Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-04-27
NAY TAKE 90
OUT OF POLITICS.
President Hill of the Great Northern
Has No Use for Politics May Ruin
Blythc's Political Machine in Town.
rSio,,x CITY Trib,,ne


1t is about two years since the Greatl
Northern railroad company began op-
Grating a railroad line In Iowa. II came
into possession of the Sioux City and
Northern, running from Sioux city
forth TO Garretson, S. D.. by forecios
surc of mortgage. Sioux City is the only
large town ON the Great Northern III
Iowa. In the two years of Great
Northern control it has been discovered
that President Hill is not in the bust
ress of conducting a railroad for his
health. for the promotion of political
prospects of his friends. or for the
pleasure of disseminating free passes
to people of influence along his road
Not unnaturally. among people mi
northwest Iowa who know something
OF the Hill policy. the question is being
Frequently asked nowadays. whether
MIR. Hill will apply the same policy I'M
Conducting the Chicago. Burlington &
Quincy system. of which he has recent
| ly bought control. II he does, that road
Twill go out OF politics.
| II is little wonder that such con-
iEtingency should be discussed with
great interest by politicians The Bur
ilington has been the most liberal politi-
cal railroad in Iowa. Its money and
| transportation and favors have enabled
4 il to keep southern Iowa politics Sc
curely under its thumb. j. w. Blythe.
general solicitor of the burlington, has
been the head of lis political organiza-
tion in Iowa. He draws a fancy salary
for managing political interests, while
| subordnates attend TO the strictly le-
1 gal business. MIR. Blythe has for years
1 n ~ II
Moines as chief lobbying agent of the
company, attending TO legislation and
10 political affairs. Keeping the coun-
/ ~ and congressional organizations in
4 close touch with himself he has been
liable to draw ON postmasters, federal
ofticeholders of all grades, and aspiring
politicians generally, for services. In
exchange. the railroad organization has
undertaken To direct politics, to provide
4 transportation to its political friends.
l.tical enterprises, 10 COMPROMISE DIFF
/ fercnccs among rival candidates and
! generally 10 do all the things which a
4 poitical machine must do.
This plan has been immensely en-
pensive 10 the Burlington. but Mr..
4 blythe has been able to SHOW that he
the fast mail contract In his roads pes
5Is ssion, controls town councils and
4Eeounty boards SO that concessions can
he secured cnsily has friends on the
3 eongressional and senatorial delega-
tons handles powerful following in
Ithe legislature. can dictate nomina-
i tons as we'll as politics In a large part
Of the state. and generally is the pres
cent man in Iowa politics.
7, President Hin. Of the Great Northern.
is no politician. He doesn't believe in
4 the burlington plan of doing things.
Z Tie Is a man Of iron Will who dictates
a every detail of his roaas policy The
general officers Of his company are am
i swerable directly to him for everything
l They are givcu the very minimum OF
i discretion in all things. Requests for
q free transportation must pass directly
under his eye; and generally they dc
l8nct receive approval. For instance. II
q il said the district judges of Woodbury.
county have no passes on this road
!. Such d thing would be undreamed OF in
Il burlington territory On the hundred
; miles OF road In Iowa there was not an
III advertising contract With a newspaper
j sc ii is stated on good authority. till the
IL present year. The newspapers were cx.
!, lsected TO pay for their transportation
/, like other people, and 10 charge for ad.
vertisng in the same way. AT prcsen
1.-The great majority of papers on tbs
Great Northern lines in Iowa have NJ
contracts. Such policy would caust
!. Weeping and great anguish in southern
j. Iowa.
a To take the Burlington road out o
n