The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-03-30
A LOYAL (?) STATE CHAIRMAN.

The editor Of this paper is in re-
ceipt of very nice Letter from DR.. D.
w. Reynolds, chairman Of the demo
cratic state committee. The doctor
praises our loyalty to the democratic
party end compliments the demo-
cratic press of the state and says a
lot of nice things that causes us
small potatoes to swell up with great
pride. When one of us country fell
low gets a good long letter from so
great a man as the doctor we just
bubble over with democratic enthus-
iasm. The doctor knows how to play
the game He is under direct in
struction of Nick Reeo and Nick
knows how to get something out OF
the political game. The doctor tells
us what great man Wilbur Marsh
is and we have naughr to say against
Mr.. Marsh. We suspect we have
known Mr.. Marsh for more years
than the dear doctor has and we hope
we have been a friend of his. Mr..
Marsh has made good national
committeeman ana will make a far
better one if ne can get rid OF the doc
tor and few other such that will be
too heavy dead loads for even Mr..
Marsh with his energy and enthus-
iasm to carry to success. Now why
do we say this Just at this time? Let
US tell you. In this nice letter the
doctor sends a sample ballot contain
ing the names OF the fellows he wants
elected del 0gats 6 to the national con-
VentiOn and asks us to run that ballot
in the paper until primary day. Ladies'
and gentlemen what do you think of
that sort of state chairman. There
are other democrats whose names
will appear on the primary ballot for
these Jobs. we understand that all
these men are for the denomination
of President Wilson and there is
nothing to it except the honor OF be-
ing a delegate. Isn't that a laudable
ambition for any democrat? Is there
any reason why any democrat may
not aspire to go to 81. Louis as a
delegate? We think not. But Mr..
Reynolds asks us to run the names
of only those who are hand picked
in our paper. Every democrat has
the right to get his name on that bal
lot and when on it is the du4y OF
the chairman of the state committee
to keep his hands off absolutely.
Why should he take sides and use
the organization for or against any
nomine or set Of nominees. 1t is
the rawest deal we ever knew state
committeeman to be guilty Of Sup
pose, to make it plain, we were
county chairman and there were two
democrats candidates for the same
county Office and we, the county
chairman, went to every newspaper
and had printed in it the name OF one
of these candidates and not the other,
and suppose we wrote g letter to ev-
cry one in the county asking them to
vote for one of these fellows and not
the other, how long do you suppose
we would last as comfy chairman,
and how many democrats do you sup
pose we would elect to Office under
such treatment? why the COsson
law should be invoked at once If pos
sible. The idea Of a state chairman
taking sides IN a case of this kind is
preposterous and if there is any way
to do it he ought to be removed at
once. Now we have no fight with
any of these fellows whose names
appear on the ticket for committees
man or delegates and SO far as this
paper is concerned they will all have
an equal chance. When two or more
democrats run for the same Office the
committeeman should be neutral or
resi- Review.