Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-28
CONFLICT MAY
HAVE IMPORTANT BEARING ON
U. s, PRESIDENTIAL FIGHT.
EXTREME UNCERTAINTY AS
TO NOMINEES AND ISSUES
Wilson Appears Certain Of Democratic
Nomination-Bryan Detection Fails
to Weaken Presidents Chances -
Platform Not to Be Dictated by
Bryan as Heretofore.
Ispecial UNDERSTANDINGS

Washington, June 2S.-The perplex-
is responsible for many things and one
of them is the uncertain state of po-
litical affairs IN the United States jas:
a, present. A year from now, the
and writing their platforms for the 1916
campaign. Ordinarily, i, would be pos
sible with the campaign as near at
hand as that to map out with some
clearness the lines OF the contest be-
tween the leading parties and to mar
row down 10 small group of men the
selection Of nominees.
But at present there is extreme UNI
certainty both as 10 nominees and is
sues. 1t is, OF course, true there is
practically no uncertainty about the
democratic nominee. President Wilson
VIII be renoalinaSed as far as can be
judged at this tine. The detection OF
Bryan has not apparently weakened
the president. Many OF BTyan's old
friends have been quick TO come out IN
support of the president and 10 crttl-
else the course OF TIE former secretary
OF state. 1t looks now as If Mr.. Wilson
will not only be the nominee but as II
the platform Kill be dictated by him
rather than o. Ills former cabinet prem
Ter. though the indications are the VIII
son leaders are going 10 go out OF Ihei1
way to keep the Bryan admirers IN
good humor IN order that there may
be no such split in the party as oc-
Cured in the republican ranks in 1872
and % the end that Mr.. Wilson in No
yerber of next year may get the full
vote OF his party.
Wilson Stronger Than Party.
The democratic plan Of campaign IN
a general way will be 70 proceed on
the theory that Wilson is stronger than
his party and 10 lay claim TO long
list Of legislative and administrative
achievements since March 4, 1913. But
a great deal will depend on how the in
transitional sky looks next summer and
fail II Is utterly impossible 10 tell, IN
the first place. whether the United
States will be dragged into the Euro
pean war or in the second place,
whether II will be involved in war
With Mexico. Should the country be
a, war. the prevailing belief here is
that Wilson viii be reelected on the
theory that the country will lose sight
CO domestic tagnes and viii take the
view that II ought not change presi-
dents while there is war.
Republican Uncertainty.
This uncertainty about the interna-
tional situation makes for uncertainty
in the republican field. The republican
party at this time has no presidential
possibility whose chances are SO good
that he can be considered anywhere
near in sight OF the nomination. Poll
ticians have come 10 the conclusion
that when the republican convention
meets, there win be about dozen
candidates, each with small body Of
delegates. 1t will be a case Of going
TO the convention and fighting the
thing out. IN the list Of aspirants eI-
pected 20 have delegates are Burton,
Borah. Cummins, Weeks, Whitman,
Fairbanks, Mann OF Sherman and per-
has both. and several others. Root may
have some delegates and the friends
OF Brum baugn, Of Pennsylvania, are
anxious 20 get him into the running.
Plenty of Roosevelt's friends are active.
William Alden Smith, Of Michigan,
hopes to get the delegation Of his state
and no doubt LaFollette will seek to
have a group of delegates at the con-
vention. Ii viii be no easy job to pick
a nominee at the convention and it is
still more out OF the question TO pick
out Of the men named. and others whose
names have been mentioned in one
way and another for the nomination.
man whose chances are 80 good as to
make him look like the best bet.
| No doubt something Will depend as
| to the conventions action on the in
ternational questions which loom up at
| the time Should the country be in
war many Of Mr. Roosevel.s admirers
would insist that he ought to be called
| back TO the White House.
| When it comes to the issues which
the republicans will seek to make the
| most Of these are not hard to figure
| out, provided domestic questions re-
sumo their normal Importance. and the
/ country is in a condition OF assured
peace. But political leaders realize
fully 1t is idle to calculate on the inter-
national conditions twelve months
ahead.