Omaha daily bee., 1894-12-17
NEXT GOVERNOR OF IOWA
Jack'on's Successor May Be Chosen from
Among Goodly Number
SEVERAL WHO WANT THE PLACE BADLY
willing to Take the Chances of thc Salary
supplying the Necessitiesof Life In
Dcs Moiaes 10 the Repubii-
cans Consent.

DES MONIES, Dec 16.-(Speclal THE
letter of Governor jackson withdrawing from
the race for governor has thrown the politI-
clans into a fever OF excitement and opened
UP the political campaign much earlier than
usual. The announcement was so entirely
unexpected that the Oldest politicians have
been literally swept or their feet and
dozen prospective "sates" have been smashed
to pieces. The certainty Of election is new
factor that will bring into the arena the
whole list Of gubernatorial aspirants and
fully score Of names for this important
office may be presented to the next repub-
lican state convention. While this is true, 1t
is altogether probable that the contest will
be fought out on well established lines and
between the various conflicting forces now
striving for party control.
In the first place the prohibitonists will
make an effort to unite either upon General f.
M. Drake or Lieutenant Governor DUNCAN,
and under good leadership would be able to
practically solidify the southern and south
western parts of the state on this issue.
The young men, well as the so-called
liberal element " ould be satisfied with Sec
retary Mcfarland, and tne fight will likely
narrow down to these candidates. In the
preliminary struggle, however, the issues are
liable to be obscured and innumerable dark
horses" and "favorite sons will be encour-
aged to shy their castors into the ring
brakes chief strength lies in his church
connection, his extensive acquaintance and
his large railroad interests. DUNCAN has a
large personal following among veteran poll
ticians, and especially with former Legislators,
and will probably draw TO his support large
share OF the anti-monopoly contingent His
age, which is nearly 20, will be slightly
against him.
CHOICE OF THE YOUNG MEN.
Mcfarland, who is now serving his third
! term as secretary of state, has had phenom-
| enally successful career in politics, and will
enter the race with the prestige Of success in
every former political undertaking. He will
be loyalty supported by the young
mems league, unless new candi-
date is sprung from that section by the
solid delegations from the extreme north and
| cast. He has also elements of personal
strength which will draw to him a heavy
scattering vote. Polk county, with its nearly
forty votes, will go solid to Mcfarland unless
ties become "too loud" and demonstative and
thereby frighten the prohibit.onists.
| Should a deadlock happen between these
three leaders, the dark horses that would be
| led into the ring are too numerous to men
tion." Mayor Isaac l.. Hills of Des Moines
would be among the first. Ben, Clayton OF
Warren formerly of Pottawattamie) would not
be averse to being considered in this list
| Should Mr. Mcfarland drop out A. B. Cum
minis Of Des Moines. Iowa's famous orator
would develop surprising strength, although
| his nomination would hardly be acceptable tc
the extreme prohibitionists.
Taken all in all, the contest is going to be
the liveliest political tussle that has taken
place in this state for many day.
ROADS MAY BE BEATEN.
While the Board of Railroad Commits
sioners have given no intimation as to what
| its decision will be in the case now pending
| in which the railroads ask for an increase OF
| local freight rates, it becomes daily more
and more evident that the result will be 6
| complete and overwhelming victory for the
farming and jobbing interests. The railroads
have been utterly unable to make the show
| ing called for by the commissioners, and tht
recent order Of the board requiring a more
specific statement, duly itemized and verified
of their local business, has sounded the deatf
| knell of their hopes. The jobbers have beer
ably represented before the board by ex
Railroad Commissioner Frank T. Campbell
| who has proven more than match for the
skillful jugglers at figures employed by th'
railroads.
Mr. Campbell has conclusively shown tina
the railroads in many instances have volun
| tarly made lower rates than those fixed by
the commissioners, and which the railroads
attorneys insist are not paying. In the very
| beginning of this stubbornly contested cast
the railroad commission laid down the ru.t
| that they would not consent to an increase
in rates unless they were fully convinced
that the present rates were unremunerative
and the burden of proof was cast upon tht
corporations.
The most ample opportunity has beer
given the corporations to make out thei
case and on the other hand the jobbers
shippers and farmers have been freel!
permitted to puncture the pretensions of th
railroads and show up their fallacious rea
sonings.
II the hearing had been ex partn or one
sided no one could predict what the resul
would be, but the case has been so we'll con
tested that there is little doubt of the ilna
action of the board. Whatever their finding
may be, the facts and figures brought fortl
will be q valuable contribution to railwa!
litigation and ought to be of considerable
value to other states in fixing just and rea
sonable charges for transportation.