Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-17
RUE MEN NS|SI[N
They Are Attempting to Force
an Early Convention in
Cerro Gordo.
Blythe Men Want More Time
in Which to Make the
Contest.
Rule Forces Desire Late Con-
vention in the District IS.
The Situation.
Special to Times Republican.


Mason City, May 1.-Two of the alb
lest political manipulators in the state
are contesting for supremacy in the
Fourth Congressional district James
e. Blythe, who in state campaigns, has
demonstrated over and over again, his
ability to direct. is manipulating his
own candidacy for congress, and pitted
against him is the tireless, matchless
Thomas A. Way who is directing the
the contest is in this city the home of
the candidates and the home of Mr..
Way. The trip Mr. Rule was to take
to England has been indefinitely post
poned and his efforts and the undivided
efforts of his friends, are now directed
toward securing the congressional
nomination. The local contest remains
unchanged, so far as sentiment is con-
cerned. Blythes friends still remain
loyal and exceedingly active. while the
friends of Rule are supporting him with
bulldog tenacity. There is no give or
take between the two. While they meet
on the street corners in perfect friend
ship, they are using every effort TO get
avntage grounds from each other.
The organization of both is is per-
feet as it can be- Both sides have
plenty of henchmen who are sent out to
do specific work and report just what
is done and how it was done and the re-
suit is known. Different committees are
appointed to discharge certain speci-
fic work and these report to the chief
and balance is struck every night so
that each candidate knows just where
he is at.
Chairman Norris has been served with
a notice, signed by thirteen of the COM
mittemen, asking for call of the COM
mittee at which time a date for the
county convention might be set. There
are nineteen voting precincts in the
county with as many committeeman.
Thirteen of these are outspoken for
Rule, two are non-committal, two We're
pledged to Blythe before the announce
ment of Rule and two are original
Blythe men. f. NJ. Norris. chairman of
the committee, will not probably act
this is his policy, the committee may
meet on it's own motion, look over the
and if there is no probability
of the chairman acceding to their
wishes, they may decide to select a
chairman of their own. Such action
would be clearly unprecedented and
would doubtless react to the advant-
age of Blythe. 1t would he regarded as
unfair to the Blythe faction. While
Blythe feels confident of being able to
win in Cerro Gordo even now, he is
anxious that the people OF this county
shall have plenty of time to consider
the chances of both candidates in the
district as q whole as well as the rela- |
tive merits of the two candidates The |
Rule men while clamoring for an early |
in the county are raising i
hue and cry because the Haugen forces
want an early convention in the dis
trict. Without entering into the merits |
Of Blythe and Rule it would appear to |
a fair minded person that the Rule men
have been inconsistent, If not unfair |
lhruolt his taniidacy. 1t 10 said that /
the congressional committee has been |
to meet Monday. With an
early convention Mr.. Haugen could |
very easily take advantage of the stu
alton in this county, and could possibly
secure enough support to nominate him
On first ballot.
1t is well known that Rules friends
nave no show in the district outside the
county at present. Their only hope is
% carry the county at an early conven-
ion and then with a long campaign in
he district win over the opposition to
|1augen from Blythe, which is not at all
probable. So far Rule has made no re-
ply to Blythe's proposition to submit
heir candidates. to a committee who
shall look over the situation in the
Whole district and decide whose
chances are best. In the meantime the
light goes merrily on. A Rule Club was
organized here Friday night by num-
Der of young men. Mr.. Rule was pres
ent and made a rousing speech
There is rumor today that the con-
sressional committee which has been
,alled to meet at Charles City Monday
viii set the date for the convention
n June. 1t is believed it will result
n the nomination of Haugen.