Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-11
Something Doing Along the
Line of Effort to Encom-
pass His Defeat
cuMMlNs USED AS A BLIND
Hope of Opposition is to Stir UP
Strife Between Junior Senator and
Governors Friends and Capture Toea
for Corporation candidate-sus-
picious Circumstances.
spe. ..al to rimes-Republlean.

Spe ..al to Times-Republiean.
Des Moines, Dec. 11.-Altho there are
seventy -eight new members of the
house of the thirty-second general as
sembly of Iowa, and the legislative eX-
perience of majority of the members
has been limited to the school lyceum
or the board of supervisors, 1t will be
by no means verdant body, and very
few of the members are going to be
caught by the trap of willy politicians
into which they have been invited on
the senatorial and other matters. De-
spite the protests OF many that there
is nothing doing" in the matter of
the senatorial succession, the fact re-
mains that some things are being done.
What is the truth in regard to the
various and sundry stories in circula-
the effort to defeat Dolliver? Some OF
the railroad organs have tried to make
1t out that it was deep laid plot of
the progressives to get the people to
thinking about the matter and to pre-
pare the way for a progressive move
ment to shelve the junior senator. They
point to the fact that publicity first
came thru progressive newspapers.
But if that was in fact what is back of
the whole thing then a great blunder
has been committed, for such plot
least of all needs publicity
During the past week there was on
one occasion, during the senatorial
convention, at least a dozen prominent
progressive republicans in the city,
and the wonder is that the story was
not then started that they had met to
confer as to the senate. But in fact
they did not confer at all, and the SEN
atorship was never considered by
them.
The fact is that the progressives are
in the dark as to just what plans are
being made by those who have cause
to feel intense resentment over the po-
litical actions of the junior senator. but
they do know, and they can produce
abundant evidence, that there is some
thing being done. The motives back Of
the movement and what it is expected
to accomplish remain a mystery
A few days ago leading politician,
who was in the service Of the railroads
during the past summer previous to the
republican state convention, asked your
correspondent. in the presence of a
of persons, if Dolliver would
be reelected. On receiving assurance
that this matter was settled in favor
of Dolliver, he said:
Don't you bet anything on it. It's
not as certain as you think for. Dolli-
yer hasn't got a cinch by any means.
Political promises don't count for much
any more"
There is reason to believe that the
man knew much more than he would
dare tell
1t has developed in the last few
days that one of the newspapers most
devoted to the cause of railroads has
sent out to members long list of
questions for them to answer and to
themselves upon, including
among other things. the question of the
senatorship. Ostensibly this is for pub
lication. But those who are active in
regard to the senatorship will have
access to all the facts before the pub
lie can know. 1t is said however,
that the supposedly verdant new mem
bers are not very free with telling
where they stand.
A few days ago a representative in
northern Iowa county who might be
because of the character of
his e-convention fight to be free
from entanglements, received letter
from a subordinate state official who
lives in the southern tier of counties
asking him if he was committed to
Dolliver and whether he would be will
ing to support Governor Cummins. He
made the letter known to warm
friend of the governor, stating that
while he would be delighted to sup
port Cummins he is pledged to Dolliver
and will vote for him.
About the same time southern Iowa
one not a friend of Governor
Cummins, was approached by one who
represented himself to be speaking for
Mr.. Blythe, and he was asked to sup
port Cummins for the senate against
Dolliver. He was puzzled to know
what it means and in making inquir-
les let out the fact.
Two other members of the house re-
Gently asked a friend for advice as to
what they should do and intimated that
they had been approached on the same
subject.
The disclosure thru Raymond Pat
terson. at Washington, that the politi-
cal dictator of the Pullman company,
4 bitter enemy of Governor Cummins,
is deeply interested in efforts being
made to get members to commit them
selves against Dolliver, has some bear
ing on the case.
All this is without the knowledge or
consent of Governor Cummins and his
friends. They have neither started it
Or encouraged it, and they frankly con-
fess it is mystifying to them.
Several theories have been advancedsl
,s to what it means. One is that his |
enemies realize that it is only matter |
5f time until Governor Cummins will
20 to the senate anyway and they