Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-05
IDA's MANY CANDIDATES.
Miget County Presents Five Candidates
For Senatorial Nomination.

| Ida Grove. May 5.-Ida county
smallest in area, second smallest In
population, of the Eleventh district
and usually modest in political aspira
| tons, is just now the center of large
| political interest. There may be several
! prominent people in the county not as
piring for the senatorship, but there is
| time enough for them all to get into
the race
| Ida is the small end of the Cherokee
| Plymouth-lda district, for which Sena-
tor Hobart is serving his third term
| 1t is accepted by Cummins' men in Ida
that they have a hard fight to control;
and that IL they lose the district will
name an anti-Cummins man for sena-
tor All over the state the fight is OPP
ened up for control Of the next legisla-
ture, and the Blythe men are getting
active in places where they We're not
supposed to have much chance or
strength.
The first candidate announced was
Rev. A e. Kepford, of Ida Grove, "A
minister who has taken much interest
in public affairs. and doesn't believe a
preacher is out of place doing good
wherever he may be able to do 1t.
AS soon as he was announced MI.
Kepford started on a trip of inVestlga-
ton of the rest of the district. He WIS.,
tied LeMars and Cherokee and saw a
few friends and politicians. While he
was away the Ida county folks got busy
and his return at the end of two days
found four new candidates. They are
e. II. McCutchen, of Holstein, for
mer member of the state committee ana
a strong anti Cummins, pro Perkins
man: r. II. Smith. also OF Holsteln,
whose announcement was accepted as
an effort to copper" the McCu'chen
candidacy, Smith being strong Cum
MINIS man and having traditional feud
with McCutchen.
Then came John L. Blealley, of Ida
Grove. a pioneer of the county, for
many years a merchant at Ida Grove.
active in politics and rated by his sup
porters a Cummins man, as is also Mr..
Kepford. There has been an impress
sion that MIR. Bieakley would this fall
run for county treasurer. Finally it Is
said that w. C. Forney of Ida Grove,
Will also be candidate. This makes
five in a twelve township county, and
all IN the TWO loNiS VI Aui SioNS "Ai1
Holstein.
The leading supporters of Smith AMI
Bleakley held pow WOW at Ida Grove
the other day and at its conclusion
County Chairman John Gemmill an
nounced that there would be no dis
cord between Bleakley and Smith. 1t
was understood in fact that the confer
ence considered means to handle the
situation by working in harmony. Mr..
Gemmill predicts Bleakley's nomfna-
ton. but insists that there will be har-
mony in any case.
1t is believed in the district that NC
Cutchen and Senator Hobart, who are
close friends are working together;
that Hobart will probably be candi-
date IL McCutchen carries Ida, and that
the combination of Ida and Cherokee
will name either McCutchen or Hobart
for senator Both are antl-Cummlns.
The favorite theory is that McCutcheni
would be named for senator and would
agree to deliver Ida to Hobart, next
year, for congress.
on the other hand, IL Bleahley, Smith
or Kepford, gets an Ida delegation, the
combine will be with Plymouth, and
will give the Ida the senator on the
condition that 1t year hence support
n Plymouth man-Sammis or Struble-
for congress.
An early convention is predicted in
Ida county.