Imperial Valley press., 1915-10-26

tThia IL an other of the Press series
Of portraits of presidential possbili-
ties Editor
when placing bets on the Republic
m go-as you-please presidential nom
nation race of 1916. it is we'll to take
a chance on A. h. C. as IA long shot.
Cummius of Iowa is good at 10 to
1. He will have delegates probably In
lie national convention in about that
ratio or a little less. Cummins has
nurtured presidential hopes for a mum
Der OF years. lie has played for this
particular nomination for at least
years.
When Roosevelt organized the Bull
Moose party. Cummins. who had been
friendly TO the insurgents, Travelled ON
the same train with Roosevelt on his
western trips.
So cummirs placed his political bet
on the failure of the Bull Moose party
aud remained Republican. He made
speech before the Marquette club of
Chicago, in which he was quoted a.
aying dhcrc is some question as TO
the authenticity that the worst Re
publican is better than the best Dem
"erat. Which. from a man who had
rlaYed the role Of independent all his
political life, was rather shocking.
While the ProGressives have not gone
hack and announced their desire TO
vote for such as Root Burton Weeks
or Fairbanks. their voting strength fell
eff years ago aud the Republicans
tailed that falling Off "a a eicn the
Gritt would be to them. \ little while
ago. indeed, the old standpat Rcpub-
leans felt that their victory would he
a walkawaY and had almost begun to
sqnabble over who should have the
coveted prize of the party nomination.
'ummins had looked ahead To a time
when II would be desirable 10 unite
the Progressive and standpat vote. and
he prepared to be a candidate suitable
Tor that compromise.
But in one respect Cnmmins missed
his guess. The Republican BOSSES do
rot see amy necessity for compro-
mise.
They were willing 10 open the back
door of the party temple and Let the
'eaNward rroErcsaivcs sneak in. but
they are not welcoming them as prodi-
gals with any gold rings robes or fat
ted calves; consequently the prodigals
have evidently decided 10 go off again
into the far country aud look for a
aew dispenser of husks and a new job
keeping swine.
So Cummius is sitting on the door
step with a pleasant smile and with
his hat in his lap
Cummius was the author OF the
Iowa idea" which was that the old
pingley tariff was too high aud was
not fair to the farmer Finally the
Iowa idea was brought up in the Sen
ate after Cummins had arrived there
and cummins got a chance II discuss
II. but the Aldrich bill was passed and
The election of Democratic president
ioltcd down considerably below the
Iowa idea. and Cummins began to criti-
else il from above instead of from
below.
Cummns has been an Independent
in the Senate. when a thing pleased
I'm. even if il was Democratic, he
supported it; If it displeascd him he
said 50. Without his support Wilson
would not have got the federal trade
commission.
Cummins came up in politics in Iowa
opposing the old Allison machine. and
the railroad influence. lie was am
early champion of fairer railroad rates
for farmers. He was elected governor
a couple of terms and finally in 1905
came To the Senate To fill The seat left
vacant by the death of ". B. Allison.
lie was reelected in 1903 and again
IN 1914.
The Iowa candidate Is 6o wears old
H.. was born iu Pennsylvania. He was
educated in the public schools. lie
was successful lawyer before he be
gan. being politician.