Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-25
GATHERED BY THE WAYsIDE

| pouticai l0oue8: ana each one OK ~
tional repute and with names assoc
ciated with the presidency-Tatt
Shaw. Bryan snA .. ~. F
why smuch attention paid to the
humble vcterss Of Iowa just at TINS
time What tfeason for big talks on
national policies. eAefore Iowa .audt-
ences? L. this sthes trying out place.
the testing ground. the very center OF
Is to come, the best judgment as to
what Is true Arnericanisni?
A goodly number went from Des
! Moines to Ames to- hear Judge Taft
talk on the foreign relations Of the
! United States and on the condition Of
/ the American nation in the matter OF
| preparedness for defense. 4 still larger
number heard Secrehry Bryan discuss
| matters Of great moment. Others also
heard Secretary Shaw on much the
same topic. It goes without sayins
that each OF these three men carried
| message Of deep interest. Mr. Bryan
has been heard oftenest in Des Moines
and is. OF course. the most entertaining
speaker, Bryan always commanded
respectful attention here. He once
said that there was no place he would
rather speak than In Des Moines ex-
cept his home town. And Des Moines
always listened to him with rapt at
tenticn. applauded him vigorously.
wished him to return--and then voted
egains. him. Shaw was never much
heard in Des Moines. Even when he
was governor he failed to attract ad-
mirers here and he seldom spoke in the
city. He made one very notable speech
after he became q member OF the
Roosevelt cabinet and that was bitter
and unfair attack on the man who sue
ceeded him. Des Moines really felt
aumi!ia,ed over that speech. He came
to Iowa at later date advertised and
proclaimed as spokesman for the ad-
min!stration of which he was then a
part to speak in antagonism to his
successor in the governors chair. Tart
has been heard a few times in Des
Moines. and was always welt received.
But he has generally avoided the mid
land marches and kept himself to the
provinces. Some time ago there was
an effort made by the press club to in
duce him to come to Des Moines on
this trip but he was too expensive
49,
Eight years ago when Judge Taft
was seeking the votes of Iowa delegates
to the national convention he did not
come to Iowa Blu. he relied on the
fact that the then president had rec
commended him to the people as being
the same kind OF material out Of which
a good president had just been made.
But Shaw also wanted the Iowa dele
CATION. Shaw did not believe that Tart
If nominated could be elected. He did
not believe Taft would make a good
president. and in this he differed from
bis chief. and became d central figure
in a proposed alliance TO affect defeat
OF the hand picked candidate. There
was another candidate. = will be re-
called. In Ohio-Foraker. There were
two possibilities from Iowa-Shaw and
Cumnins. While Shaw. as spoSes-
man for the Roosevelt administration,
mad previously come to Iowa to lam
bast Cummins and to Head OF the pro-
gressive movement II possible he was
much too big a man to cherish resent
nent which might run contrary to the
facts. And 80 II was. shaw who said:
Iowa has two candsfates. either one
OF whom can be elected; ohia has two
candidates, neithss one Of whom esn
be elected" Z
There we're a number OF persons II.
uation and agreed With Shaw that
Iowa ought to have united on one or
the other OF it's two availables in 1905,
with a possibility of success. It can
be said of Shaw truthfuliy that he was
willing to support Cummins, and OF the
latter 1t can be said that at least he
offered no objection to giving the dele
cation to Shaw. 1t was not a mere ac-
that the delegation became Taft dele
CATION. tho Taft never will know why
nor how. Some day the history wilt
be written. and it will show the part
played in Iowa politics by Taft himself
and personally 1t was not At all to his
credit
There is q reason for the coming Of
these three notables to Iowa at this
time. It is not alone because President
Wilson came this way and gave op-
portunity for the press correspondents
Of the coast lire newspapers chance
to proclaim that all Iowa, as one man.
is back of the president in anything
and everything ne has proposed or may,
suggest. .t,. -
The concentration on Iowa is trib-
ute 10 the Iowa delegation in congress-
which is looming large as an important
factor in legislation touching the man
rer and form Of preparedness II 10
tacit recognition OF the fact that one
Cummins Is already SO conspicuous rs
a presidential candidate as to. cause
uneasiness in some quarters. At least
that Is the analysis Of the situation as
made here among persons who arc
close observers. 80 81 ~,.e.4 4
II will De recalled that Shaw vas
the Iowa representative, In political
way. in the Roosevelt administration.
Whatever else Roosevelt has stood Tor
while a candidate for office, what he
actually was In office and In position
to be effective was typx1ed by Shaw.
Now Shaw never had any use for Tat
Shaw had been closely associated with
Taft in the cabinet and thought no
knew him. Shaw Is willing to coma
back. He can do 30 most easily u his
friend Roosevelt IL the presidential
nominee. Shaw has been In the soutnI
trying to line up delegates for Roose-
welt Shaw never VIII forgive CummiHs
for supersednns him IN the directions
OF Iowa psopit. - r
Nov why did Shaw sesl . chance 70
speak In Iowa at this timer
= As for Taft and his Tip 70 Iowa, that
- largely for the purpose of frank die.
cussion Of great qsestions. Certainly
TAFT would be wiling. II conditions
might come about IN Iowa. % make r
- - q