Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-15
kE1CHUM LEADS
FOR NOMINATION
salinger Urges K. P's. to Get
Proxies and Oppose
Ketchum
LATER MAKES CLEAN CANVASS
ketchum's Lead Is SO Strong That
PorterfieId Is Now Trying to Play the
Whole Field Against Him in the
Hopes of Combining the Opposition
Later On.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. July 15.-With the re-
publican state convention only five days
off and with only one contest for NOM
ination i'll sight it is passing strange
that nobody undertakes to predict with
any degree of assurance the exact
make up of the republican state ticket
for Iowa this year. The one uncer-
tain spot appears to be about as un-
certain as it was last winter when the
preliminary movements were made.
There are six avowed candidates for
railroad commissioner and every one
will enter the convention with some
following. The chance for a tie-up is
therefore excellent The candidates
are:
N. S. Ketchum, Marshalltown, Fifth
district.
DR.. Frank Porterfield. Atlantic. Ninth
district.
Owen Lovejoy, jefferson, Tenth dis
trict.
Edward Sitz, Peterson, Eleventh
district.
Chris Ottosen. Humboldt, Tenth dis
trict.
Welcome Mowry, Clutter. Fifth dis
trict.
This will probably be the order of
relative strength of the six candidates
named. 1t has been evident ever since
e. C. Brown. of Sheldon, the present
member Of the commission, dropped out
of the race for denomination. that the
leading candidate would be Mr.. ketch-
um, who gave Commissioners Dawson
a close race two years ago. He has
maintained his lead very nicely and has
apparently gained in strength all the
time, without arousing any direct an
4, gonis1n. On tie other hand DIR. Por-
terfield has been making an active
canvass for the place, and has done
much personal work, SO that his friends
are able to speak with some confldenc
of the fine showing he will make in the
convention. Messrs Lovejoy and Otto
sen have both done considerable per-
sonal work and by letter recently. But
1t is generally regarded as certain that
the fight will be between Ketchum and
Porterfield.
That the fight is direct between
Ketchum and Porterfield is indicated by
the fact that the friends of Porterfield
are making a direct fight against
Ketchum, but are planning to take as
many votes away from ketchum as
possible, even though they should go
to other candidates. AS sample of
what is being done, the following is a
copy OF letter printed in imitation
typewriter and duplicated, but address
to a prominent member Of the Knights
of Pythias in the state:
Carroll, Iowa, July 10. 1907 some
times feel like turning round the old
adage one good turn deserves another
into IL you get one good turn from
man, you feel like asking another. You
will think so, anyway, when you get
this letter. You have done me many
kindness and now ask another.
have had no chance to do much in re-
turn for you and have no claim except
that / shall be ready to do it when
ever I can.
II have dear friend who is cam
didate for railroad commissioner be-
fore the next republican state con-
yentton. There are good reasons that
l will explain to you when we meet
why all can say now is that 1t is not
Mr.. Ketchum. II you can see your way
clear to keep yourself in position to
help my friend, until we meet at the
convention you will place me under ad-
ditional obligations to you.
while you are not a delegate you
will find it easy to get proxy. en-
close herewith list OF the delegation
reported from your county.
Yours sincerely.
.'B. I. SALINGER.'
Here is a letter which exposes the line
of attack being made upon the one VINO
Is recognized as the leading candidate.
IT is learned that similar letters have
been received by Knights OF Pythias all
over the state and that this feature OF
the case is being worked heavily. The
fact that there is SO little interest In
the state convention has led to the be-
lief that 1t will be very easy to gather
up a large number OF proxies and to
have them so that they can be used to
advantage. Who is the dear friend
referred to by Mr.. Salinger? His as
sociates in lodge work are asking the
question of each other DR.. Porterfield
is a past grand commander Of the lodge
in Iowa. 1t Is said that he IS making
a personal canvass among his friends
in the state. But a few years ago Por-
terfield and Salinger fought each other
hard in the grand lodge. But it is also
stated that Salinger is now doing per-
sonal work for Porterfield. However
that may be, it was stated yesterday by
the former grand officer of the Pythian
lodge, who has the original of this let
ter IN his possession, that the plan APP
pears to be to secure proxies pledged
against Ketchum and then to use them
for the candidate most convenient. us-
timately combining on Porterfield.
The campaign in behalf Of Mr..
Ketchum appears to be on entirely diff
ferent lines. He is backed by the in
terests that are most concerned in hav-.