The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-07-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial COrrespOndence)
WachinptO

Washington, July 2O.-Iows
democrats are gathering in Council
Bluffs for the largest convention evel
held in the state, according to tele
graphic advices received at nationa
headquarters here. The voting
strength of the convention is 1,017
but many counties sent many double
delegations, and there will be close
to 800 accredited delegates presen,
when the convention is called tOgeth
er Thursday. Preceding the conven'
ton a meeting of the Iowa Democrat.
ic Editorial Association was schedul.
ed for the morning of July %. In
the afternoon conference of all
congressional and state candidates
was called. Wednesday evening was
set for meeting of the state commit
tee to close up it's business for the
year, preparatory to turning things
over to the new state committee,
which will meet to organize after the
convention closes July %.
Congressman Maurice Connolly,
the democratic candidate for United
States senator, will be temporary
chairman; John Gillespie, of Creston,
and c. D. CHECKER, of Mt. Pleasant,
reading clerks; and John c. DeMar,
of Des Moines, secretary. Congress
man Connolly in the keynote speech
of the convention will discuss nation
al issues, his familiarity with such
issues, due to the part he has taken
in furtherfng the legislative program
of the Wilson administration, having
fitted him eminently to discuss the
things that President Wilson and
the democratic congress have done
since the party went into power. He
will bring message to Iowa demo-
Gratis from the president and admin
istration leaders.
John T. Hamilton, democratic can
didate for governor, will discuss state
issues. Mr. Hamilton, who has been
a forceful figure in Iowa's public life
for generation will discuss the is
sues on which Iowa democrats are
confident he will be carried into the
governorship in November. Edwin T..
Meredith, primary candidate for SEN
ator, has been invited to speak at the
convention, as has Ed Dunn, who
came within 1900 votes of being
elected governor on the democratic
tlckeC Two years ago.
State Chairman N. F. Reed, who
left for Iowa the last of the week,
after closing up the Washington end
of his business as chairman, declared
before leaving that he would turn
over completed organization to his
successor when he retired from the
state Craftsmanship at the Council
Bluffs convention.
Just now we are two months
ahead of where we have ever been
before at the time of state conven-
tion,' Chairman Reed said. I'VE
have the entire organization, down
to the townships and wards, ready to
start on the day following the con-
vention." Chairman Reed said that
the complete county, township and
ward organizations had been appoint
ed and were ready for work. There
are 2,241 township and ward COM
and SO county chairmen,
making q compact organization of 81
240 party workers ready to start the
preliminary work of the campaign.
AS general thing it requires two
months after the convention to COM
plete this organization. That the
work is done now is an evidence that
the democratic party is alive to its
opportunity this year and determined
to make an organized fight from the
time of the convention until the polls
close in November. A great many
Of the members Of the state commit
tee are expected to be reelected.
Thus far there has been only one &C.
tive candidate, for state chairman TO
succeeas NJ. Reed This q pr. Rey-
noS0sys u Cyoafon, WhO NJ hoon q
Y0spf ~ " & 4 sSs