Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-19
BLAKE IN OUT.
Ft. Dodge NIan Retires From speaker
ship Rn ce. go.

y
sDes Moines, Dee. acknowledgements
tional development in the speakership
situation is the announcement made
yesterday that Fred j. Blake, Of Web
ster county, had withdrawn, from the
contest. 1t was given out at, noon by
the Cummins people that Blake had
withdrawn in favor OF Eaton for speal1-
er. Mr.. Blake was called up abygtele-
phone yesterday and asked sregardipg
the matter. He authorized the state.
ment that he had withdrawn from the
race, but not in favor of Eaton He
quoted as saying that he is not commits
Blake has all along been claimedssby
the Cumnmins people, and the Gear peo-
pie say it is but natural to infer from
his action that the, Cumhiins' people
failing to support him for the speak
ership, he has drawn off from the race,
and is more than likely to thrown his
influence to the Gear side.
Contests Begin.
The house Of representative will I'M
doubtedly have, several contests to set
tie during the coming session. Con-
test papers from Plymouth and Monona
counties are filed with the secretary
of state, and it is reported upon
good authority that the threatened con-
test of the seat of ex-Speaker iByers of
Shelby county will be made. It is pn-
uerstood that papers, have been filed
with the county authorities at Harlan,
charging that number of democrats
in the district marked their ballots inn
properly, and that these voters were
largely of the Ia boring classes, and cor
rallied, found or purchased by Mr.. By
that it looks suspicious that Mr.. Byers
should receive so many democratic
votes while he lost over one hundred
which the anti-Byers people are max
prominent republican in speaking of
him if we can, for we are opposed to
his methods, politically as we'll as from
a business standpoint" Byers is a
working hard for Eaton for speaker.
No papers bearing on this matter have
yet been filed with the secretary o,
state, but as the time for filing contest
papers does not expire until twenty
days before the opening of the general
assembly there is plenty of time yet
for them to reach the secretary's Of
fee.
f. S. Gibson, OF LeMars. republican
candidate for representative from Ply
mouth county. has filed papers contest
ing the seat of J. c. Cottrell, the demo-
cratic candidate, who was declared
elected from that district. Mr.. Glib
sons claims are that the election
judges and canvassers threw out a
number of ballots which should have
been counted for him and counted in a
number. illegally marked, for the demo-
cratic candidate. On this ground he
asks the house to recount the vote.
Mr.. Gibson was. instructed for Cum
Minis when nominated. Nathan Lind
say, populist nominee for representa-
| tive from Ida-Alonona district, is the
other contestant. He contests the
right of w. j. Scott of Ida county 10
represent the interest OF Monona
county in the next legislature. The
question he raises is the one made pub
| lie by Mr.. Lindsay some time ago, that
the sections of the code, placing Ida
and Monona counties in the same legis.
llative district, is in violation of the
1 constitutional provision regarding the
ratio of representation.