Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-16
BLYTHE DECLARES VAR.
Says He Has Long intended to
Control the Iowa Dele
CATION
WOULD KEEP cumMlhs OFF
WOULD kEEp cuMMlNs OF
His Compromise Proposition Was to
Let cummins Go as Delegate But In
Minority and Place Himself on Reso.
lutions committee-Delesation Would
Not Be Strong for Roosevelt.
ecial TO Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Jan. 1G.-Iittle by little
the political conferences of the lnaug-
ural week and the plans and purposes
of different prominent persons who
We're consulted in relation thereto. In
cident TO the inauguration great
many of the leading republicans of the
state gathered at the state capitol.
When ]. w. Blythe, OF Burlington. ar
rived In the city. it was apparent that
the gathering of some of the men was
not accidental. But all persons inter-
ested We're engaged in denying that
any conferences were being held or
that there was anything significant in
the appearance here of so many men.
Now that the conferences have CONF
to naught and everyone knows that a
compromise was proposed and indlg
nanuy rejected. some of the facts are
coming out. On the one hand there
was in the city. incident to the inaug-
uration and organization of the leg
islature, H. w. Byers. of Harlan; A.
B Funk, OF Spirit Lake: Thomas A.
Way of Mason City: and others. rec
osnized as friends OF Governor Cum
Minis. James f. Blythe. of Mason
City. also came, and soon ]. w. Blythe.
of Burlington: Chairman Spence, Mi.
Ayr; Charles Wilson, of Washington;
and others well recognized as appo-
nents of the governor. Their con-
ferences We're then informal and things
We're done far removed from paying
compliments to the state administra-
tion on beginning another biennial
term.
II am candidate for delegate at
large from Iowa to the national repub-
iican convention declared j. W..
Blythe in the rotunda of the Savery
early in the week. Il am not only a
candidate for a place on the delegation
but l have been some time and desire
to go on the committee on resolutions
as the Iowa member. Not only am 1
candidate for the place. hut purpose
to fight for 1t to the end and with no
quarter. l believe that one side or the
other should be whipped. and l am
willing ,c so into fight that means
l VIII win or will be utterly beaten"
This was said with even more force
and emphasis than here expressed, TO
one of the we'll recognized Iowa idea
men. Mr.. Blythe served notice then
and there that unless he was allowed
to so on the delegation with the view
of representing Iowa in the making of
the national platform, heNwould make
fight direct and positive against
Governor Cummins having any place
on the delegation. Then it was that
Mr. Blythe and his associates proposed
what they called compromise. which
meant that Governor Cummins should
be allowed on the delegation along
with Mr.. Blythe. but with his hands
tied and divided delegation back of
him. This was the compromise pro-
posed and the only one. 1t included.
however, a sugges, ,ion for late con-
ven,ion, held after the eastern states
and many of the leading states had
expressed themselves on national af
fairs. Pending the discussion there
was n great deal of bantering and
harsh talk. I1Ol WpEQS were HdsS0u
more than one occasion as men met in
small rooms at late hours. Threats
were made and exchanged. One threat
was that unless Governor Cummins
yielded and gave his consent to div
ided delegation along the lines in
dicated his opponents would so to the
state and win from him enough of his
supporters to utterly annihilate him as
u political factor.
Il tell you the railroads are In this
thing to win and they are in not for
this year alone but for all time was
one declaration made in course of
heated discussion. 1T is not In Iowa.
but in every state. You men who have
followed Cummins have everything to
lose and nothing to gain by sticking 10
him.
This is sample of the talk. 1t may
mean little or it may mean much-but
it is given for what it is worth.
The attitude of Governor cuminins
has been somewhat misunderstood
He has never. for a moment been in
that there should be any deviation
from the position lne STATE nsiS taken
i'll the past on political issues. Il be-
lieved l was right when 1 took my
present stand, and l believe ] am right
now" he is reported to nave said. Il
do not believe there can be any COM
promise between right and wrong. If
the position of the r publican party in
Iowa is wrong. then let the party face
about but ii ii is right let ii stick to
its principles Governor Cummins
has studiously kept out of any confer
ences or meetings. He has endeavored
to avoid the necessity of mixing up in
the matter He has not considered
compromise or prearrangement of the
details and declares he VIII
not do So If there have been confer
ences in which IN re has been serious
of any plan to forestall
what the Iowa republicans will do the
governor has not been of the party.
In short the governor, personally, has
been giving his whole attention to the
affairs of state, for his two addresses
of the past week had to be prepared on
short notice.