Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-31
1BE FIGHT ON JUNK|N
Story Of a Democratic Combination
In Montgomery. Mills District
Causes Commotion.
Junkin Not Quite Satisfactory to
the Gear Men-A Peculiar
Situation.
The big Five" District Deadlock
State Fair Will Try For
Annronriation
oecial to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Aug. Silt seems that
all kinds OF political commotion was
stirred up the other day by the publ
cation of statement that the demo-
Gratis of Montgomery and Mills coun-
ties were going to nominate for senator
a Philippine war soldier, on his agree
ment that if elected he would support
Gear for senator. When that story got
TO Montgomery county it stirred up
such ruction as has not been known
there in long time. There are ali
kinds of explanations. but whatever
may have been the truth of the origi-
nal story, 1t is now announced that Mr..
Markey will not take the nomination on
the conditions Indicated Montgomery
county men who have been in town say
he has positively declined to run on any
such terms.
The situation in Montgomery county
is peculiar. Montgomery and Mills are
districted together, senatorially Sena-
nounced some time ago that he would
be candidate for reelection. There
was fight against him, especially in
Mills. 1t was claimed the two counties
had a one-term rotation scheme. and
Shirley Gilliland. of Mills became a
candidate. Mills had less delegates than
montgomery in the convention and
Junkin was nominated The curious
4 h jrpr nj
Junkin nor Gilliland is exactly in line
With the dominant political interests in
that part of the state. Mr. Junkin
voted for the Temple amendment in the
Legislature. He was the only senator on
the line OF the Burlington road who did
so. and it was not his only offense
against the dominant influences down
in that section. The result is that he
mas been regarded with some suspicion
ever since. Aside from this, he has
peen considered rather luke-warm
Gear man. and the story has been more
or less circulated in Montgomery that
ne was Cumnlins Wolf in the fleece
| OF meek and innocent Gear sheep The
Gear sentiment being overwhelming in
the district, Mr.. Junkin set this story
at rest by announcing that he was will
ing to be instructed for Gear. Mr. Cal
liland, seeing that opposition was use
less, gave up his fight, and nominated
MIR. Junkin in the convention Then
the convention took the nominee at his
word, and instructed him for Gear.
There are some strong elements in
the district that would like TO see Mr..
Junkin beaten. If it could be done
without stirring up big ruction. His
attitude of independence about a good
many questions has worried some of his
political rivals. 1t would not do to de-
feat him for the republican nomina-
ton, because that would open a big
hight in the party; and moreover, Mr..
Junkin is just strong enough in his
nome county to make it mighty uncer-
tain whether any combination could be
made to defeat him. Out in the rural
districts they have a certain confidence
that Joe Junkin is honest, and in case
lof fight are liable TO send in delega-
/ tions with iron-clad instructions for
MIN. So it was concluded not to make
any fight in the republican ranks, but
to try democratic combination. Joe
Marley. member of the Red Oak mill
tary company, in the Fifty first. was
picked as the right democrat. 1t was
agreed that he should have the nomina-
ton. He came home the other day
from San Francisco, just recovering
from the effects of severe bullet
wound which he suffered before Calum-
pit. He is bright young fellow we'll
known and popular in the county, and
the democrats believed he would draw
enough republican votes to have a good
chance of election despite the 1920 to
1,500 republican majority in the dis
trict. The story goes that he was
asked to agree to vote for Senator Gear
lin case of his election, and agreed to
do 50.
! But the story got into print, and the
| plan, if there ever was a definite one,
was exploded at once. The notion of
Gears supporters, even without any
authority whatever from him, going out
and bargaining for democratic votes
was one that could not be allowed to
! circulate. y democrat would be of nc
use to Mr.. Gear, anyhow, because he
couldn't go into the republican caucus
where the senator will practically be
lelected. If Gear democrats We're to bs
asked to vote for Gear the Cummins
people might try the same scheme. Ii
4 became necessary promptly to put a
lquietus on that story. and it has been
/ done. The announcement is now made
that Mr. Markey will not run for sena-
4 tor. He has given it out absolutely and
finally. The tension in the district has
been decidedly lessened since this
declination.
Professor Heron. in his speech to the
middle-of- -the-road populists yesterday
| told his hearers that the people of Iowa
are not electing the next United States
senator. He indicated his confident be.
lief that couple of railroad companies
are doing it. If Professor Heron is
correct in his diagnosis of the situation
there are something over 1000. 900 badl,
fooled people in this state, and there
has been a terrific amount of good
standard eloquence wasted in caucuses
primaries, county and district conven.
tions.
The big Five district convention
will resume its long g-drawn-out task OF
nominating candidate for senator to.
morrow at Emmetsburg. The state
lcentral committee was asked to decide
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