Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-02-26
CONGRESSIONAL COMMENT.

Northwoed, and of Hon. ]. E. Blythe
of Mason City. These two gentlemen
will in all probability be the only
candidates before the people. The
PUBLIC OPINION at this time does not
desire to take up the active support OF
any candidate, believing it too early to
begin a campaign that will extend
through several months; but will en-
deavor to publish in this column from
time to time the, opinions of the people
of the district, expressed through their
newspapers, without comment or bias
for or against either candidate, aiming
only to be absolutely fair to both can
didates in reprinting from other papers,
and to give our readers an opportunity
to judge as to the feeling of the people
in all parts of the district.
Congressman Haugen has started the
fireworks in the Fourth district by an
nouncing his candidacy for a third
term. He has some warm champions
among the editors of the Fourth dis
trict and some outspoken' opponents
also. His opponents say that his pur-
pose in announcing his candidacy thus
early is to head off others who have a
better claim to the favor of the party
in the district. They say he is an or
dinary man anu las made no reputa-
tion at Washin on. His champions
say he has M de q very creditabie
record and has taken excellent care of
the district, having secured appoint
ments for nineteen of his constituents
Rsaidnl q q horo IF hn . xt<~<
on war claims he had the honor of in
Producing an administration measure
to provide for investigation and pay
ment of claims growing out of the war
with Spain and secured the appoint
ment of Hon. VIM. E. Fuller as at
torney for the government in the set
tlement of these claims. His work for
the anti-eleomargarine bill and his as
sistance to the pensioners of the district
are also cited in his behalf. 1t is not
stated that the opposition has centered
on anybody. Dubuque Times.
Hon. James E. Blythe, of Mason
City, will be candidate the coming
summer for nomination for Congress to
succeed Congressman Haugen. Ir is
generally understood many who were
opposed to him four years ago will give
him hearty support in the coming cana.
paign. James f. Blythe is a lawyer of
fine ability and has the force and grace
of character that would place him with
the influential and useful members Of
congress AS member of the Iowa
delegation he would contribute to rails
ing the standard, and the Fourth dis
trict would be pushed along toward
the head of the list. In the past he
has been the victim of much misunder-
standing. But the Indications are that
his splendid ability and manly quail
ties will be acknowledged by that con-
stituency, who will extend IT, him
splendid support and send him to Con-
gress We should be delighted with
such a cOnsummatiOn.-Ca Herald.
On another page will be found the
formal announcement of Congressman
Haugen's candidacy for a third term,
taken from the Northwood Anchor,
his home paper. The Northwood In
dex also contains nearly page of edi-
tOrial and exchange comment bearing
on the same subject, reviewing Mr..
Haugen's services to the public and
giving reasons why he should be re.
turned. Mr.. Haugen has made faith
fui and trustworthy representative,
and from canvass of the sentiment of
the district we believe there is no doubt
but that he will receive the endorse
ment of the next district convention
for third term.-Chas. City Herald.
IOwa's Fourth congressional district
will be one of the lime.light districts of
the state this year. The Mason City
Republican indicates that the people of
that district are thinking the matter
over, and it has confidence they will
"come forward and demand high class
representation, placing of the
Fourth district on an equal footing
with any district in Iowa. This is
a bit indefinite, but 1t is true that the
Fourth district can place itself with
the leading districts of the state Iowa
State Register.
Hon. G. N. Haugen of the Fourth
district has been very active the last
few weeks, in the House commi, tee on
agriculture, where he worked for
satisfactory oleomargarine bill. 1t was
a hard fight, but bill satisfactory to
him was finally agreed upon by
large majority vote and ordered re-
ported to the House for consideration
When the bill appears it will, if pass
ed, be very acceptable to butter pro-
ducers, but doubtless not approved by
the oleo manufacturers. Mr.. Haugen
Is an energetic worker. -Fayette Postal
Card.
Gilbert N. Haugen has announced
himself as a candidate to succeed him
self as congressman from the Fourth
Congressional district 0f Iowa. Well,
the Fourth district has elected several
figureheads to congress and we pre-
sumo 1t might as well be Haugen as
any one else. But it Is reported that
Jimmy Blythe is again In the field and
will make another try for the nomina-
tion-Fayette County Union.
While the district has such able
men "a Blythe, Reed Of Cresco, Eaton
of Usage, Hancock Of Fayette, why
should the Republicans consent to
have Haugen? We believe the Repub-
licans owe 1t to the public to give 1t
the ablest and best man It has for re-
preventative. Not one person In the
district can claim this distinction for
the present congressman. Not coun-
ty In the district, unless 1t is Worth,