The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-08-10
is SPENCE BACK OF A. l. SMITH?

is SPENCE BACK OF A. l. SMITH?
Politicians find in the Eighth district
congressional situation food for con-
siderable speculation. They are Won
dering il the candidacy of A. /. Smith,
Of Mt. Ayr, for congress against W. p.
Hepburn is on his own motion, or
whether it was instigated by Chairman
r.. II. Spence. 1t is well known among
politically informed men that Mr.. Smith
always has been Cummlns man, and
opposed to the stand pat policies of
which Congressman Hepburn is the
special champion in Iowa, but as to his
becoming candidate before the people
without receiving encouragement from
powerful sources they are in some
doubt.
Reference was made coincident with
the announcement of the candidacy Of
Mr.. Smith that Mr.. Spence had been q
candidate for United States district at
torney in the southern district, but had
withdra wn in order to support Nj. L..
Temple Of Clarke county. 1t is now
limited among some Of the politicians
that perhaps Mr.. Spences retirement
was not voluntary, as indicated at the
time, and that through the candidacy of
Mr.. Smith for congress he hopes to make
it plain to the powers in the southern
half of the state both Mr.. Blythe and
MI. Hepburn-tha he no longer con-
siders himself under obligations to
them or to the element Of the party
which they lead and represent.
1t is reported in political circles that
Mr.. Spence, in pursuance of his ambi-
ton to be district attorney, hied him
self to Burlington, in accordance with
the political custom of long standing.
There he is said to have been enlighten-
ed to the effect that Mr.. Temple, and
not he, was slated for the attorneyship.
This was grave disappointment. Mr..
Spence, is seeking the fourth election
as state chairman, made no concealment
from his friends of the fact that he
hoped by securing the Office to strength
en- his chances for the future in polit-
zeal way. 1t is supposed he had his eye
on the district attorneyship. 1t is
known that even after his election as
chairman he lost no opportunity to
allow it to be we'll known that he was a
candidate for the appointment.
| Now, toward the close of his admins
tration as chairman. Mr.. Spence found
himself in an embarrassing situation on
account Of certain letters written to
federal oficeholders suggesting the emf
nent propriety of contributions to the
party that kept them in Office. Out OF
this difficulty, which reached the stage
Of investigation by the civil service
authorities at Washington, Chairman
Spence was lifted by legal argument
prepared by Governor Cummins, which
placed him under decided obligation to
the executive office.
The politicians think themselves just
fled in speculations respecting the
effect of all Of these complications on
Chairman Spence and their relation tc
the announcement of the candidacy OF
his law partner as congressional aspir-
ant in opposition to Colonel Hepburn.
The democrats who are familiar with
the Eighth district situation are elated
by the evidence of disruption within re.
publican ranks. They expect to be the
gamers.
but they will never keep Hepburn
from being nominated" said one demo.
crat yesterday. 81 have discovered
that the Eighth district postmasters
are the very best organized political
machine in the United States and they
will nominate Colonel Hepburn agar
without the shadow of a doubt. l have
no question, however, that the republi
cans who are opposing the colonel will
bring out candidate in every county
and there will be intense feeling on the
|
bitterness will mark the adjournment o.
the convention with Colonel Hepburn
and the stand patters again victorious
"Thereupon the democrats will pro
coed to nominate a candidate who ough1
to be elected.
"Now, personally, | do not believe
that it would be wise for the democrat
to nominate democrat such as Claude
Porter, for instance. They would be
wiser to nominate an independent re
publican like Judge Miller, of Bedford
who was butchered at the last republi
can judicial convention down there be
cause he happened at one time to be
Cummins man. The republicans vote
quicker for republican than they d.
for democrat, and the democrats yot,
much quicker for republican than re
publicans vote for democrats. So tht
Ia H. - 4