Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-11
Men Who Want to Control the
Municipal Jobs Opposed to
Changes in City Government
SPECULATION AS TO. HULL
No Word From the Congressman as to
Where He Stands on tho Question
Has Important Bearing on the PoIit-
ioal Control Of Des Moines-May be
Forced to Show His Hand.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, May 11.-Notwithstand-
I ing the fact that the campaign for the
commission plan Of government has
had comparatively smooth sailing in
this city thus far, there Is now an or
ganized opposition to the adoption
OF the plan. The date Of the election
on the question will be some time next
month and the forces that are opposed
| to its adoption are the practical poll
tticians of the city. They are working
along the lines Of practical politicians
and are not making any great noise
about their work Every time any
voter goes to the city hall the en-
They ask him if he wants to see all
/ his friends in the city hall turned out
and make 1t generally hot for him
from the time he comes in till he goes
out.
| For the adoption of the commission
| plan Of government Is James G.. Berry
hill, the Commercial club, the booster
committee and others of that class.
| Against the commission plan Is John
!; Stewart, street commissioner, who
{ controls all the votes practically in the
| southeast bottoms, where they swarm
three times as thick to the block as
ltney do in north Des Moines, and about
twelve times as thick as they do on
West Grand avenue. Against the COM
| mission plan also is Alderman F'raley
and Alderman Brereton and some other
aldermen who control the votes in the
big down town wards where the voters
are swarmed in and voted in relays.
Against the commission plan also are
Fmany of the union labor men of the
city
The commission plan Of government
| Is not going to be adopted in Des
Moines without opposition. The busi-
ness man takes it as a matter of course
that there will be opposition, but that
| ii will be adopted. The ward politi-
clans are saying nothing, but are saw
| ing wood
In the meantime where is Captain
Hull?
There are big things at stake in the
adoption of the commission plan OF
government. The ward politicians are
making the argument that it will COM
bine in the hands of five men all the
patronage of the city and assist them
! to build up gigantic machine to per-
petrata themselves in office II they
really thought that would be the re-
suit they would be for it and would
try TO be part Of the machine. Cap
tain Hull is the politician boss Of Des
Moines and thru the city controls Polk
county and the Seventh congressional
district. If Des, Moines goes to the
commission form of government. it
may have much to do with Hulls
chances to return to congress, for Hull
has been in the habit of picking the
mayor Of Des Moines and most of the
aldermentfor some years past. He has
been assisted by the public service corl
porations, who have always profited
by their alliance.
Thus far there has not word been
had from Hull to indicate how he will
throw his support. It may be that his
influence will be silent, but there is no
doubt but that it will be there.
The fact is the public generally is
not anticipating there, is to be any
thing of a fight on, but those close to
the inner circle OF things are confident
that there is to be a great big fight
and that 1t will be fast and furious
and that the battle for the commission
plan of government is still to be won
Should the adoption of the plan carry
the present form Of government will
remain till after the city election next
spriAg when the commissioners will be
elected. There will be another fight
to get control of the commissioners.
There is no doubt but that Captain
Hull will be candidate for congress
again. At least there is very little
doubt. Fallowing the last campaign
Hull was down and out His only
chance then for reelection was not to
fight Cummins, but in doing so he in
Cured the enmity of Lafe Young and
some others. He figured, however,
thata bird in the hand was worth more
than promise. BY not fighting Cum
minis he went back to congress with
out opposition. Had he fought Cum
minis, he would have had a fight on his
hands that was fight, and would have
had only the promise of support Of
Lafe Young. Since that time he has
been biding his time. Recently Editor
Young wrote an editorial compliment
ing Hull and since then Hull has ap-
pointed Lafe's candidate for postmaster
of Des Moines. and it is now recognized
that Hull will be a candidate again
and will have the support. Of Lafe.
But Hull is in peculiar position as
to the commission form of govern
ment. The boys" who are counted
during the congressional primaries to
get out and do the repeating" that
has kept Hull in congress, are the
"boys"" that are working for the de-
feat Of the commission form Of gov
ernment. They want the jobs under
the city and are afraid that COM
mission will turn things upside down
and put in an entirely new set Of em-
ployes, set that will work and un-