The Primaries

In Iowa. The issue was simple in the primaries of Republican Iowa. It was: "Is or is not Iowa angry enough with the Administration to give it a good resounding kick?" Until the polls opened no one was sure. Senator Cummins made a last minute radio speech from Washington declaring that he was doing everything he could for the farmers. Six progressive Senators, Norris, Hornell, Frazier Nye, La Follette, Shipstead, issued a manifesto urging Iowa to turn to their political kinsman, Smith Wildman Brookhart.

But all was forgotten when the polls opened; then even the blind could read. By the time returns from half the state were in Mr. Brookhart was leading by 20,000 votes.

The outcome of the primary with Brookhart nominated has two results.

1) The Republican state of Iowa will have no regular Republican in the Senate after next March, but instead will have Senator Steck (Democrat) and Senators Brookhart or Claude Porter (who carried off the Democratic nomination in the primary); the veteran Senator Cummins will retire after 18 years in the Senate.

2) Politicians everywhere will take notice of the result and act accordingly. Every staunch supporter of the Administration--McKinley, Pepper, Stanfield, Cummins--who has come up for nomination this season has been defeated-- four blows at Coolidge prestige. Furthermore it means that Iowa farmers, at least, are aroused because they have not had the kind of farm relief they want--and Congress is likely to judge all farmer sentiment by Iowa, so that the chances of the passage of a farm relief bill before Congress adjourns are greatly increased.

In Ohio. Ex-Senator Atlee Pomerene announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Senator. Four years ago he was defeated for re-election by Senator Fess, since then has prosecuted the naval reserve oil cases for the government. In the primaries he will face Judge Florence Allen of the Ohio Supreme Court, and if he defeats her will meet Senator Willis in the battle for election.