Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-22
AN UNPRECEDENTED CONDITION.
jefferson Rec

Jefferson Bee.
Generally speaking the present po-
litical campaign is unprecedented in
the history OF Iowa politics. There is
certainly a reason for il. Never in
Iowa have so many republican papers
holted the party nominee for governor.
Never has there been such uprisings
OF people in opposition 10 a nominal
ton. Partisan papers are making
light Of opposition OF church confer
ences and conventions, but the fact re-
mains that such opposition has never
been Witnessed in Iowa in previous
history. It is not only unprecedented,
but it is remarkable.
The Sioux City Journal claims that
republicans are III duty bound to sup
port the nominee of the party who
was chosen at the republican, primary.
II this is a rule somebody please ex-
plain why Harding voted against the
five mile limit bill. a republican meas
ure introduced in the lower house in
1911. the purpose Of which. was to
Danish the saloons from territory ad-
jacent to universities and colleges of
Iowa" The bill was introduced by
Smith. republican. of Adams county.
and became a party measure. II vas
opposed by The democratic organiza-
ton of the house. Harding. with four
other republicans, bottled this party
| measure and voted with 1.-THE demo-
Gratis to defeat it. If this party busi-
ness is such a hard and fast rule. as
the Journal now declares. when did it
become so? A lot of the writer's critics
in Greene county bolted Taft only four
years ago. but now are bowling for
party regularity" Have things
changed since Willy died."
There are some things that the
temperance element of the republ!-
can party want overcome between now
and election. Here is one in point: In
talking with a leading citizen of Car
roll the other day we asked him What
effect upon the Carroll county vets"
was 10 be had in the statements Of
Harding that he would Call out the
militia to close the saloons" and that
he would "reassemble the legislature
to pass the constitutional amendment
election law If they failed to do So"
The Carroll man who, by the way,
takes the Carroll view" Of the tenn
perance question. replied, 20, the
| "clS JuSl laugh ~ inns . AZ No
on that and call it good politics. They
say he is talking thusly to catch the
temperance vote!"
This answer is in accord with the
suspicious OF many people. What is
needed now is a square-cut declaration
from Candidate Harding that vii,
cause the "wets'' to laugh cut of the
other corner of their mouths. He is
astute enough, and clever enough, to
make some declaration that will satisfy
most OF the "drys." To promise to
call out the militia to close the
saloons doesn't fill the bill because
everybody knows no governor in
America ever did it, or even had to do
it, or ever will do it! AS Attorney
General Havner will have charge OF
law enforcement will Mr.. Harding
publicly announce hat he will also
allow Mr.. Havner to name the law en-
forcing agents as provided for by the
last legislature?
We need a little more open honesty
in the present campaign and less
bunk We need a little more intel
~ligence exercised in the matter OF
listening to arguments. The wet
whispers the siren song that HARDING
can not bring the saloon back to Iowa.
and then he turns your other ear
around and a y to You that Harding
will cut your taxes down. The mar
with real common sense would like ia
harmonic these two whispers. II
Harding will not have the power to
bring the saloon back to Iowa how will
he have the power to cut your taxes
t down?