Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-06

he SecretaryShlp OF state by Grant;
General w. w. Belknap and Judge
gorge w. McGreary, who were secre-
aries of war under Grant and Hayes.
With all these men Mr.. Blythe was
associated in politics, al I
hough belonging to young genera Z
ion In all the elements of greatness !
hat brought this galaxy Of great men
O the front J. w. Blythe measures up
O their standard. Such man is Of !
interest to the people of Iowa.
Mr., Blythe came to Burlington as a
young man, unheralded and unknown
But he had brains; he had more than
,rains. There are some qualities that
count for more than brains. He had
he had sturdy honesty, he
had an indomitable spirit, he had I'M
purpose, he had unflinching
courage, he had nerve. And these ag-
gressive qualities were tinged and soft
ened with cheerfullness and hopeful
ness, and beneath rugged exterior
was a wonderfully warm and affec-
tionate nature. Such personality in
any community makes warm and close
Two men widely differing in charac-
ter were quickly attracted to young
Blythe. One was Thomas Hedge, now
congressman from this district, and
the. other was Charles Perkins, for
years the president and guiding gent
us of the great Chicago, Burlington &:
Quincy railroad. Mr.. Hedge had been
practicing law for some time before
Mr.. Blythes appearance in Burling-
ton, but the acquaintance between the
two young attorneys became so warm
that Mr.. Hedge invited Mr.. Blythe into
a partnership, and the firm of Hedge &
Blythe, attorneys, was then establish
ed and in theory exists to this day, for
the old battered sign still creaks in
the wind over the entrance to the din
gy and almost deserted Office on JEFF
ferson street.
Mr.. Perkins, who was just develop
ing into one of the great railroad man
ayers of the west, with that rare judg-
ment of human nature so characters
tic of him, decided he needed young
Blythe in the railroad service. He was
appointed the local attorney for the
road, and soon after given charge OF
the legal department for the state. His
remarkable administrative and execu-
tive qualities rapidly developed, and
he became recognized as one OF the
great corporation lawyers of the west.
He was soon placed at the head of the
legal department of the entire system
which position he still holds.
President Perkins in his great work
of building up the Burlington road
found in Mr.. Blythe the very man he
needed. These two strong men worked
together for many years in absolute
harmony and with absolute confidence
in each other. The result was one OF
the greatest and most prosperous rail-
| way systems Of the country, the BUT
lington." Mr.. Perkins having rounded
out a most successful career, has re-
tired from the presidency, but Mr..
Blythe, in the very prime of life, still
has personal charge of the legal de.
partment.
Mr.. Blythe is man of picturesque
personality. You meet him and you
will instinctively turn to look at him
| for a second time. You recognize N
him a master mind. Powerfully built
well proportional, the head OF DAME
| Webster, he moves among men with
| firm step, and an Irresistible momen
i tum.
The influence of such man can moi
be confined to one class of men or one
branch of human activity. Mr.. Blythe's
personality was left outside of Bur
lington railroad circles. He soon I'm
pressed himself upon Iowa politics
| first in the district and then over thu
state, and with his maturing powers
and his widening acquaintance became
a leader in Iowa politics. During thu
last decade he has been far and ava.
the greatest political general In tn
state.
He become interested in politics be
cause he could not help it. 1t is hi
natural element. 1t is his natura
place. He Is master of men and al
fairs, and politics offers, as in no ott
er sphere, an exercise. of these quail
ties.
His official connection with the raj
road also brought him in close touc
with state politics and state legisls
lures. 1t was his official duty to kee
a close eve upon legislation as affec
: ling railroad properties and operation
LAT every session of the legislature nj
merous bills are introduced affectin
! fayorably or unfavorably the railroa
Interests of the state. Some of thel
are fair and just, some are sheer blacl
mail and political sandbaggin
} schemes. For many years Mr.. Blyth
Y personally looked after legislative ma
2 tiers, and was thrown into close touc
5 with all the politicians of the stat
!. No man was ever more successful
3 shaping legislation than Mr.. Blythe
t But he new was a lobbyist in the a
S cepted sens He never attempted
e prevent the par age of just law. Il
g never asked IN to vote against
e measure - SIS he was convinced tn;
d he would be voting right. Mr.. Blytt
t never asked more for the railroad
a than any other property interests r
t ceived. He simply asked that all pr
t perty and corporate interests in tt
t state be treated alike. From poll
y cal standpoint his position was wis
n fer any other would have invited vi
e Ilent political reactions, which we
visited upon so many of the surroun
ing states. His attitude preventt
populistic legislation, and capital Wi
never menaced. So that while
served the railroads well, he likewi
IS served the great interests of the sta
r we'll