Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-06
o Times Republican.

Special to Republican.
Des Moines, Nov ST am quite
willing to have it tried first with the
voters of Minnesota as TO what kind
of candidate the republican party
should nominate for president next
year. The people Of that state are in
telligent, loyal. well informed. There
are two large cities where. probably.
Mr. Root would have q natural adTan-
tage; and there is the country where.
probably. would have slight adj
vantage. As between US the people OF
Minnesota ought to be able to choose
fairly. I am glad they have decided
upon joining issues with US in that
state"
This was, substantially. the express
sion of Senator Albert B. Cummins
when informed that it had been de-
cided by those who are opposed to
candidate Of the progressive wing that
they shall concentrate in Minnesota On
Senator Root, of New York, as their
candidate, and that in all probability
just two names viii thus go before
the Minnesota republicans in their
presidential primary OF next spring.
The understanding in Iowa now is
that the friends OF the senior Iowa
senator will simply submit his name
to the Minnesota republicans and have
his name printed on the ballot. and
will issue brief statement, and leave
it 10 the Minnesota people. The New
York senator probably will DO the
same thing. Whatever Of contest there
is must be made by the Minnesota peo-
pie themselves. as between the two
men representing opposite and often
vito
lifelong republicans.
Minnesota will be first Of the large
group of western and midland states
where the question of who is best fit
ted to be the party standard bearer
will be put right up to the people for
direct decision. A preference primary
will be held little earlier in Indiana,
but Indiana belongs to another poiiti-
cal school, and if presidents are fol-
lowed the Hoosiers will stand for
local candidate and put UP a trading
delegation. And 50 Minnesota will be
the first state to decide as between
outsiders and with issues so drawn as
to carry a meaning to the rest Of the
country The Minnesota primary will
be March a.
| Then will follow. in order. North Da-
kota, Wisconsin. Illinois. South Da-
kota. Iowa, Nebraska, Oregon, Cali
fornia. and some others in between.
! In the meantime. Kansas, Oklahoma.
| Colorado, Missouri Washington and
Montana mill decide The months Of
| March. April and May next years will
be decidedly interesting, politically.
The Iowa view is bound to be, Of
-, n
Root there is such a clearly defined
| issue that no voter need be in doubt.
The men who will want candidate Of
the Root type VIII not want one like
Cummins. and vice versa; for in all
their political life they have stood for
opposites and they have had some
notable clashes which brought out the
difference When Cummins entered
the senate seven years ago, Root
shared with Bailey and Bacon repute
as the greatest lawyer OF the senate.
Soon thereafter the Lorimer case Name
to head and the Iowa man showed
himself 10 De SUCH q master OF the i: ~
and of the facts that he completely
whipped the shrewd Texan and the
plausible New Yorker and took front
rank as a great lawyer and debater.
In the notable fight over the interstate
commerce law amendments, involving
the whole question of railroad pooling
and rate making, Cummins and Root
stood on opposite sides and illumined
the debates with their superior talent.
But perhaps the best remember pub
lie service of Root was at the repub-
lican national convention three years
! ago, Of which he was temporary and
permanent chairman, and largely to
4 his direction was due the outcome of
that convention. Senator Cumnins
protested with all his power asasns.
what was done at Chicago and sought
i in every way to avert the disaster that
was so clearly iorseen by ali. Scna toT
Cummins has spoken repeatedly in