Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-06-16
How Master of Intrigue" Killed
Carpenter in House of
His Friends
FIRST DISTRICT POLITICS
Some Incidents of Congressional Con-
vention Where Blythe Protested
Friendship for All Candidates and
Then Gave the Word to Defeat Car
penter.
Special to Tfmes-Republicar

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, June 16.-The republic
have just had given them an illustra-
ton of the political methods of that
| master of intrigue" whose word has
long been law in their political con-
ventions. The congressional convention
at Burlington showed plainly what Jo-
seph w. Blythe can do as a double
crosser" in politics. They know, even
tho it may not be known in Sioux
City, just what Blythe can do and is
ever ready to do to any candidate for
whom he processes friendship, but
whom he may find it convenient to
knife. What he did at Burlington is
what he would do at Des Moines il he
should be given the chance
The Van Buren, County Republican,
| whose editor was one of the delegates
to the convention, tells fearlessly the
story of the gross betrayal of Senator
Carpenter by Boss Blythe. He tells it
as one having Information at first
! hand.
| Briefly, the situation at the congress
| sional convention was that of dead
lock between Carpenter, McCoid and
Kennedy. A hundred ballots had been
taken. Carpenter was called home on
| IN S.iy, 1nay ytt,er IT,, e
delegation the right to withdraw his
name whenever it should be demon
strated he could not win.
j. w. Blythe had gone into the rooms
of the Louisa delegation, and grasping
Senator Carpenter by the hand had
declared to him that he was his friend,
that he had treated him fairly, and
that he would continue so to do
Blythe had divided his delegation be.
tween the three candidates. He would
continue to do this.
Then Blythe sent word to the friends
of McCoid to stand by him. 1t was
planned that the McCoid people should
go to Carpenter after the first ballot
on the second day. They could nom-
nate Carpenter if Blythe would con-
tinue to divide his delegation. Blythe
had promised to do so. But on going
into the convention Blythe paused
moment to say something to Harry
Weaver, Of Louisa county. The first
ballot was taken without result. The
next ballot would nominate Carpenter
sure. Just then delegate from Lou
lisa withdrew Carpenters name, and
on the ballot Kennedy was nominated.
If Carpenters name had not been
withdrawn at the suggestion Of Weav-
er and Blythe he would have been
nominated at once.
1t was Blythes betrayal of Carpenter
that made the nomination of Kennels
possible. He played the candidates
against each other and won.
Mr.. Kennedy in the legislature was
regarded as standing for nothing but
Blytheism and the control of railroads
in politics, man not capable of maxi
ing any kind of campaign for HIM
self. neither a public speaker nor a
good hand shaker-in short. he is
looked upon as one who If elected to
congress would be nothing else than
servile tool of the corporations.
Under the circumstances it seems
reasonably certain that the democrats
Of the First district Will have walk
away in the election, provided they
nominate man of some ability and of
good record
The betrayal of Carpenter by Blythe
is clearly in revenge for Carpenter
having forced Senator Molesberry out
of the race for congress. Molesberry
is the man Blythe had picked for con-
gress to succeed the standpat booze
fighter of Burlington. But Carpenter
was able to get the Louisa delegation
from Molesberry Blythe had determ-
ined that no man not wholly tied to
him should be nominated, hence Car
penter was slaughtered.
In view of all this it seems strange
that delegations will come to the re-
publican state convention from Louisa,
Van Buren, and other counties in that
part of the state prepared to do merely
the bidding Of Blythe.