Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-01-06

counties can defeat the ambitions Of
Polk county nc matter on whom the
latter may decide.
The outsiders are not slow to realize
this state of affairs and are even now
discussing the chances of aligning the
counties to the support Of some one
man. So far there have been men.
toned Senator w. H. Berry of Indian
ola. Senator Berry is supporter Of
Captain Hull and has controlled War
rem county in the interest of Mr.. Hull
always. Then Senator Crossley Of
Madison county is being talked of, and
others are suggesting the name OF
George w. Clarke Of Dallas county.
The energy with which the claim for
Mr.. Clarke will be pushed will depend
no doubt on the record he makes as
speaker of the house of representa-
tives Of the Iowa legislature this
winter Mr. Clarke is conceded to be
the unanimous choice of the legislat-
ors for speaker, and those who have
known him best say he will make the
best speaker Iowa ever had.
In the First district the chances are
that Congressman thomas B. Hedge
Of Burlington will be renominated,
but there are some evidences of dis
satisfaction and desire for a change
in several of the counties of the dis
trict. Senator F. M. Molesberry of
Columbus Junction, though not an
nounced as yet may decide to shy hts
castor into the ring and fight it out
with the Burlington man before the
Republicans of the various counties of
the district.
The Second district is at present
represented by Martin j. Wade, the
only Democrat in congress from Iowa
Mr.. Wade was elected in 1901 largely
on account of his wide acquaintance
in the district and his personal popu-
larity, but while he had comfortable
majority over William Huffman of
Muscatine, the Republican candidate.
the voters gave w. B. Martin, the
Republican candidate for secretary of
state more than 500 majority. At the
recent election Governor Cummins
carried the Second district by more
than 1900 majority over J. B. Sulli-
van, the Democratic candidate. These
facts lead the Republicans to believe
they will have no trouble in reclaim
ing the district next year. 1t is con-
coded the Republican candidate will
come either from Scott, Jackson or
Clinton counties, and the names Of
Judge A. M. Waterman of Davenport
and A. F. Dawson of Preston have
been mentioned. Judge Waterman
has caused the announcement to be
made that he will not be candidate
and will not accept the nomination.
Mr.. Dawson is private secretary to
Senator Allison, position which he
has held for several years, and is
we'll qualified for the duties Of con-
gressional life.
Birdsall Has Clear Sailing.
Only one thing can prevent the re-
nomination Of Judge B. p. Birdsall
for second term by the Republicans
of the Third district, and that is his
own refusal to become a candidate
Such a contingency might arise is.
as suggested in recently in various
dispatches, the deadlock among the
congressman of northern Iowa should
result in the selection of Judge Bird
sail to the vacant federal judgeship.
caused by the resignation of Judge
Shiras. If this should occur there
would be numerous candidates for the
nomination, every county in the dis
trict having a favorite son. But the
chances are largely that Judge Bird
sail will be renominated by acclama-
ton.
The same thing can be stated as
true of the Fourth district, where Con-
gresham Haugen has things all his
own way. Mr.. Haugen fought out
his battle with the opposing elements
in the district in 1901 and won a not
able victory.
Robert G. Cousins will not find any
strenuous work ahead of him in plan
ming out a victory in the Fifth dis
trict. Some Cedar Rapids aspirants
have an eye on the seat, but there is
no sentiment of consequence in the
district which can be combined
against the Upton statesman.
Congressman j. F. Lacey of the
Sixth district will have no opposition,
according to all the reports which
come from that section at present,
and the likelihood Is that along with
Colonel Peter w. Hepburn of Clarinda
in the Eighth and Judge Walter l.
Smith Of the Ninth, at Council Bluffs.
he will be named by unanimous vote
of the convention.
Fight In Tenth District.
But in the Tenth district there prom:
ises to be fight waged, which in in
tensity of interest will be second only
to that in Congressman Hull's district
Congressman j. P. Conner has made a
fine record for the district and has
been fortunate in securing appropria-
lions for different cities for public
buildings. He has also been recog-
nized to an unusual extent by the
speaker of the lower house OF con-
gress in appointment on committees.
but despite this there seems to have
developed considerable of feeling of
CDpOsition to him Two candidates