Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-16

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The presence of Mr.. j. w. Blythe in
the city recalls many things in connec-
ton with politics something like fif-
teen years ago, when Mr.. Blythe, great
political leader then, as he is now, had
associated with him Bailey, of Clinton,
who was the politician Of the North
western road, the predecessor of Hub
bard; also John S. Runnells, then the
active agent and attorney for the Pull
man Car Company, and numerous 9TH
| err corporations. Frank Meek was one
of Mr.. Blythes disciples, if not an as
sociate. Meek was more like Hubbard
| than Blythe, as he had a hair-trigger
mouth that was constantly getting his
associations into trouble by premature
| ly disclosing what he and his asso-
| ciate statesmen intended to do. There
were times in those old days when the
grand combination headed by Blythe
| was not in full control of public at
| fairs. At certain sessions of the legls-
lature. they were on the list, so to
speak, and Blythe sat on the green
sofas in the rear part of the legislative
halls, with few to do him honor Blythe,
NOW in his power and glory, undoubt-
| eddy recalls with mental satls1actloh
| the changed circumstances and condl-
| tons. There was time when IL was
| as dangerous to be seen In close con-
sultation with him as 1t is at present
| time to be seen consulting with Ed
Hunter, which at present subjects a
l'man's principles, to say the least, to
explanation to his most intimate
friends, if not to the public.
"Some Political Wrecks"
"a part of Mr.. Blythe's satisfaction
must consist of knowledge that
things are not what they used to be.
Legislative matters are settled; the
railway commission is elected by the
people, and they make the tariff rates.
When these conditions were impending,
Blythe could see nothing but ruin
ahead. He believed that the c., B. &,
O. would be reduced to it's right of way
and two streaks OF rust. he ala not
then foresee the growth of his own
power, which has made him the un-
questioned dictator and owner OF ev-
erything along the double-track sys-
tenn of railway excepting that ground
which is not in cultivation, and posi-
bly the sucking calves, the 'Q not
getting the calves until they are more
than wear old. If Blythe has MEM
ory and a memorandum book-lt is
said that Hubbard has now been re-
duced to a memory and memorandum
book-he can look over some OF the
political wrecks that are on both sloes
of his pathway. Originally Major A. r.
Anderson, of Sidney, the brilliant and
erratic orator, was a q man. he
was in high favor at Burlington, and
as co. man, was collector of internal
revenue; prosecuting attorney and, as
o. man. was made member of the
railroad commission for the first time.
Anderson got at the true lnwardness
of things and made such report to
the general assembly as forever to cut
the lines of communication between
himself and the Blythe dynasty. UP to
that time, Anderson was one OF the
fayorite brigadiers, and was constantly
on the firing line for the c., B. & o.,
exposing himself at every danger
point, and drawing the fire OF the
enemy. Anderson, after memorable
fight failed of reappointment to the
railway commission, became for
time a political recluse, then an agi-
tator. going out of the republican party,
for his revenge, single-handed and
alone fighting Hepburn, leaving him
bleeding political corpse by the way
side Anderson, of all the prescribed
victims of the Blythe dynasty, had his
revenge. He fired the patriotic heart;
he rallied the people; split the repub-
ican party of the Eighth district
sonarely in the middle, and left polit-
;oa1 unrest and discomfort that for many
,,aars aeterward made the Eighth dis
trict battle-ground and rich field in
which TO plant new political notions;
But Anderson in his second attempt,
went down before the enemys fierce
onslaughts.
HFIourished Only for a Season."
"Flick, of Taylor, once prime favor