Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-01
Republicans in His Home Coun.
ty DO Not Believe His
Recent Statement
NO BARGAIN WITH cumm'Ns
Evidence Shows No Agreement Was
Made Whereby cummins Was Not
to Become Candidate for the Senate
-BirdsaII's Present Position Looks
Ridiculous to His Neiehbors.
Special to Times-Republlcan.

Governor Cummins whereby the latter
promised not to become a candidate
against VIM. b. Allison for the U. S.
senate and that, in reliance upon IT,
he and other friends of Senator Alli-
son used their influence for the nomin-
alton and election Of Governor Cum
Minis. is news to his friends and con-
stituents in this county and thruout
the Third district.
So far as known, Congressman
Birdsall never mentioned during the
gubernatorial campaign, either private
ly or publicly, that either he or Senator
Allison ever had any arrangement or
understanding with Governor Cum
Minis.
Three weeks ago the congressman
abandoned his duties at Washington
and returned to Iowa to aid the federal
machine in its present fight. Since re-
turning, his time and energy, instead
of being used in the interests of the
people he was elected to represent,
have been devoted exclusively to circu-
lating reports Of his pretended bargain
with Governor Cummins and telling
what he and Senator Allison did Tor
Cummins In the pre-convention cam
paign of 1906 and in the election fol-
lowing.
Here In Wright county where the
facts as to his work and influence dur
Ing that period are well known. his
present position seems ridiculous. HIS
son, NJ F. Birdsall, a brilliant young
lawyer. took an active part in the pre-
convention campaign. doing everything
in his power to carry his town for
George D. Perkins.
Congressman Birdsall's campaign
manager, George Wright of Eagle
Grove, was an enthusiastic supporter
of GeorNe d. Perkins from the begin
ming to the end Of the fight.
The Wright County Monitor, Con-
gresham Birdsalls official organ.
fought Governor Cummins In that
campaign in bitter and brutal way.
John Buchanan, the Eagle Grove
postmaster was an active Perkins man.
The Eagle Grove Eagle supported
George D. Perkins in the pre-conven-
ton campaign, fought Governor Cum
minis in the subsequent election and IN
every issue Of that paper since 1t re-
peatedly published the assertion that
Governor Cummins was seeking re-
election for the mere purpose OF keep
ing before the people so that he would
be in better position to run against
William B. Allison for the office of Un-
tied States senator. No other paper
published in the state of Iowa has been
SO persistent or fragrant in dts abuse
of Governor Cummins and his admins
tration.
There was nothing to indicate that
Congressman Birdsall or Senator AL
lison exerted any influence upon any
person in Wright county or In this
entire district to vote for the nom
ination of Governor Cummins. 1t was,
generally reported and believed that
they were both in favor OF George
d. Perkins. In the campaign pre-
ceding the 1906 election, Congressman
BirdsaH made a. number of speeches
to insure his own re-election; and
doubtless recommended that the tick
ct be voted straight. He may have
said a few complimentary things In
favor of Governor Cumnins just as
he did in favor of any other republi-
can, who was running for office. 1t
was policy for him to do so for he
was addressing the governors friends
and needed their support. He chose
the surest way Of getting it. And he
y,rnUYoCSjvn In the
district stood loyalty by Congressman
Birdsall and in that way fully repaid
him for anything he may have said
in favor Of Governor Cummins. so
far as we can recall, Senator Allison
did not make speech or write line
in favor of Governor Cummins in that
campaign. There was nothing In the
returns to indicate that either Con-
gresham Birdsall or Senator Allison
exerted any influence whatever to
cause the senator's friends to vote for
Governor Cummins in that election.
The fact remains that the standpat-
tiers, as a rule, bolted the republican
ticket, and voted with the democrats.
BY no word or act did Congressman
Birdsall or Senator Allison attempt to
check the constant TRADE Of abuse
that has eliminated from the office of
the Eagle Grove Eagle nearly every
week for the past two years. Neither
have disapproved in any way the ut
terances of that standpat organ. II
silence lends consent, they certainly
consented to and approved the ac-
lions Of that paper.
In the republican state convention in
1905, Dubuque county divided its DEL
egations equally between Mr.. Per-
kins and Governor Cummins. This, in
stead Of indicating a preference. for
either showed the art Of a crafty poll
itician who lacked the necessary
courage to decide.
In his speeches in this campaign OF
1908. Congressman Birdsall says that
he visited Governor Cummins at his
home in Des Moines. on August IS,
1906, and that Gov. Cummins then said
he would not be a candidate against
Senator Allison.
Birdsall further said that III conse-
quence of this statement by Cummins
that he, Birdsall then gave C'ummfns
his support, and that the friends of
Allison and Dolliver also worked for
the election of Cummins. Birdsall for
gets one important fact and that Is
that Cummins was nominated for gov
ernor August ], 1905; therefore, at the
time of the Birdsall interview Cum
Minis had been for nearly three weeks