Omaha daily bee., 1908-02-08
BIRDSALL QUITS THE RACE
Congressman from Third District to
Follow Cousins.
POLITICAL RUMoRs ARE THICK
One is an Unverihed One that senator
Allison Is Soon to Drop Out of
the Contest for United
states senator.
(From a staff correspondent)


DEs MONIES, Feb. 7.-(Special.)-It
was learned today from a Third congress
sional district citizen who is in a posi-
tion to know and whose word Is unques-
toned, that Congressman Benjamin p.
Birdsall will not be a candidate for re-
election, This man, who will not allow
the use of his name, states Mat he knows
that Congressman Birdsall has reached
this conclusion and that he will announce
his determination in a short time.
Judge Birdsall is serving his third ses-
sion in congress- having succeeded the
late Colonel ID. b. Henderson of Dubuque
in 1908. Rumors have been current for
some time that Congressman Birdsall
would not be candidate for reelection,
but not with such foundation as to war
rant their publication till now. The with
drawal of Congressman Birdsall from the
race is more of a surprise than that of
Congressman Cousins While there was
opposition in Birdsalls district, he had a
fighting chance and many think would
have been renominated. and, furthermore,
las served but three terms, while Cousins
has served eight
starts Many Rumors.
The withdrawal of Cousins and the re-
ported probable withdrawal of Birdsall,
coupled with other political happenings of
significance, have started all sorts OF
political gossip. It As claimed by some
that Allison is also about to withdraw
from the senatorial race. and coupled with
this is the report that negotiations are
on for a harmonious campaign wherein
Cummins will not be opposed and the
state offices will be equally divided be-
tween standpatters and progressiVes.
Still another is that Cousins and BirdsaH
may each be candidates for United states
senator against Cummins in case Allison
withdrew.
These reports and rumors are, however,
thus far at least, without any tangible
evidence for support and no person In a
position to know can be found to youch
for the truth of any of them. There have
been some efforts on both sides in the
republican party looking towards har-
mony, but thus far there have been no
actual results, and, furthermore, there is
every evidence that the progressives are
about to bring out either ex-Speaker
George Clark of Dallas county or ex-Sen-
ator Berry of Warren county as candi-
date for lieutenant governor, a position
for which thus far there are no candi-
dates in the field except standpatters,
viz, Bernard Murphy and James wilson.
furthermore, there is no evidence that
Frank p. Woods, chairman of the repub-
lican state central committee, is to with
draw from the race for congress against
Conner in the Tenth district, though Con-
ner's chief newspaper, the Denison Re-
view, has come out openly for Governor
Cummins for senator and the other news
papers of the district edited by Conner
postmasters are showing like indication.
In spite Of the failure of all efforts at
harmony thus far, there is every evidence
that the campaign in Iowa this year Is to
be devoid Of the sensational features that
accompanied the campaign of 1906. In the
matter of delegates to the national conven-
tion there is not a sign of any organiza-
ton on the part OF either faction through
which to look after the caucuses and con-
ventions in the districts. Two delegates
are to be selected from each congressional
district. The first state convention Is only
six weeks away, but there is no evidence
that there is any money with which to
organize any campaign for delegates. Sec
Tetary Taft has a representative in the
state who has visited every section, and
who says that everything looks blight for
Taft. II there is a fight between the pro-
gressives and the standpatters for the Sc
lection of delegates to the national conven-
ton. as was prophssled by politicians earl
Ter In the year that there would be, II
must be BY the politicians In the districts