Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-11

SECRETS OF THE CAMPAIGN
Interesting Developments Possible in
Central Iowa Why Preparations
Arc Being Made for the Next Bat
tle-The Truce Which Made Some
Bosses Mad-History Recalled.
[By Ora Williams.l


Governor Cummins. or rather of the
friends OF Governor Cummins, in the
recent Polk county contest. Not so
much has been said about Capt. Hull
and his friends, equally factor in the
local situation: yet 1t is fact that
one may hear more often an inquiry as
to what is to be the future Of the con-
press1nan than n discussion of the ef-
feet of the fight upon the governor.
Everyone knows that SO far as FOLK
county is concerned, Governor cum
minis is backed by an oVerwheiinlhs
popular sentiment; they are not SO GER
tain as to Congressman Hull
,rhe future of Capt. Hull rests with
himself. 1t matters not what may pc
The feelings of few malcontents mere
or there. Nothing has occurred here 70
foreclose the future OF Hull.
In all fairness TO both Cummins ana
Hull, and especially to their mutual
friends, the situation calls for some
The reference to their
mutual friends need not cause alarm.
There are very many republicans OF
POLK county who are friends OF both.
There are enough OF these friends 10
virtually control the situation should
they get together. They did get to-
pether this year. But the alliance or
1906 cannot be understood without
reference to some past events. III Wds
the logical outgrowth of the campaigns
of previous years.
The first serious attempt, In recent
wears, to oust Capt. Hull was made by
James G. Berryhill. In his campaign,
II has often been stated, the people OF
Polk county learned the degrading les
son of political corruption. Money ana
beer played an important part In the
game. But Capt. Hull had too many
friends among the men who could not
be corrupted.
Then came the fight when Judge
Prouty tried to defeat Hull four years
ago. The scenes at that primary will
not soon be forgotten. Scores OF Des
Moines people believe now that Prouty
was nominated in fact and should nave
been declared winner Then came the
second HullProuty contest with SINH
lar unsatisfactory results. There Is no
doubt, however, that in the second con-
test Hull really won, for the voters
were with him.
But two years ago there was serl-
Gus effort on the part of men VINO are
friends of both Hull and Cummlns TO
prevent any conflict between them.
The work of arranging details was left
to a small committee and Mr.. Berryhill
was Spokesman. At a meeting with
Cant. Hull it was arranged that there
should be coalition or agreement OF
truce, between the Cummins and Hull
people for that campaign only. Cum
minis desired the delegation to the state
because he would be can
didate for delegate to the nahonal con-
yention. Hull wanted the congression-
al delegation. There was to be no in
terference with these ambitions. The
fact of the agreemnt was published by
the campaign managers for Hull IN
their paid advertisements.
But when the county convention met
1t was found that the agreement hal
not been kept, but that the convention
was in control of men bitterly antag-
onistic to Cummins. The compact was
by a small coterie of men
under the leadership Of Berryhill,
Young, Hunter, Johnston and Jackson
Great was their shout of triumph.
Two years rolled round, and again
the republicans Of Polk were face to
face with an apparently inevitable
clash between the interests Of their
governor and their congressman. Many
there were who stood ready to declare
that no compromise or truce was pos
sible. But Capt. Hull came to Des
Moines and looked ther field over. Then
his friends and those who are friends
of the governor, undoubtedly with the
consent and approval of both, held
MANY conferences and finally agreed
,1pon a line OF action. The agreement
was exactly like that of two years be-
fore-the interests Of both men were
TO be conserved.
There was excellent reason for this.
Hundreds of good republicans are
friends of Cummins and of Hull. A
fight between them as to control of the
county convention would compel many
to decide between the two men whea
they would prefer to be loyal to both.
1t would have been the most bitter.
most exasperating, most unfortunate,
fight that had ever been started in the
state capital. 1t would have affected
business, social, religious and family
relations, quite as we'll as been ter
rible strain upon political affiliations.
The men who sought to avoid this are
honest men having at heart the good
OF their city and of their state. And
it will be held everlastingly to the cred
it of the common friends of both men
that their counsels prevailed.
These compromisers had excellent
to sustain their political flag
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