Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-04-17
DEMOCRATS FORCE A SHOWDOWN.

s DEMOCRATS FORCE A SHOWDOWN
In their conference Saturday at Des
Moines the Iowa democrats made a
, bid for control of the state administra-
tion that can not be dismissed or ig-
nored when they agreed upon the
strongest ticket Iowa democrats have
ever put forward made the party alb
solutely dry in Its leading candidate
and in its candidate for attorney gen.
eral, and declared for The 1865 days in
the year roads, and for woman suf-
rage
Meredith is the nominee for gov
newspaper John T. tlarkson. of the
Clarkson bill repeating the mulct and
leader in the senate of the successful
fight for repeal, is The candidate for
attorney general. The leading and i'm
portant issues in the coming campaign
are met thus squarely and unmistak-
ably by the selection of these men and
the plain and unqualified statements Of
the candidates before the conference.
The democratic party in the coming
campaign has put forth candidates or
the highest type under pledge to con-
/, form its platform to the candidates
That the men are bigger than their
party and controlled its platform is
neither here nor there: that the demo-
to AL
trading tradition for a hope of victory
is not matter for deep consideration
when the political play is in line with
the best ideals. The voters will stand
for such politics and such candidates.
Such candidates and such platforms
are strong in Iowa
Saturdays democratic conference
puts it up to the republicans Of Iowa.
The ticket agreed upon there is bid
for republican support at the polls 1t
will require nomination of the strong
fore the republican primaries to de-
feat Meredith and Clarkson. No re-
dictionary on the liquor question can
do it, No reactionary of any sort can
do it, 1t is or should be most clear
to those who understand the temper
OF the state that Meredith on dry
platform can get enough republican
votes to defeat candidate who has
the eager support of the liquor inter
ests whether the candidate is avowedly
wet or merely double faced on the ques-
enforcement is to be IS indicated by the
plain bid made by democrats in the
shrewdest as we'll as the cleanest piece
Of politics Iowa democrats ever pro-
duced.
Republicans must meet this situa-
ton. There is but one way to a GER
tain republican victory-concentratio
upon the Cosson candidacy If any
still retain the Illusion that the repub-
Iican nomination is to be made in con-
vention it is time to forget 1t. Either
at the republican primary election. II
republicans continue to hesitate be
tween two dry candidates and insist
upon dividing the dry and progressive
vote between them they will fail to the
graund between two stools. That
means Harding and Harding means
Meredith for governor
AS an early sign Of what is likely to
take place in the political alignment
of the state in event that a mistaken
policy shall continue to find favor
among voters at the republican pri-
mary the following editorial announce
ment by the Des Moines Register is
significant:
The Register is not committing it
self TO Mr. Merediths candidacy. But
we are saying as strongly as we can
find words to say IT. that Mr.. Meredith
is the best man the democrats could
name and We are putting it up to tine
republican leaders as strongly as we
can find words ito put II up. that UNI
less they get together on the most pro-
gre-ssive man they can name. on the
most progressive platform they can
write. they Will not elect Governor
Clarke's suCces
1t is noticeable that the Des Moines
paper is not committing itself against
Mr.. Meredith.
The democrats have named their
strongest men upon the issues that ap-
peal strongest to the Individual voter.