Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-21
CLASSES ALL REPORTS TO THE
CONTRARY AS GUTTER
RUBBISH"
AUTHORIZED INTERVIEW
Burlington Hawk-Eye Today Publishes
AS An Editorial Statement Made
by Mr.. Blythe to Its Editor-He Is
Republican, First and Last.

Burlington, JAN 19.-That ]. W..
Blythe is a republican first and last,
and rs such is unqualifiedly in favor
OF Theodore Roosevelt's nomination
and election as President, is shown to
be an indisputable fact by the follow
ing article published in this mornings
Burlington Hawk-Eye:
Interview With MIR. Blythe.
So much public interest attaches to
remarkable dispatches and rumors
from Washington and Des Moines con-
corning the attituds of J.. w.
Blythe toward President Roosevelt,
that the editor of the Hawk-Eye sought
an interview with that gentleman yes
terday:
GAS You have seen by the Hawk-Eye
of Sunday, Mr.. Blythe, and have un-
doubtedly seen in other Iowa papers,
it is being more or less said that you
are opposed to the nomination of
Roosevelt for the presidency, and some
people say it is because you are in the
employ of the Northern Securities
company. From talks we have had in
the past few months I think you have
not been correctly reported. Would it
not be well for you to make some au-
thoritative statement of your views?"
Mr.. Blythe-"I have, of course, seen
what the newspapers have said, and
as this whole story originated in
Washington, and was telegraphed to
the Chicago papers, and as my posi-
ton as member of the republican
party of Iowa is well understood, it has
not seemed to me to be worthy of de-
NAL"
"Well, 1 think it is, and that 1t
ought to be denied"
Mr.. Blythe-"Well, Mr.. Waite, If
you think SO you may deny 1t most en-
phatically. In the first place, am not
in the employ of the Northern Securi-
ties company, although of course, the
G. B. & O., in whose employ am, is
closely allied with that company. In
the next place, nobody connected with
the Northern Securities company or
the @. B. & O., has ever said one word
to me on the. subject of Iowa politics
or the nomination of President Roose-
welt. And I, in common with all the
republicans of Iowa, as represented by
the acts Of our conventions in 1902 and
1908. am thoroughly committed to the
nomination of President Roosevelt;
and am in favor of it. These stories
to the contrary are utter rubbish
II am very glad to hear you say SO,
Mr.. Blythe in such positive tones. l
knew it was true, as said in the
Hawk-Eye yesterday without having
had an opportunity to confer with you
but it will have good effect to have it
said as coming directly from yourself.
"Tell me. Mr.. Blythe, what you
think OF Governor Cummins said in
his inaugural about reciprocity"
Mr.. Blythe: 81 do not know what he
means. am republican. The re-
publican party is thoroughly COM
mitted to our present tariff policy. I
cannot understand therefore, how
Governor Cummins, as republican,
can take the ground he does; for
cannot imagine he supposes that he
can change the policies of the party
l think he made a mistake; but as I
have said. am at a loss to understand
his meaning. AS governor, he is, in a
sense the head of the party in this
state; and in common with the rest Of
us, suppose he is in favor of the NOM
nation of President Roosevelt But
Roosevelt is Distinctly committed. as
the republican party in Iowa and else
where is, to the existing tariff, until
the party finds reason to change it. So
it seems very strange that the govern
or should advocate a changing policy
just on the eve of a national conven-
ton, at which President Roosevelt
ought to be endorsed without any ifs
or 'ands.'"
what do you think ought to be done
about the delegates at large, Mr..
Blythe?"
Mr.. Blythe: "The state convention
will settle that. l have great faith in
the wisdom of the republicans of this
state, and that they will choose a
strong and wise delegation. It is of
little Importance who are selected
from among the able men in the party.
No good republican in the state will
fail to carry out the wishes and
pledges of the party
do you think Governor Cummins
ought to be one of the delegates?"
Mr.. Blythe: 81 should think he
would naturally be one, if he desires
it. But it may be that he will prefer
not to be on the delegation, if his ideas
on the tariff differ so essentially from
those of President Roosevelt as his in
augural has been taken by the press
to indicate, especially when you re-
member that the tariff issue is proba.
bly, to be the main issue of the cam
paign think it would be good idea
Mr.. Waite, if you would reprint the
resolutions of the state conventions of
1902 and 1903, endorsing Roosevelt:
and you may say, in the most emphat-
ic language, than I stand now where |
stood then. In his Minneapolis speech
President Roosevelt said that, next to
being right, it was of the utmost i'm
portance that political policies should