Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-07-07
SOME HONEST TOM" METHODS.

There is no lack Of interest just now
throughout the county in the contest
between Updegraf and Blythe, and it
has been intensified the past week
owing to the decisions of majority
OF the township caucuses, together
with the exposure of the very sharp
practices employed by "honest Tomn
and his crowd to capture several of
them. Their schemes have worked to
a nicely and for the time being an adj
vantage has been secured, but in all
Allamakee's political warfare never
debauchery of public rights been prac-
ticed; and all under cover of such
righteous, pure and unadulterated
hand-about phrases as Honest Tom, y
"1ook out for the BOSSES" smash the
ring" etc. Warnings of every nature
were hera1ded about respecting Blythe
as trickster and a schemer of unlim-
tied resources, and while the untutored
ones were all eyes upon "Wily Jim" as
he was termed, 'HOnest Tomn and his
cohorts made their raid and by the
most treacherous of methods have evil
IDENTIFY succeeded in corralling the vote
of Allamakee.
The bold and dishonest tricks prac-
ticed by the Updegraff fellows have
been as startling to the Blythe support
ers as any, and as none of Toms pres
ent aides are known to be capable or
audacious enough to originate them,
it is generally conceded that Honest
Tom" has been cOhabiting at Washing
ton with the guerilla class of poll
ticians and learning their methods of
warfare, has seen fit to introduce them
to the residents of the Fourth Iowa
district. For the good name of the
district it is hoped that prompt and
overwhelming refutal of such tactics
will be melted out to its present rep
resentative.
The 'snap" work was instituted first
at Lansing where an Updegraff dele
cation was secured by summOning the
voters together on a days notice.
Then several of the "profesh" were
sent from Lansing way up into Union
City township and they befuddled the
attendants of the caucus until an Upde-
graft representation was secured re-
gardless of the wishes of the majority.
Union Prairie was gathered in under
the "hOcus pOcus" method of calling
upon Democrat or two to aid in out
voting twenty-fOur Blythe followers.
Taylor township was wanted by the
Updegraffers, and as fair means could
not wrest it from Blythe, another bold
steal was attempted. AS the report
comes to us, j. M. Gemmill, chairman
of the township committee who is an
Updegraf worker, gave it out that the
caucus was to be held at certain hour
/ m a 90 M ha loo, ,,I
secures three or four of his kind and
they lose no time in holding caucus
of their own before the appointed hour.
Of course an Honest Tom" delegation
was named, but their seats in con-
vention will be contested by another set
OF delegates duly and properly selected.
The previous dirty work was sup
posed to be the limit of the clique, but
not so. Paint Creek was to be throttled
and the deed was accomplished with
neatness and dispatch. 1t was an anti
Updegraff caucus by big majority,
and six of the eight delegates selected
are pronounced Blythe men. However,
one of Toms honest henchmen mum
bled of a string of resolutions before
the caucus adjourned and asked for
their adoption which was done. Con-
cealed among them was a brief one
pledging the Paint Creek delegation
for Updegraff and it was some time
afterward before the scurvy trick was
Such is the record of political BUSH
whacking now being perpetrated i'm
the county, to be followed up no doubt
in the other counties, and is it any
wonder that one and all are on the
anxious seat to know what kind of
grab will be instituted tonight at the
Makee caucus by Honest Tom and his
honest followers. They are not Sena-
tor Trewin, Col. Stewart, DIR. Bowen,
County Clerk Book, County Treasurer
Helming, DIR. Crawford, H. H. Stilwell,
w. E. Beddow, Sheriff McGhee, County
Attorney Woodward, Capt. Nichols,
Mayor Eaton, w. j. Holahan, John A.
Drogset, Axel P. Ollie, John Robinson,
liver Iverson, g. II. Bulman, E. l..
Cahoon, John III. Dickson, DR.. S. C.
Myers, and score of others who are
numbered among the bone and sinew
Of the Republican party of Allamakee,
and all honorable citizens, irrespective
IF party, will approve of their CHOICE
Democrat.