The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-26
B|RDsALL is DOWN
FOR LIVELY FIGHT
He Helped Cummins Against
standpat Men and Knife
Is Out for Him.
Special to The Journal.

Waterloo, Iowa, Aug. 25.-The politi-
cal situation in this, the third Iowa
congressional district, is, perhaps, the
most complicated in the state. Con-
gresham Ben Birdsall, the successor to
the late David Henderson, is one of the
only two members of the Iowa delega-
ton who supported Governor Cummlns
in his opposition to railroad domination
of state politics, and sympathlzed with
him in his outspoken demand for revl-
sioE of the tariff. Because OF this, Con-
gresham Birdsall has in more or less
degree incurred the open or covert OPP
position of the railroad interests headed
by J. w. Blythe of the Burlington sys-
tenn, and James Davis, solicitor in Iowa
for the North Western line. Now that
the opposition to Governor Cummins by
the standpat and railroad press is tax
ing form in open antagonism to the gov
ernor by such newspapers as the Du-
buque Times, Waterloo Reporter, Cedar
Rapids Republican, Des Moines Capital
and others, it is bruited about that eff
election to defeat Birdsall. The stand
patters are taking advantage of the
statement that Samuel Gompers and
other representatives Of organized Ia
Dor will invade the district to retire
Birdsall because of alleged opposition
to certain labor measures presented to
congress, and are reported to be in
triguing to have nominated by the dem
ocrats candidate who can attract the
labor vote.
The chief obstacle lies in the absence
of any available timber by the demo-
Gratis. When II. B. Boies, son of former
Governor Boies, had been turned down
for. the nomination for governor, eff
forts were made to induce him to con-
sent to the use of his name for the
democratic nomination for congress,
However, Mr.. Boies stated to the
Journal correspondent that in no event
would he seek the nomination. Evi-
IDENTIFY he looks upon it as a forlorn
hope. The name of j. T. Sullivan, a
lawyer Of ability and eminence of this
understood that Mr.. Sullivan has de-
clined to listen to the wooings Of the
tempters.
Another man with the potency Of
whose, name the democrats would CON
Jure for congressional material is w.
w. Marsh of this city. Mr.. Marsh
is man Of ability, strong personality,
and is, perhaps, one of the best posted
men 1a on current political questions in
slvely. in manufacturing cream separa-
tors in Waterloo, and feels that he
cannot make a sacrifice of his business
at this time to seek political honors.
In fact, Mr.. Marsh does not appear to
court political preferment. His ambi-.
ton takes the form of playing at poll
tics, not for. himself, but for the adj
yancement OF men who are his friends.
He is, without question, an important
factor in democratic politics Of Iowa.
1t was the clever fnesse of Mr.. Marsh
which changed the democratic state
central committee from a radical to a.
conservative body at the last conven-
ton, held in this city Aug. 7.
In this senatorial and legislative dis
ttrict the republicans are at sea. The
rprogressives' have repudiated J. W.
Jarnagin, standpat" candidate for
the leg sslature, and insist upon the
nomination of Guy Feely, Eprogres
sive'' who, they say, will be in com
plete. accord with the governor in state
policies. The county convention, which
VIII meet in Waterloo Sept. l, threat
fhis to issn eyent Th in disruption over
clare if Jarnagin is turned down thew
Will support the democratic candidate.
provided he is selected from Cedar
Falls. The latter city is insistent upon
having a representative from that pl ace
IN the interest of securing for the state
normal school, located there, fat ap-
preparation from the legislature, which
will meet next winter.
On the other hand, Grundy county,
which, with Blackhawk, constitutes
this senatorial district, is FESTIVE be-
cause Blackhawk has had the senator
for fifteen years. Grundy wants the
senator, and unless it is permitted to
name the candidate, the republicans Of
that county threaten to throw their
support to a democrat; if one is nomi-
mated from Grundy. Never before has
the political situation in the third dis,
trict been so confused and uncertain as
at this time. N'