The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28

Gave Out his Decision
Wednesday Night.
LEON RING is TURNED DOWN.
The Des Moines Leader of last Friday
says:
DIR. Bert l.. Eiker, representative.
elect from Decatur county, arrived in
this city last night and Immediately an
nounced that he will support A. B.
Cummins for senator and w. l.. Eaton
for speaker. The Gear and Cummins
Factions had known for fortnight that
DIR. Eiker was in doubt as to the wishes
of his constituency in the senatorial
matter. When he was nominated he
agreed to vote as the majority senti.
ment of his county demanded. To as.
certain this sentiment he has given
both sides full opportunity to express
themselves through petitions. The Gear
men went out and secured large
petition. The county was canvassed,
township by township. for both sides.
When the petitions were all in and were
presentated to him, DIR. Eiker examined
them and announced his decision. 1t
was that the Cummins men had made
the stronger show OF support, and that
he should vote for Cummins for senator,
and for the Cummins candidate for
speaker He Immediately left for Des
Moines, and soon after arriving here
held consultation with the Cummins
leaders, to whom he made known his
decision.
DR.. Eiker's action came as surprise
to the majority of supporters on both
sides. The leaders had known that il
might be expected, but the camp fol.
lowers had not been generally taken
into the secret of the situation. DIR.
Eiker has been known fora long time
to be not unfriendly to Mr.. Cummins.
When he WAS nominated the Gear peo.
pie in his county did not fancy the
choice, but he was taken up because
he was the only republican in the coun.
tv, a close one, who seemed to have a
respectable chance of being elected.
He made splendid run for the office,
and has since been devoting himself
to the effort to determine who is wanted
for senator by his people. He gave
both sides until midnight, of December
20 to complete their petitions and make
their showing. The Gear men had a
large following among the old-line poll.
ticians Of the county, and expected to
win an easy victory. A petition of.over
800 names was presented in behalf of Mr..
Cnmmins, and DR.. Eiker decided that
it was the stronger statement. He at
once left for Des Moines, arriving here
6:l5 in the evening,
DR.. Eiker is one Of the youngest
members of the house. He is 2S, and
the only younger man is George Hill.
singer, representative from Jackson,
who is 25. DR.. Eiker was born in Iowa
and has never lived IN any other state
He has been for several years practic
ing medicine in Decatur county, and
lives at Decatur City.
ANNOUNCEMENT RECEIVED WITH SAT.
IsFAcTIoN.
The announcement was received BY
] the Cuplmins men with no attempts tt
conceal their satisfaction. 1t Is the
second break in the Burlington "reser
vation," DR.. P. l.. Prentis of Ringgolt
having led the bolt by declaring him
self three weeks ago for Cummins ant
Eaton. The Cummins men have insist
I ed for some time that they had chance
Of getting more support inthe Eighth
and DR.. Eiker's ann ouncement con
firms their claims. As the Eighth ha
been always considered the banne
Gear district, and all Cummins claim
regarding it haye been received wit
boots Of disgust and derision, the an
nouncement of two members that the.
will support Cummins is a most sig
Inifcant developement.
More important, however, than tn
mere fact that these gentlemen wi
vote for Mr.. Cummins is the declaratio
Of each that his people are supportin
him in this determination. Dr.iPrenti
says that since his announcement fl
Cummins he has received such assu
ances of encouragement as leaye him j
no doubt whatever Of the support of
large majority Of the people Of Ringgol
1 county. Dr.. Mksr makes q like statt
! ment with regard to the people
Decatur county, In other parts Of IL
! district the same general sentimel
prevails. Instead Of being unanimo,
! for Gear, the district is close, and the
I lis doubt which side really has Il
/ preponderance Of support, outside
+ the politicians and managers who. a
nearly all for Gear.
T The Cummias men, al a result
] these Developments declare that the
I lis nolonger any question Of the ele
| ton Of Eaton as speaker. For sever
+ daysit has been evident that the ii,
| has been in his direction. The questit
1 Of the effect oD the senatorship is n
/ g much discy ssed as might be expet
Z ed. The Gq Z men have for three