The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-14
RULE And BLYTHE
Prospect of Spectacular Politics in
Fourth Iowa District.
TWO MASON CITY MEN IN IT
Storm Center and HauSen
May Hold On.

Special to The Journal
Des Moines, Iowa, April 14.-The ore
genuine congressional contest in Iowa at
this time is in the fourth district I'm
less the lines are Stacked greatly where
they are now drawn this district will be
the scene of the hottest political battle
it has known for years. Until short
time ago the situation in the district
was simple James E. Blythe Of Mason
City being candidate against Congress
man HauSen, who is seeking renomina-
ton and reelection. The fact that Dun
can Rule of Mason City is also to be a
candidate is now fully settled and this
complexities things materially.
There had been talk of the Rule candi-
| dacy for some time, but until few days
ago the Blythe men regarded it as a mere
passing cloud on their horizon. Rule is
now in Texas and he has sent a letter
10 the fourth district in which he makes
positive announcement of his candidacy
Mr.. Rule, like Mr.. Blythe, is an attor-
ney OF prominence in Cerro Gordo county
and the fourth district. He has the rep
utation Of being the most popular man
personally in Cerro Gordo county and the
issue in the district depends largely on
the result Of his popularity pitted against
Blythe's talent for organization in their
home county. Cerro Gordo county will
| thus become the storm center of the dis
trict.
Brother of j. w,
Blythe was formerly state chairman of
the republican party. He is a brother
OF ). w. Blythe, general solicitor for the
bnrilngton, and the leader of the old
fal)roac machine in Iowa politics. For
| many months, James E. Blythe has been
hgurlng on opposing Haugen and his
brother has been turning his own vast in
nuence to aid him wherever possible 1t
IS pretty generally understood that
| bIythe has drawn to his support Repre-
sentative W. L. Eaton of Usage county,
speaker OF the house. and that the gift
10 Eaton OF the speakership without OPP
| position was at the price of returning
Blythe aid in the congressional contest
despite the fact that Eaton is a Cummins
man.
1t is obvious, however, that Eaton s
assistance to Blythe will be given chiefly
outside of Cerro Gordo county and that
the hrst thing to be determined is wheth-
er Rule or Blythe is to win there. If
Blythe wins, he can probably defeat
aaugen IN the district. If Rule wins in
Cerro Gordo, then it is generally sup
posed Blythe will turn his aid in the
rest OF the district to Haugen, preferring
to see him, rather than Rule, nom
mated, as Rule could not be beaten two
years from now, while sHaugen could
Ihere is also talk that if it comes to
me worst, Blythe will turn in not for
Haugen, but for Eaton and will help nom
mate him rather than Rule or Haugen
| either.
Where Way Comes In.
Ihomas A. Way, who has lately moved
to Mason City and who was the campaign
manager for Cummins last year, is also
a large factor in the situation Way is
accounted one of the most capable organ
lzers IN Iowa, and while there was talk
for time that he had linked hands with
Blythe, the action of Governor Cummins
IN vetoing the Molsberry bill has widened
the breach with the Blythe forces and ii
seems hardly possible that Way will now
give Blythe assistance. 1t is talked thai
| he is backing Rule, who also has the SUP
port OF Charles McNider Of Mason City
and Representative David Hurn of Cerrc
Gordo county. s
PrOuty Has Not Given I'd.
In the seventh district there is revi-
| val or talk that the Prouty forces are
making stealthy campaign against HUI
IN the counties outside of Polk It viii
be remembered they have already auietl,
captured Story county. If the Prout,
men could carry every county in the dis
trict outside Of Polk, they could contro
the district convention. The Hull mer
u"Fo LII W -ulHe ueleSdLeS IN POLK. They
need tfcV-six, or seven more to nominate
their candidate. Prouty can carry Marior
and there is movement on foot to carr,
| Warren for him.
# he could carry Madison and Dallas
as 1T has been said he can, the situation
would be simple. One of the plans sug.
gested is also to carry Madison and Dai.
las with local candidate and then turs
the delegates over to Prouty In view o.
the contest made by the Prouty men ii
Polk, it would also be possible to seat the
contesting Prouty delegates in this
county. in case the Prouty men had the
majority of the outside delegates.
Judge Prouty is maintaining a recep.
tive attitude in the matter, but some O.
his enthusiastic friends are quietly or
ganizing. The Hull men are uneasy ant
are watching developments closely
Should the Prouty forces sweep another
Of the outside counties away from til,
Hull men, the contestants will then b.
compelled to come out into the open ant
desperate struggle for control will b,
waged In the rest of the outside counties