Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-07-12
Perkins Managers Now Begin
ming to Realize the Fntility
of Such Procedure
ATTORNEY CALL ADMITS
Man Who Started in to Garry the State
For Perkins and Then Gave Up the
Attempt Says There Are in Reality
Only Three or Four Counties That
Can Be Contested.
[By Ora Williams1

\
Des Moines, July 12.-The contest
game is fizzling out. 1t looked like a
winner to a lot of persons. They felt
sure ii would be possible to seize pos
session of the republican state conven-
ton in this way and have the moral
support of good people at the same
time. But the game is nearing the
finish
Attorney A. j. Call. of the Great
Northern, the Omaha and other rail-
roads, while here this week, stated
privately that it appears that there
are only three or four contested coun-
ties in fact. Ills management of the
|anti-Cummins campaign was given
over to the Blythe Hunter regime
early in the game. He doesn't talk
politics now.
Chairman Spence, of the state com-,
mittee, after conference with Blythe,
and after seeing the Johnson Parrott,
Tedford outfit occupying the luxurious
Perkins headquarters' at the Savery,
gave it out that the big collection Of
fake contests would stand no show
before the state committee.
Manager Ed Hunter, entrusted with
the political management of Iowa rail-
road interests, has gone to "the lakes"
but the long distance telephone line
runs right into the headquarters In
the Savery.
Some Of the newspapers that are
owned NV tho rai1rna1c or oaf.
ting something of the big fund raised
by the corporations to defeat Cummins
still continue 10 circulate savage at
tacks on the republican party and to
utter threats against the delegates Il
they dare 10 do what they thi-k is
right; but the. politicians who come
here are beginning to talk more ra-
tionally of what will happen at the
state convention.
The Dallas county situation is case
in point. The antis have tried to con-
centrate on Dallas and to hold it up as
a horrible example. They have count
ed on good backing from two Dallas
county editors--one of mercenary turn
who does just what he is paid for do
ing, and the other SO narrow between
the eyes that he never had an un-
prejudiced opinion on anything. And
SO the Dallas county situation Is be-
ing used freely, and the basest false
hoods are circulated with marked
cheerfulneSs. For instance an edi-
torial appeared in one of the railroad
organs the other day in which it was
stated that the delegates from Adel
precinct were "fraudulently secured"
1t was further stated without any res
ervation that eleven democrats voted
for Cummins at the Adel primary and
six of them acknowledged receipt of
50 each for their trouble. This was
cited as proof conclusive that Dallas
county was carried for Perkins. Then
there is some complaint that primary
was ordered instead of a caucus.
In relation to the latter it will be re-
called that the precinct has always
held caucuses; but when one was call
ed this time the standpatters made a
great kick and said it was unfair. Then
to accommodate them the primary was
ordered, and now they are still kicking.
But it would not be possible to find
reputable republican in Adel who
would claim the primary was unfair.
The election board consisted of one
Cummins man and two of the most rabid
Perkins men In the town. In his de-
sire to be scrupulously fair the Cum
Minis judge really permitted the loss Of
more than a dozen votes for Cummins
by sustaining challenges which ought
never to have been made At the con-
clusion the standpat Judges and all
concerned declared it was perfectly
fair primary, and the two standpatters
signed the credentials of the Adel dele
gates without a word. These creden-
tials were given to Speaker George w.
Clarke, chairman Of the delegation.
The day before the convention, on
orders from Ell Hunter, a man named
Vail was induced to sign a notice of
protesting the delegation. The rules
of the county require that the notice
must be served on the chairman of the
precinct delegation. This notice was
served on Speaker Clarke properly.
But before the ink was fairly dry Mr..
Vail rushed to Mr.. Clarke's office and
withdrew the rotice saying that he had
signed 1t under a misapprehension. A
new tack was tried and that same day
A. J. Lyon was induced to give notice
of contest and this also was served.
But late at night Captain Lyon volun-
tarily went to Mr.. Clarke and with
drew the notice Of contest, stating he
would not be connected with such
deal. He took the paper away with
him.
When the county committee met OH
the day of the convention some one
said that there was a contest against
Adel precinct. Mr.. Clarke stated the
facts and. that the notices served had
both been withdrawn. Chairman Russ
sell, of the county committee, stand
patter said he had no knowledge Of
any contest. Then one of the paid at
torneys of the railroad machine
produced thu. Lyon contest pa
PER and showed it. The name