Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-01
Special to Times-Republican.

| Speclal TO I1meS-Republtcan.
| Spirit Lake, March IA winter
campaign of great strenuousness is
on between the adherents of Governor
| A. B. Cummins and former Congress-
man George d. Perkins, for the control
| of this congressional district in the next
| republican state convention. This is a
big district, both in area and popula-
ton. 1t is the home of Mr.. Perkins,
who has long aspired to round out his
political career in the office Of govern
or. AS usual thing in Iowa conven-
tions candidate is expected to have
the support of his congressional dis
trict. Mr.. Perkins Is more than likely
to have the majority against him in his
home district This mill initiate against
him to some extent, but it is not neces-
sarily fatal to his hopes, for the reason
| that he is a pretty large man and has
for years been positive political fac
tor in Iowa. Because Of his splendid
abilities and the peculiar political sit
uation, it is still possible for him to
be repudiated by a majority of the
counties of northwest Iowa and still
be the nominee Of the republican party
for governor.
The supporters of Governor Cum
minis concede that Woodbury. county,
the home of Perkins, and Monona, just
to the south, are already In the Perkins
camp. But not to exceed three other
counties in the big district are con-
coded to the Sioux City editor. The
governor has spoken in Dickinson,
Buena Vista, OBrien and other coun-
ties of the district.
interviewed here, Governor Cum
minis expressed the utmost confidence
in his continued political success. His
meetings, he declared, had made 1t
clear to him that the people were with
him in the particular issues now be-
fore them. This county is for him and
so, too, is Clay to the south. The re-
ception given the governor by the
farmers and their wives and children
has been bitter cup for the Perkins
men, who see no way to meet the gov.
ernor in the campaign among the peo-
ple that he has marked out. Mr.. Per-
kins. while an able man and a brilliant
writer lacks in magnetism and is
poor mixer" He is not a popular
nlatform speaker and his campaign Is
making no Roadway on the lines on
which Cummins and La Toilette are at
their best and do some telling work.
Where Eoes Perkins Stand?
The common people insist that Per-
kins take sides in the battle between
the factions. They want to know
whether he is with Blythe, the railway
To wit
and Dolliver; whether he is a stand
patter" or progressive" The peo-
ple feel that Mr.. Perkins has made
mistake by essaying to ignore factions,
by an unwillirlgness to blow hot or colo.
Many of the farmers say he is wrong
on the primary and other issues for
which they expected him to stand, and
were disappointed that he did not. Had
he taken different course and kept
his paper -four square" against the
enemies of a primary law and other
issues that make for government by
the people, Cummins would not again
have been candidate. No man could
have made Roadway against him In the
big Eleventh congressional district, and
he would have been nominated hands
down."
In an interview here prominent
politician said: '"This ought not to be
q good year for Iowa "standpatters."
With Dolliyer making a record at
Wa shington in which nearly everybody
takes a pride, and with Cummins stir
ring the voters to active resistance to
the encroachnents of the corporations,
there ought TO be no doubt of the re-
suit. So early as this there seems to
be the best Of reasons for believing that
Governor Cunlmins will be renominat-
ed. that Byers will be the next attorney
general, Morrow the next state treas
urer. and Hayward the next secretary
of state Cornwall, reporter of the SUI
preme court, and Crockett, clerk of the
supreme court, who are finishing their
first terms, will be renominated. Car
roll will doubtless continue as auditor
of state. and Riggs as school superin-
tendent.'