Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-04-11
CHAMPAIGN Is On
PUBLIC Wakes UP
1 NATION JUST BEGINNING TO
REALIZE THIS Is PREsi- .t
DENTAL YEAR.
REMARKABLE APATHY
NOW DISAPPEARING
War in Europe Instrumental in Keep
Ing Politics in Background Cam
Paisn Of cummins Beginning 10 Be
Rscesnizsd in East-Hushes He
fuses 70 Eliminate Himself.
rspecial correspondence.l

Washington. April 11.-For the first
4 time there has begun to appear evil
dence that the public is waking up to
the fact that 1915 is a campaign year
and that a real old-fashioned political
struggle involving the presidency and
the control Of the government is at
hand. sE ~ ~ \
Until recently, there have been signs
OF a remarkable apathy and indiffer-
ence to politics. This has not been
true Of the men whose business it is
to keep in politics and in touch with
politics But It has seemed to be
true OF the man in the street and In
the pursuit Of his usual affairs. One
reason why the country has been slow
In manifesting interest in politics is
apparently the upheaval in Europe.
The war and complications growing
out Of 1t have tended to thrust politics
into the background.
However, the political conventions
are drawing nigh and the country Is
waking up. Washington for the last
week has been humming and buzzins
with political discussion. Such events
as the Roosevelt Root-Lodge Bacon
Wood luncheon In New York, as the
announcement of the Root candidacy,
as the selection Of Senator Harding as
temporary chairman for the republi-
can convention, as the defeat OF
William Alden Smith by Henry Ford.
as the results Of some important
municipal elections-these develop
ments and others have had an effect.
Az II may be expected, barring the pos
sibflity Of grave international de-
yelopments, that from now on to No
yember there will be little lack OF
political excitement
Cumn,ins Campaign Growing.
Senator Cummins as presidential
candidate has been attracting more
and more attention in the east. 1t IS
coming to be understood that he VIII
enter the convention with much west
tern strength and that he can not be
overlooked AZ q factor in the conven-
zion. Some Of the eastern politicians
moreover. have come to realize that
senator Cummins' delegates are go
ing TO the convention in no mood to pc
switched to this candidate or that.
Iieutenants of Roosevelt ana lieu
tenants of Hughes and other candi-
5 dates have tried 70" disseminate this
impression for obvious reasons.
Justice Hughes is sitting tight on
the supreme bench. He probably VIII
continue to sit tight. The various at
tempts to make him come out In the
open. that is, to Smoke him out" have
failed. Justice Hughes evidently does
not desire to eliminate himself ana
does not want the nomination. Other
wise it would be a simple thing for
him TO say the word that would mean
elimination. II will not accept the
nomination under any circumstances"
viii be sufficient to eliminate Justice
Hughes, but there is no reason to sup
pose he Il framing such a proclama-
ton.
Powerful Roosevelt Backing.
The Roosevelt candidacy unques-
tionably is being promoted by power
ful political forces. This has been
evident for some time and especially
since his return from the West Indies.
whether he win get the nomination
Z is constantly discussed in political
quarters here. It is certain tre-
sInendous attempt is going to be made
at Chicago to "put the Colonel over"
The Root candidacy Is not taken
seriously by the best-informed men
here. They regard 1t as really pro-
Roosevelt move and In opposition to
Hughes. - s@Eg, IN