Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1915-03-26

Road Bill Wins In HOuSe-C2pltOl
Extension Repeal Defeated.
(By George Gallarno)
Des Moines, Ia, March 23.-Two OF
the main issues which are to be fought
out in the 1916 political campaign in
Iowa have been absolutely determined
and fixed by the general assembly.
The first of these is the contest fore
Swallowed by the repeal Of the mulct
liquor tax. law. The other will build
itself around a demand for the repeal
| Of the Iowa Highway commission law,
and the fight will be carried on to
every senatorial and legislative dis
trict In the state. This can also be
said of the anti-prohibition fight. AS
never before in the history of Iowa
contests on liquor legislation. every
candidate will find himself compelled
to line up as a wet" or "dry." In
many instances the lining up on this
matter, as we'll as on the highways
proposition, is sure to prove a tride
| embarrassing. That fact is not going
to prevent full field of candidates
for the places to be contested for,
however. No matter where you go
about Des Moines these days, in the
hotels or in the law-making chambers
or corridors Of the state house, if two
or more members of the legislature
are found in consultation. you can al
most be sure they are considering the
! probability of one of their own mem
bership. or of some other person be-
coming a candidate for this office or
for that.
| A local paper published directory
recently of known and suspected can
didates for the republican nomination
for governor. There were fifteen
names in the list, and the wise ones
say at that several aspirants were un-
noticed. At present it is impossible
to name all who will finally enter the
list for governor, but It can be stated
with certainty that two of the repub-
lican candidates will be Lieutenant
Governor w. L. Harding, now serving
his second term as president Of the
senate, and George Cosson, now enter
ing on his third term at attorney gen.
eral Of Iowa.
Bleakly for Governor
Among the dozen or more OF others
mentioned Is possible candidates the
chances are that not more than two or
three will finally line up next year at
the starting post to make the dash for
the prize. Former Auditor OF State
John L, Bleakly may be ono Of these.
Enthusiastic friends Of the ex-auditor
have for several years had him meas
ured as Of proper stature, both phys
ically and mentally for the guberna-
torial job. He would not consider 1t
at first, but Of late the requests and
demands have been coming to him so
numerously in letters and personal in
terviews. that it is violating no secret
to say that he is almost persuaded.
Should Mr.. Bleakly finally be pre-
vailed upon to become q real candt-
date he will add q new spirit and
interest to the contest.
Another almost sure aspirant for
the place it is said is Senator J. H.
Allen. serving his second term in the
state senate, and chairman Of the
committee on ways and means in that
body: also leader in the united COM
mittee on retrenchment and reform Of
the two houses of the assembly. There
are those who say Senator Allen would
rather direct his steps Washington
ward, along the trail 30 plainly
marked out by Congressman Frank p.
Woods, but the prevalent opinion is
that the governors Office Is looking
most attractive to him just now. Rail-
road Commissioner Clifford Thorne is
always mentioned when governorship
candidates are talked about. but, like
the case Of Senator Allen, there are
those who are endeavoring to convince
Clifford that the real forum for his
activities is away down east.
Crist for Harding's Job
The politicians in their canvass of
the situation as to the governorship
are not letting the matter Of lieuten-
ant governor 60 by default. No less
than four possible candidates for this
plum have been talked about in the
hotel Hobbies and assembly chambers.
Three Of the four come from the
house. They are Speaker w. I. At
kinson, of Butler county; Herbert
Ring, Of Linn county; and Henry
Brady, of Dallas county.
In the senate it is an open secret
that Senator L. E. Crist, of Clarke and
Warren counties, will be an active
aspirant for the presidents chair.
Senator Crist is ending his second
term Of service. and is acting as pres
ident pro tenn Of the upper body OF the
assembly.