The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-08

0SAOVSo IhSiSdilli q 6SIlous
contender for the presidential nomi
nation, nor did the majority of the
delegates take Meredith that way.
The Meredith campaign managers
insisted upon entering their man il
running race on fast track, wher
ne was, politically speaking, nj
gated for fast company He was Al
unknown entry, and no bets were
laid on him for either place, win OF
show. Feeling this way, the majority
OF the Iowa delegates placed small
wagers, consisting OF five roll calls
upon Meredith, and then took fur
long ticket on the Palmer horse, ant
switched in time to hold blue ticket:
when Cox raced under the nomination
wire.
Meredith's Withdrawal.
Further, Meredith twice withdrew
his name from consideration as {
presidential candidate, in statements
one in Des Moines and one in Sar
Francisco. At San Francisco the
newspapers gave much space, and
heavy headlines to announcement OF
his withdrawal. This weakened Mere
|dith and gave strength to the Marsh
wing OF the delegation, which point
led out at this juncture that as Mere
|dith was not an ayowed candidate for
the nomination, they could quit him
when desired. The Meredith cam
paign managers also made bad breaks
which were resented by the delegates
in the Marsh wing.
As days progressed and the conven-
ton wore on the Meredith-Porter fac,
tion miscalculated their strength,
took too much for granted and were
never In position to enforce demands
they had in mind relating to McAdoo.
Judge Utterbaek said several times
the delegation would stick to Mere
dith and obey his wishes. This was
never true at any time after the
second day out from Des Moines of
the democratic special train.
Now the whole affair will be aired
at the state convention July 20.
Marsh will, attacked, ask the con-
venti0n and his accusers this ques-
ton: who was nominated at San
Franciscan? When they answer,
Cox" Marsh will then reply, We'll,
Iowa was with the winner practically
from the start, was she not? Do you
not think, then, if Cox is elected that
Iowa will stand in the estimation of
that gentleman as a friend?"
Next Move Undecided.
This will be the organization argyI
ment, this the writer has reason to
know. Mr.. Porter and Mr. Herring
were iii no friendly frame of mind
when last seen by the writer They
may deliver startling ultimatum to
the party at its state convention, or
they may keep silent. They are now
giving time to due elaboration of a
plan of action on their part
Marsh has been reelected national
commit eeman for four year term.
Standing early with the convention
final choice of a candidate, he will
probably retain his hold on the party
lines In Iowa. This, Notwithstanding
the fact that at Meredith headQuar-
tiers, Steve Hill of Des Moines was
being boosted as their candidate for
chairman of the state central COM
mittee in Iowa. A canvas Of the
democrats in San Francisco who will
without doubt be returned as district
OF the state central commit
tee does not show Hill with any
strength, but Reynolds of Creston is
the favorite. This play of state poll
tics on the part of friends of Mr..
Meredith only helped widen the gulf
between Meredith and Marsh.
To an Iowan, the McAdoo camp
gave off the appearance Of hotel
kitchen wherein too many assistant
cooks were engaged In brewing nomi-
nation stew, each assistant cook
seasoning and tending his connection
as he alone saw fit The absence of
a chef de cuisine or chief cook was
noticed because the McAdoo nom1ina-
ton stew was too highly seasoned by
cabinet officers, federal offfceholders,
and governmental. officials who drew
ire from the delegates before whom
they placed their dish.
The democrats will probably center
their fire for Cox in the south, in
New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Hi
nois, Ohio, and the western states
that reported democratic victory in
1916. In Iowa it is doubtful II the
democrats expend great amount of
either energy or money. The cam
paign for Cox in Iowa will probably
be perfun Glory, and mayhap interest
ing, but Harding will come through
a winner If predictions of political
prophets hold good this fall