Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-08
cuMMINs is FIRST.
TDes Moines RapisferJ

=
[Des Moincs Register.l
II the Register should declare it's be
lief that Senator Cummins is regarded
by chairmen of republican state com
mtttees as possessed OF the creates
strength Of any of the men men.
toned for the republican presidential
nomination, that statement would b.
] questioned even by many Of the sen
ator's staunchest a6herents. 1t would
seem tinctured with home enthusiasm
| II the Register should further declare
that he possessed this strength partly
i because Of the geographical location
OF his home. that opinion would NEE:
! the old belief that Iowa is the least
/. strategic state in the union, politically
| But these are not the statements OF
the Register. Both are made by the
/ New York World. in Analysing the re-
suit Of poll of republican state chair
men. After receiving replies from
, twenty seven OF the forty eigh. chair
! men. the World said:
According to the chairrnen who
, responded. Justice Hughes of the
United States supreme court and Sem
ator A. B. Cumnins OF Iowa lead For
mer Senator Elihu Root Is named by
three OF the chairmen, but an analysis
OF the replies indicates that Senator
Cummins is regarded as possessed Of
the greatest strength This Is un-
doubtedly because OF the geographical
location of his home and from the fact
that republicans generally believe that
Justice Hughes will not be a candidate
nor permit the use OF his name"
Nine men were mentioned by chair
men as the probable benet1ciaries OF
the votes OF their states. They were
Senator Cummins. Justice Hughes for
ner Senator Root. former Senator
Burton. Senator Sherman. Senator
Bcrah, former Senator Weeks. former
vice President Fairbanks and former
Governor Osborn OF Michigan.
Support for Senator cummins is in :
Dictated by the chairmen of Iowa. Min
nesota. Montana and New Mexico,
while there was n general disposition
on the part of chairmen OF other west
ern states to say that they preferred
western candidate without specify
Ing names. Borah was mentioned only
by the man from Oregon. as second
choice to Hughes in that state, while
the Idaho chairman failed TO respond
TO the Worlds inquiry.
been conferred on the presidential fight
as 1t is opening In the nearby state OF
Minnesota. The significance of the
stand which Minnesota take.,s height
ened by the fact that the New York
World. In summarizing the general
situation. practically takes as Its own
view the statement made by the re-
publican state chairman Of Minnesota.
g. ]. Bjornson. who wired az follows:
Justice Hughes has many friends In
Minnesota. Elihu Root has strong
support. but Senator Cummins OF Iowa
viii be the probable choice. He Is
backed by the rank and file Of the
party"
One Of the absolute necessities for
the reuniting and strengthening of the
republican party Is that its candidate
! for president shall be the choice of the
rank and file OF the party. This Is
recognized by we'll Uniformed eastern
leaders and Is the real basis Of the
| movement for a western candidate.
There Is greater confidence that a
western man Will prove satisfactory TO
the rank and file Of the party.
II is a natural consequence Of the
existing state of mind that residence
west OF the Mississippi has changed
from a political liability to source of
strength. Senator Cummins' home
could not be considered an asset geo
graphically were II not for the neces-
sHy that q man OF western ideas be
chosen as the standard bearer for next
years campaign.
Therefore It Is all the more neces-
(sary that the early presidential pri-
maries, centering as they do in the
middle west trans Mississippi terri
tory. shall verify the statement of the
Minnesota state chairman that Cum
| Minis is the choice OF the rank and
file. It is true that II the west unites
on Cummins there Is danger that the
| east might insist on some other west
ern man. But what show has the
Iowa man II the west does not unite
on him? He has the opportunity to
take the pole In the presidential race
and the pole position gives a splendid
advantage on the curves.
This advantage IL already recognized
in the east. and is conceded to Cum
Minis The people Of Iowa should take
note OF the trend of sentiment outside
the state. There are only three men
who are beyond the favorfte son class
OF candidates. Justice Hughes has de-
hnitely and forcefully refused to be a
candidate. Elihu Root lacks the nee
essary qualifications Of western con-
fdence. Senator Cummins Is the lead