Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-06-22
Backers of Perkins Are Spend
ing An Unheard of Sum to
Get Control of Iowa
WHERE DOES 1T COME FROM?
Probably More Cash Distributed by
Hunter Than Was Ever Put Up For
Any Campaign in Iowa or Outside of
New York City-RaiIroads Are Sup
plying the Funds.
IBy Ora Williams.l

l
Des Moines, June 22.-How much is
| it costing the men who are backing
Ed Hunter in their fight to secure con-
troll of Iowa?
| Nobody knows. Not even Ed Hunter
knows. He probably could make bet
ter guess than some others, but he is
one of the kind who insists on no
books being kept. He renders no ac-
counts. He will have no questions ask
ed. He gives no receipts and exacts
| none.
| But it is a big sum. Some quiet in
vestigation has been going on in rela-
ton to the money question and facts
/, will in due time be brought out which
will show the extent to which the in
terested parties have dipped into the
fight.
| 1t is estimated by conservative poll
tlclans that in Polk county about $12,-
700 was spent under direction of Man
ager Hunter. 1t is known where some
of the money went 1t is known that
there was much work done by persons
who never work for fun. The fight was
good deal hotter than anyone had
supposed it would be. To say the
least, the progressives We're fairly TAX
en- Off their feet by the flood of money
poured out here. The fight was di-
rected in behalf of several persons.
Candidates on the local tickets were
involved. The congressional matter
was practically out of the way But
there was a fight made not only for
Perkins but for Palmer and Macken-
zie and Raymond and Richards 1t
was 8 costly fight and the bills were
paid cheerfully.
A conservative and we'll informed
politician who resides in Burlington,
stated to the writer short time ago
that Blythe put fully $4,000 into the
campaign in that county. The pro-
gressives have traced about $4,000
to the pockets of workers One of
the progressives who had not been
very conspicuous went to the stand
pat headquarters and limited that he
might be got to work.
TIL give you $50 if you will go to
work for u.s.
NO, don't care to engage"
well, I'll give you fifty" came the
response.
No"
Make it hundred, then
mo; / might as well tell you that
money cannot buy me. I am in the
fight for principle and if it is a mere
matter of dollars and cents 1 don't
care to be counted. Good day"
A good story is told in a rural dis
trict of Carroll county. The word got
out that a certain close listed old cur
mudgeon had received some money to
be used in the interest of the Per-
kins campaign, The boys commenced
to quiz him about it. He finally adj
mitted he had received $500
But Pm going to keep it," he add
ed. IT'S no use anyway. as the town
ship will go for Curnmins sure"
And he will keep every cent of it.
The progressives are smiling to think
that one 'wad" went wrong.
The current rumor is that Manager
Hunter is proving a very expensive
man. The alleged expensiveness of
republican administrations in Iowa in
recent years is as nothing compared
paign as managed on the Ed Hunter
style. The Kretschmer deal was not
accomplished without spending a good
deal of money for postage. 1t is said,
however, that Hunter is writing no
more letters offering federal positions
to those who have delegations for sale.
Incidentally the young man who was
his stenographer is now in Denver. Of
course the story about that letter was
all wrong so Ed says, and as there
was no such letter there was nothing
to betray and therefore nobody was
to blame for certain facts getting out.
However, the man who saw the letter
has departed.
If what was done in Polk and Des
Moines counties is any criterion the
railroads are putting up more money
for this campaign than they ever put
up before for any purpose in Iowa. In
every county there is evidence of the
liberal use OF money. Their workers
are well supplied with cash. They
do not conceal the fact that they are
working with money. And the supply
seems to be inexhaustible.