Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-07-25
GATHERED BY THE WAYS1DE
Try Ora Williams.l

| IBy Ora williamsl
| pes Moines, July 25.--The demos
Gratis who attended the state conven-
ton at Council Bluffs were united IN
their declaration that they had pleas
ant time, that the convention was satls>
factory, that the party Is harmonious
and that there is genuine hope ana eA-
pectancy of democratic success IN iowa
next fall.
| Was there any undercurrent? was
anything concealed that might be Sig
nificant if exposed to view? Perhaps
not.
| Yet there were some symptoms sug-
gestive of actual conditions not wholly
in keeping with appearances. For in
stance, an observer could hardly fan TO
note that in the general convention IN
what was said and done, and in the
| smaller meetings where speech making
was the rule. and again in the LOBBY
| conferences. there was much emphasis
placed on the advisability Of the party
getting together, of all being demo-
Gratis, all forgetting their fights. all be-
ing loyal to their ticket. There was
great deal of advising that demo-
Gratis ought to stand together now for
the sake of President Wilson. There
was reiteration many times over OF the
/ fact that all nominees on the ticket
stand for democratic principles, and
therefore much asking why should any
! democrat refuse to give his support 10
any one on the ticket.
! In this respect, at least, the demo-
cratic situation was different from that
! at the recent republican state conven-
| xxyho her
| sumption that every republican would
be loyal to the ticket.
| 1t is but natSral that this emphasis
of the need of party loyalty left with
an observer the thought that after all
! there is not such complete harmony
| and unity in the ranks of the party as
fhad been declared. It may not be
true, but there was running all thru
the proceedings at Council Bluffs that
which forced the conclusion that in
stead Of surrender of one force or an
other there was nothing but an armed
| truce, with imminent danger OF an out
break, and real fear Of failure here or
there to stand squarely In the battle
ranks at the critical time.
|
| That this impression of ill-concealed
danger was a reality, had real basis
may be shown by a few references.
| For instance, in the Connolly meeting,
held the evening prior 10 the conven-
ton where it was announced special
manager for Connolly would be put in
charge and the Connolly campaign
would be carried on separate from the
work Of the state committee Judge
Wade, John Dennison and Frank
O'Conner all spoke along the same line
that Of urging and pleading for party
| loyalty There is nothing l more de-
spise than party treason" declared
Mr.. Dennison. I'VE expect the loyal
support of every Meredith man for
| Connolly" indicated Judge Wade. The
temporary chairman was eXtravagant
in his fattery of his defeated rival.
The permanent chairman was fulsome
| in praise of his successful opponent.
The convention gave Meredith an ova-
ton greater than that OF any other.
| Only once, was there bad slip, when
Henry Vollmer, having expended MS
usual stock OF invective chiefly against
| Cummins, threw in, apparently without
any excuse bitter snarl against the
menace of the A. p. A" All the talk
Of the corridors was OF the future, OF
1.-THE coming contest Of two years hence'
I
Dental campaign In the convention
an exuberant delegate nominated Mere
| dith for senator against Kenyon ana
wanted every Connolly man to pledge
himself to Meredith then, even as every
Meredith man to pledge himself TO
| Connolly now. And so, all thru, there
was recognition at every turn OF the
actually Of wide separation OF the
| two classes Of democrats present. IL
was not forgetting Of their dltfer-
ences but continually an appeal 10
overlook their differences and for the
sake of the democratic party to get
together this time. Judge Wade quoteo
Paul. the apostle on faith and nope
but charity greater than all 1T is not
/ enough to have enthusiasm to nave
hope of party success, but if we are 10
win there must be a spirit OF cnar1ty
| toward each other" When Temporary
Chairman Connolly introduced Perma-.
nent Chairman Meredith ne referred to
| him as one who with his friends had
| it in his power to bring about a
united and winning democracy in No
vember.
This situation is new one at demo-
cratic conventions; it may or may not
have significance.
Those who sought to feature the
liquor issue or equal suffrage as the
all-important issue before the conven-
ton were simply trying to deceive
themselves. Perhaps no question re-
ceived less consideration among the
delegates than the liquor question. The
historic attitude Of the party forbade
any serious consideration of the mat
ter and the platform is noteworthy
only in that 1t for the first time is so
framed that consistent prohibition
list can ease his conscience and stand
upon it. In that respect i. is plat
form which, If it had been adopted four
years ago, would have made Claude
Porter governor. The dumping OF the
woman suffrage issue into the same
hopper with capitol extension and rec
ommending them both somewhat
vaguely to the disposition Of the init
alive and referendum was hardly
courteous to either.
But the real issue before the dele
gates in surdry and various confer
ences related to the manner of handling
the question of alleged state extrava-