Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-19
WARM CAMPAIGN.
Close Contest in Fourth Congressional
District,

Des Moines, June 14.-Lively inter-
est is taken in the contest in the fourth
district, where Congressman Haugen
is seeking denomination. The con-
vention meets on June 10, and Haul
gems supporters claim he will defeat
Duncan Rule, who is making an ener-
getic contest for the place.
The failure of Rule to show the
strength in other counties in the dis
trict that he exhibited in his home
county of Cerro Gordo may be explain
ed by relating bit of political history
of the fourth district A year ago it
was believed that the fight would be
between Haugen and Blythe. The
Haugen men and those who opposed
Blythe got together and decided to
make cannon cause against Blythe.
Thus in Fayette, Clayton, Mitchell
and other counties the opposition to
Blythe enlisted under the Haugen ban
ner and organized their counties for
the latter The district, then, SO far
as the Haugen and anti-Blythe forces
could make it so, was put in line for
Haugen.
Rule Enters the Race.
This state of affairs continued
through the winter and far into the
spring, when Duncan Rule, promi-
nent attorney of Blythe's home coun-
ty, announced himself a candidate for
congress. 1t at once became ques-
ton whether or not Blythe could count
upon the support of his home county
with Rule in the field, and if he could
not his candidacy must fail
g thn fight in Garrp Gpr6n prn,
crossed it was plain that it Vas as
suming Cummins and anti Cummins
phase, Rule having been an ardent
Cummins supporter, and just in pro-
| portion as these lines were drawn did
the Blythe support melt away, his
chance for being sent to congress dis
| appearing entirely when about helf
the precincts in the county held their
caucuses and selected Rule delegates.
At this Blythe withdrew from the
| race.
| With Blythe eliminated, the Rule
men found themselves in possession of
Cerro Gordo county and its organiza-
ton. The Blythes claimed that the
Rule candidacy was brought about for
the sole purpose of killing Blythe The
Rule men contended that Blythe stood
no show to win and that the candidacy
of Rule simply gave Cerro Gordo coun-
ty fighting chance to secure a con-
| gresham.
Feature of the Contest.
But the Rule men, if it is true that
they thought to provide against the
possibility of the Haugen and anti
| Blythe forces in other parts of the dis
trict failing to defeat Blythe by doing
| it themselves in his home county,
knew that as between Rule and Haul
| gen the arrangement made year ago
would make it rough work for the for
mer in many counties of the district.
They soon learned that the Cummins
and anti-Cummins lines did not exist
! outside of Cerro Gordo county, and
that in Mitchell, and Fayette, and
| Clayton such Cummins leades as Sem
ator Smith, Thomas Green, Lew Stur-
| gis, A. G. Wilson and others were u.s.
ing all honorable means for the sue
cess Of Haugen.
| Under such circumstances the Rule
candidacy was continued. the Cerro
Gordo county men pressing his claims
throughout the district, in order that
it might not be said they had not en-
tered the field in good faith, but being
careful not to offend those who were
supporting Haugen i'll line with
pledges made long before the Rule
candidacy was announced and who
might be for Rule two years hence.
These circumstances of the cam
paign are described in order 10 throw
light on the present situation, which
might be easily misunderstood. Hau-
gen will receive practically the unani-
nous vote of the convention unless
the Blythe men shall cast their votes
for Reed or some other man in order
| to give another than Rule the second
largest strength, thereby putting
something of damper on the aspira-
tons of Rule and his followers to go
into the next campaign with free
| fold and q great aduant a %