Iowa Voter

The Coming Election.
The general election on the 11th of October next will be an important one in the State mainly on account of the unusual number of offices to be filled. As to political principles and policies, there is likely to be no contest further than the natural opposition between the two parties. It is not probable that any new doctrine or phase of doctrine will be announced at either the Democratic or the Republican Convention.
Iowa has in the main been hitherto especially favored with good State officers; and so far as we can learn, there is no objection raised against any of the actual or prospective candidates this year. Under these circumstances, and unless something should come up to change the case, the choice among them will turn on mere personal preferences, or on other considerations not affecting their individual merit.
Marion County, as we expect, will go into the State Convention unpledged and unprejudiced, prepared to give a fair consideration to all candidates presented. We give herewith a list of the actual and prospective candidates so far as we have yet learned, our main authority of course being the State Register:
For Supreme Judges. Hon. C. C. Cole of Polk County, present Chief Justice; Hon. E. H. Williams of Winneshiek County, now on the Supreme Bench by appointment; Hon. J. G. Day of Fremont County; and Hon. W. E. Miller of Johnson County. We are not personally acquainted with any of these gentlemen, further than a general acquaintance with Judge Cole which all our readers here have as well. But for one thing we would insist: - The Supreme Judges chosen should be known beforehand to be "sound on the Railroad." Judges Cole and Williams are, as we understand; whether Messrs. Day and Miller are, we do not know. This should be ascertained before the choice is made in Convention.
For Secretary of State, and for Treasurer, it appears that there is no competition against Gen. Wright and Maj. Rankin, the present incumbents.
For Auditor, Mr. Elliott is not a candidate for renomination. Hon. Geo. E. Griffith of Warren County, Hon. John Russell of Jones, Hon. James Chapin of Benton, Maj. A. R. Pierce of Jefferson, and Mr. Butler of Page County, are the candidates already named. We are not personally acquainted with any of them, but have heard every one except Mr. Butler heartily endorsed by men who know them and in whom we have confidence. Mr. Butler may undoubtedly be as good a man as any of them, but we have not happened to learn much about him.
For Register of the State Land office, Capt. J. A. T. Hull of Van Buren County, and Col. Aaron Brown of Fayette, are named. For Reporter of the Supreme Court there seems to be no competition against the present incumbent, Mr. Stiles. For Clerk of the Supreme Court, the candidates now named are, Mr. Linderman, of Page County, the present incumbent, Mr. Holmes of Jackson County - and it is said, F. J. Lambert of Woodbury County. In regard to these gentlemen we cannot add anything to the information our readers already have.
As to Congressmen at Large, it is now by no means certain whether there will be any to choose. If there should be, however, the names of Att'y Gen'l O'Connor; Hon. W. B. Allison, present Member of Congress from the Third District; Hon. G. G. Bennett and Gen. Hiram Schofield of Washington County; and Hon. D. P. Stubbs of Jefferson, are likely to be presented. Col. C. C. Carpenter of Fort Dodge, is also mentioned.
So far as we are able to judge, the State is not likely to get a poor official out of the above list of candidates; and any new man, who is backed to any considerable extent, may pretty safely be supposed to be capable.
As to our own County offices, no men have as yet sent us any positive announcements of candidacy, except that, some weeks ago, Capt. F. Christoffel, of Knoxville, remarked to us in conversation that he would be a candidate for Recorder. We have also understood that the friends of Mr. Bert. Sumner, of Union Tp., will present his name in Convention. Of course other gentlemen have also been spoken of, in connection with the several offices to be filled, but not positively, to our knowledge.
We can only urge, as often before, that the first question with regard to any candidate should be, Is he a good man for the place? and the second, Will he carry the full strength of the party? The first qualification should never be omitted in any case; and the second one becomes important when the two political parties are so evenly divided as in this County.
We believe there are men enough in the County who can fill the bill in both respects; and among such let us make selection.
The people of this County will also have to vote on the adoption or rejection of the new Stock Law and of the new Ale, Wine and Beer Law, at the ensuing election. Both of these proposed Laws have been duly published in this paper, and are fairly before the people for their individual consideration: and each elector will vote on them according to his personal opinion, without regard to party, as neither one of them is a party issue.
Finally, it does not now appear that the ensuing campaign will cause any unusual excitement here; but we hope that this will not result in lethargy and indifference. The interests of the people demand attention as much now as ever, and they should not be neglected.
There need be no fret and bluster, but there should be no relaxation of vigilance.