Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1914-01-09
Our WASHINGTON Letter.

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The attention of the national democ.
racy is being turned to Iowa, not only
because of the forthcoming election ir
the second district, but because the ma
tional organization believes there is 8
greater likelihood of electing a Demo
cratic United States senator from Iowa
than ever before. In addition to this,
the fight that has developed in the IRE
publican camp over the Republican
nomination for governor is held to be
an almost certain forecast of the cleo.
ton of Democratic governor in Iowa
for the first time since Horace Boies
day.
AS Washington views it the candida
cy of John W. Rowley is destined tt
become more formidable as the cam
paign progresses. Several weeks ago,
before the Rowley candidacy was an
nounced in these columns the fore.
bodings of returning Iowa Republican
congressman were mentioned. 1t was
not known then that the Capitol
grounds extension issue would be
brought out so prominently, but it was
known that the.[question of increased
valuations, increased assessments and
increased appropriations, adding great
~ to the individual taxpayers tax bur-
den, would be potent issue, in the
campaign. The primary comes after
the taxpayer will have paid the FIST
half Of his taxes. The election comes
after he will have paid the second half
of his taxes. The republican congress-
men know that Goy.. Clarke will have
to stand the brunt of the blame for
these tax increases, whether justly or
not, because he withheld his veto from
the legislative acts which caused the
added tax burden. So no matter what
happens to the Capitol extension issue,
the tax issue remains.
Mr. Rowley's campaign announce
ment sounds like an echo of the Bull
Moose and he seems to have adopted
some of the Bull Morse planks in his
platform, though he IS a standpatter
and is given strong standpat support.
I'VE are not going to lie down." he
declares. "We went into this contest
to sustain principle" He appeals to
voters who he proclaims to be "tke
sovereigns Of legislative bodies, execu-
tive councils and courts. What he asks
the voters to do is virtually to recall
the judicial decision by which the su-
preme court sustained the Capitol
grounds extension after the lower
court had annulled it. He would re-
call the executive who refused to Veto
the measure and invoke the referend-
UNI to place the matter before the
people.
AS viewed here, such a fight is not
one that can end at the primary. 1t is
not fight for Rowley but fight on
Clarke. And Clarke as the head of the
ticket will take the ticket down to de-
feat with him if beaten.
In Washington it is felt to be practi-
callya certainty that the Democrats
will retain their hold on the Second
Iowa district. There is wealth of
strong democratic timber in the sub
stantial Second district. The cam
paign will attract national attention
because it will be the first expression
of the views of the people of the mid.
die west on the achievements of the
Wilson administration, and the first
election held anywhere in the country
since the passage Of the currency bill.
The Democrats sdoubtless will base
their campaign on President Wilson's
successful administration. State Chair
man Reed: will open headquarters in
the district and prosecute vigorous
campaign. Chairman Doremus of the
national congressional committee is ex-
pected to throw the strength of the ma
tional organization into the district,
not only because of the national as
poets of the campaign, but because it
is Congressman Peppers district, and
there was the closest bond of friend
ship between Congressman Pepper,
who was secretary of the congression-
al committee, and Chairman Doremus
and the other members. The announce
mint of Congressman Hinebaugh,
chairman of the national Progressive
committee, that vigorous campaign
will be made for a Progressive con-
gressional nominee and the probability
that this nominee will be City Attorney
P. J. .Hanley, of Muscatine, who COM
mands large progressive Republican
vote, makes the situation appear all
the more bright to Iowans in Washing
ton. w..
The Senatorial situation, as viewed
in Washington, appears brighter as
new factors enter the campaign. The
Progressive party conference in Des
Moines this week is expected to 60 far