Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-10
WILSON AND FREDERICK.
Dave Brant Tells the Straight {
That Story.

Special to Times Republican.
Iowa City, Nov. 10.-Last evening"
issue of the Republican contains an In
| teresting chapter in Fifth district poll
tical history which makes some chang
es in story that has been going tht
rounds Of the state press under Mar
shalltown date. Editor Brant who
fserved for many years as city editor OF
i the Cedar Rapids Gazette writes:
THE Des Moines Capitals Marshall
town correspondent, undertakes to tel
a story connecting with the unseatint
of Congressman James Wilson, secre-
tary of agriculture, and the seating OF
| Ben Frederick, but he gets things mix
ed pretty badly, not only as to the un-
seating incident, but as to other con
tests in the Fifth district. Wilson was
nominated for congress in 1882 and the
democrats named Ben Frederick. The
| convention that nominated F'rederick
was decidedly tame affair. 1t met In
Woodward hall. Cedar Rapids, with
| only a few delegates present. 1t at
ltracted no attention, nobody supposins
| that the nominee stood any show Of
election. When it came time to make
nominations, number were named,
Frederick included, but all declined
Then there was pause. which was
broken by j. j. Snouffer of Cedar Rap
| ids, who said that he again desired to
name Ben r-e'c-sc's. and he expressed
belief that he was TOO good a demo-
crat to decline. And he accepted.
1t soon developed that a large num-
Der of politicians In the district were
secretly knitting Wilson, who had num-
erous postofflce and other political con-
tantions remaining from his previous
terms in congress. Frederick came as
near making a house to house canvass
| of district as any man could, and
soon 1t became evident that he had a
chance of election. The republicans had
no organization, and no systematic ef-
fort was made to get out The vote. while
the democrats ran an enthusiastic, but
hit and miss campaign.
When the returns came in Wilson
had about 20 majority but 1t was dis
covered that the poll book from one
township in Marshall county, which
gave Wilson about 40 majority, had
not been properly signed. The board
OF supervisors, however, refused to
throw out the township and the state
executive council issued certificate Of
election to Wilson.
The contest made in congress was
before a democratic house. which dur
ing the last session of congress re-
ported in favor of seating the contes-
tant. No action was taken till the last
hour of congress, when bill was pend
ing in the house to place Gen. Grant
on the retired list. The democrats We're
trying to seat Frederick. and refused to
allow the Grant bill to come up. 1t
was then that Wilson asked that vote
be taken on the contest, Frederick was
seated and then Grant was placed on
the retired list.
The correspondent is wrong in say
ing that Wilson did not get his pay.
He drew his pay as did other members.
and under the law. as it then existed.
Frederick drew full pay, when in fact
he served but an hour or two. F'reder-
lex was selected two years afterward
over Milo p. Smith.
The correspondent says that In 1886
Cousins defeated Frederick. when in
fact it was Daniel Kerr who was then
elected. He served two terms and re-
tired. The republicans then nominated
G. r. Struble, who was beaten by John
T. Hamilton. In 1892 Cousins was NOM
mated and elected and has served ever
since. The district was changed just
prior to Kerr's election Iowa and John