The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-31
Cunnins and Perkins are at
War in Iowa
CONVENTION MEETS TODAY
Feeling On Both Sides Is Very Bitter
Ia and 1t Is Not Unlikely That TWO
Tickets Will Be Put In
the Field.

Des Moines, Ia, July 30-The republi-
can state central committee met today
and decided by a vote of to to sus-
tain the action Of the chairman of the
committee in notifying Governor Cum
minis that the seats of a number of dele
gates to the republican state convention
were contested. BY the same vote the ac-
tion of Chairman Spence in calling the
present meeting of the state central COM
mittee was ratified. In both cases it ap-
pears the chairman acted upon his own
responsibility He received a petition from
adherents of George d. Perkins, a candi-
date for governor giving notice that the
seats of a large number of Cummins'
delegates were contested. The chairman
thereupon sent notice of this fact to
Governor Cummins, who seeks renomi-
nation.
Denies Chairman's Authority.
The governor replied in a letter deny
ing the authority of the chairman of
the state central committee to take up
the matter of contests, asserting that he
had no jurisdiction. The chairman. how
calling the state central committee to
meet in Des Moines today to consider the
contests. His explanation to the commit
tee was that two or three of the men,
bers were in Des Moines at the time,
and after consulting them and receiving
their approval he felt justified in taking
the action he did, in order that the dele
fel,f
have two or three more days notice than
they would have had if he had called the
committee together and submitted to it
the petition and the question of call
for today's meeting
The vote of six to three was regarded
as an indication that the committee in
tended to assume jurisdiction of the con-
tests. and to hear contestants. and the
Cummins' delegates in the case the lat
ter entered an appearance. There are
1140 delegates entitled to seats in the
state convention from the ninety-nine
counties in the state.
When the committee met today there
were ten of the eleven members present.
Chairman Spence of course, did not vote
on the motion to sustain his own action.
Contests In Ten Counties.
Thomas f. Bevington, an attorney rep
resenting the friends of George d. Per-
kins, gave notice of contests in ten
counties involving 1886 delegates and pro-
tests In the case of two other counties
which have 80 delegates. making 2S7 dele
gates objected to. AS to the contests the
grounds alleged are irregularities and
the accepting of democratic votes for
Cummns' delegates.
AS to the protests, the objections were
technical.
The committee took up and heard a
number of the cases but reached no con-
clusion Although Governor Cummins had
given notice that he would not be rep
resented before the committee, the chair
men of three Cummins' delegates whose
seats are questioned appeared. They
stated. however, that they denied the
jurisdiction of the state committee, and
they contended they had no authority TO
go behind the returns simply coming
before IT for the purpose of furnishing
any information that might be desired.
Such a situation as that now existing in
Iowa, Is new to the republicans of this
state The party is apparently divided
into two factions, one known as the "pro-
Rressives" represented by the friends of
Governor Cummins, and the other called
the stand patters" who are adherents Of
George d. Perkins.
Feeling Bitter On Both Sides.
The feeling on both sides is very bitter
and it is not unlikely that there may be
two republican tickets in the field in
iowa after next Wednesday. Although
the state central committee has as yet
taken no action looking to the making
I'D of a temporary roll the Cummins' fol-
lowers say If the contesting Perkins
delegates are authorized to participate
n the temporary organization of the con-
vention. the action of the state central
COMMITTEES will be ignored, and the legal
1v elected Cummins' delegates who claim
10 have the majority, will organize the
convention as soon as Chairman spence
GALES the delegates to order Wednesday
morning.