Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-01-02


Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. THE senatorial
battle was opened today i'll earnest. Both
sides opened headquarters in the Say
cry house and there the contest will
really be settled, and settled within the
next three or four days. 1t is incredible
that with only two candidates the re-
suit on the speakership can not be def
nitely foretold in advance of the eau
Gus. How it is possible for so many
men to be so badly deceived as they ap-
pear to be is very hard to explain. II
has been supposed that the result, both
be known definitely before this time 1t
is q wonderful exhibition Of staying
powers-or bluffing powers. II is hard
to push man out of fight if he is de-
termined to stay in and has fair fol-
lowing. The inclination of politicians
and of those who are not sure of their
information is to SHOW respect for a
man in fight up to the very hour Of
his withdrawal, and 1t is usually the
case that candidate is the last to see
his own defeat. The decision of the
question of who shall be speaker of the
house may settle the senatorship and it
may not II Bowen is elected. then it is
settled, there is no room for doubt, for
no one denies that Gear has a strong
majority in the senate-it is estimated
all the way from three to seventeen ma
jority-tlre latter figure being the top
Gear claim and the former the low
Cummins admission. The truth is that
Gear has about twenty-four votes in the
senate. not counting doubtful ones, and
may have more. If Gear wins the
speakership under the present circum-
stances, there can be no longer any con-
trsi, for !. I'll: shoyy ::.at Re h.s the
house, too. and under circumstances not
favorable to him. II Eaton is elected il
will be by very close vote, and with
the aid OF some men who will vote for
Gear, az 1t Is well known that some
men who are for Eaton are instructed
for Gear. 1t has all the time been said
by the Cummins men that Eaton was
stronger than Cummins. The lines have
been drawn SO tight that II will not be
possible for either side to make the use
OF the speakership that was made of it
six years ago. AT that time Henry
Stone was elected speaker without be-
ing committed on the senatorial ques-
ton. In fact, Col. Hepburn thought
Mr.. Stone was favorable to him. and the
Cummins men were quite we'll satisfied
with the selection of MIR. Stone until
they saw his committees. The speaker
ship was won by the Gear people then
by superb strategical skill, in the face
of clear majority OF twelve against
them, and it was worth everything To
them. This time it is altogether differ
ent. The stragglers have nearly all
been placed. The men who can be in
iiuenced by committee assignments
have nearly all made up their minds
who is going to name the committees.
have come into camp and been taken
care of--been promised places. Possibly
there are few who have taken the pre-
caution to make such arrangements
with both sides. Certain 1t is that some
-'-,embers have given both sides to I'M
Etand that they would be with them
tsome few are confidently counted on
sure list of both sides. All these
have to come out from under cover
ty soon, for the man who does not
Ie his position public and stand by
ut going to get credit for doing any
In this fight.
Mr.. Eaton, with his advantage OF
entrance to the contest, personal
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