Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-29
POLITICS IN HE FOURTH.

/ FOIItiOS Nv .TOONt
The voluntary withdrawal of Mr..
Blythe from the contest with Mr.. Rule
for Cerro Gordo's support at the con-
gressonal nominating convention has
still further complicated the political
situation in the Fourth district. 1t was
generally conceded that Blythe had an
organization that could have defeated
! Haugen had Blythe been able to secure
his own county, but as the local contest
| has progressed it has become more and
more evident that Duncan Rule was
the stronger man at home and from.
| this 1t may be presumed that he has
strength in the district. since to defeat
Blythe even at home requires a man of
no mean ability. Rules victory was so
complete against an able antagonist
that he must now be reckoned with
Then there is the indomitable Tom
Way to be considered. When he hurled
himself into the Rule candidacy, had he
first assured himself that Rule could
carry the district when he had secured
his home county? OF course Tom Up
degraff is looked upon as the man who
has made Haugen, and vet Updegraff
is one of the staunchest political
friends Tom Way has. Where will Up
degraff and Clayton county stand now
that Rule is the candidate?
Some there are who can see in this
fight a straight Cummins and anti
Cummins issue. j. w. Blythe of Bur-
lington has formally announced that he
Will contest with Cuinmins for the hon
or of succeeding Senator Allison in the
now appears to be far in the future, the
nomination and election of Blythe's
half brother and political friend. j. e.
Blythe, at this time, would enable the
latter as congressman to build up q
strong machine to use in the formers
interest when the contest came for SEN
atorial succession, hence, protest as the
Cummins men may, that Tom Way Is
prompted only by friendship for Rule,
Rule. Way, Updegraff ct al. are maneu-
vering to protect the interests of Mr..
Cummins from assault by the Blythe
family. And IL this is true, has so
strong and able a man as Duncan Rule
lent himself for use as decoy candi
date to lead Cerro Gordo away from
Blythe, that Haugen may be nomfnat-
ed, or have Tom Way and Speaker Eat
on, of Mitchell county conspired with
other Cummins friends in the Fourth
district to nominate Rule and make him
congressman Rule is comparatively
unknown in state politics, but those
who know Tom Way know that he
rever fights from behind bush. but
always openly for somebody, and the
accuracy with which he can count his
delegates before they are named has
demonstrated him to be without an
equal, even the boss at Burlington not
excepted. His activity for Rule gives
credence to the belief that Rule is going
10 be the winning candidate at the New
Hampton convention.
No comment on this political situa-
ton would be complete without ac-
acknowledgement of j.. L. Blythe's manly |
course in Withdrawing. He saw certain
defeat staring him in the face, yet could |
have continued the fight to harass Rule |
perhaps by dividing the delegation or
stirring up row and naming con-
testing delegation, but preferred to
withdraw, acknowledge the defeat of
his life's ambition and gracefully prof |
fer his support to the rival who had !
thwarted him at time when the prize
was all but in his grasp. j. e. Blythe |
may have made political enemies, and |
was undoubtedly unfortunate in the I
friends he had, but he is certainly q
gentleman who can accept defeat as
bravely as he can fight for success.