des Moines today.
Information concerning the meeting
has been kept tightly bottled up by the
principals concerned In It. 1t is GER
tain, however, that a meeting Of men
who have opposed Senator Cummins
is to be held today. Standpat lead
ers and disappointed republican office
seekers make up the crowd
Secrecy Maintained.
1t was not until yesterday that it
became known that a meeting Of some
fifteen standpat leaders was held IN
Des Moines nearly month ago to con-
slider the advisability Of opposing Sem
ator Cummins at the primary. Com
mittees were appointed at that time to
investigate the sentiment Of the stand
pat element with a view to reporting
at a later meeting and advising con-
cerning the action to be taken. The
reports Of these committees. it is un-
derstood, will be heard today.
Robert G Cousins. of Upton, former
congressman in the Fifth district, is re-
ported as being the man whom the
Standpatters have under consideration
as a possible opponent Of the senator.
II they should ask Mr.. Cousins to run.
1t Is said, 1t would be not so much in
the hope that he could be nominated
as for the purpose of causing Senator
Cummins great deal Of trouble by the
opposition In his primary campaign.
Meeting Plans Secret.
Men who are close to Senator Cum
Minis tried to hnd out The exact pur-
pose Of todays meeting, but did not
succeed. They are convinced, however,
that 1t is for the purpose Of deciding
upon the advisability Of putting up an
opposing candidate. Politicians who
were disappointed In their candidacy
for federal offices under the republican n
administration will be prominent In the
conference. they assert
On the other hand, there Il a pos
sibility that The meeting will result in
the standpatters deciding to support
the senator. II the more bitter oppo-
nents OF the senator should fail IN
arousing sufficient enthusiasm for
the opposition campaign, politicians
prophesied hast night the whole scheme
will fall thru. and the candidacy of
Senator Cun1mins will be indorsed.
Consider State Politics.
The state administration promises TO
come in for share Of the discussion,
too. 1t has been rumored that the lead
ers will pass upon the attitude the
standpatters ought to assume, toward
the members Of the executive council
In particular. While the policies of the
council are likely to be subjected to
considerable criticism, politicians dis
cussins the situation last night were
of the opinion that the conference
would not indorse opposing candidates.
The real identity Of the n en- who will
attend the conference was almost as
closely guarded last night as the plan
OF their meeting. The register a: the
Slavery bore the name Of Frank
Nimocks. former postmaster at OF
tumwa, and Senator Savage, Of Adair,
was being mentioned as one of the
prime movers. Up to a late hour it
was impossible to learn definitely of
others who will be here.