Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-10-17
CUMMINGS APPoiNTEE TAKES
CHARGE OF IOWA NEBRASKA
PENSION DISTRICT.
SPLENDID BUSINESS MAN
SUCCEEDS w. v. WILCOX
Recommendation Made to President
Months Ago Finally Compiled With
-Lieutenant Governor Clarke Enters
paisn-state Boards Getting To-
sether.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Oct. 17.-Captain Hugh
B. Hedge, of this city. who was today
appointed United States pension agent
for the Iowa-Nebraska district, is a
life-long republican, man of high
character, successful business man
and in every way qualified for the po-
sition.
take charge on a days notice. The
present agent, w. V. Wilcox, was ap-
pointed some four years ago on the
recommendation of Congressman Hull.
He is engaged in the insurance bust
ness and easily falls into his own pri-
vate work, in fact he has not especially
desired to hold on beyond his term.
Mr. Hedge is not active in business
now. Mr.. Hedge is connected with the
Central State Bank and has property
interests, but he has usually spent a
part of each winter in Florida, where
he has a winter home.
The first contact which Senator
Cummins had with Mr. Hedge was in
the old barb wire fight which Cum
of the American farmers. Hedge was a
partner of Baker in the manufacture
of the Baker barb wire when the
farmers organized to fight the monopo-
ly. The Baker company got into the
game to assist in breaking down the
Washburn-Moon patents. Cummins
was the attorney that did it. Hedge
was a factor in the game.
The selection of Mr.. Hedge to sue
coed. Mr.. Wilcox was in accordance
with the universal custom of leaving
appointments to the senator in whose
CITY the office is located. 1t gave gen.
eral satisfaction. 1t was Endorsed by
the entire Iowa delegation. except that
three did not sign the statement. This
recommendation was made to Presl-
dent Taft early last December. the
term of the present member expiring
Dec. 10 last Not hearing from it In
any manner, Senator Cummins made
no other recommendations, nor did he
take any other steps at any time to
have the appointment made.
1t is supposed that the. cha ge Will
be made at once. The quarterly pay
ment Of pensions OF over s3,50o,0oO has
Just been completed and this is the
best possible time for the change.
The position is one of practically no
political con sequences, as all the en-
ployes of the office are under civil
service protection. The salary paid Is
good.
Hon. George w. Clarke. lieutenant
governor, will do some speaking IN the
present campaign and is alrea dy dated
by private arrangement for some al,
dresses in Davis county. his boyhood
home, where the democrats are con-
fident of sweeping everything. He has
offered his services to the state COM
mittee and is ready to go out and de-
liver a rousing republican speech for
the party, the platform and the whole
ticket Mr. Clarke declares that among
his friends in Dallas he does not know
of one but that will vote the ticket
straight from top to bottom. A few OF
those who were four years ago tolled
away may still be disposed to do some
scratching. but they are not numerous.
Dallas county is pretty strongly repub-
lican. Some times the majority has
been 1900 but generally about 500 to
800. Yet the democrats are actually
declaring they will carry it, especially
for Porter and for Price. Mr.. Clarke says
this is simply absurd and that Car
roll and Prouty will have substantially
the usual republican majority. cover
nor Clarke is urging support of the
whole ticket
While no extended reports were
made of the two meetings in northeast
ern Iowa by Senator Cummfns, reports
from Usage and Oelwein are to the eff
feet that he came out, as was expected,
earnestly and enthusiastically for the
entire republican ticket He left no
room for doubt about his position. He
declared himself to be right where he
has been for the past thirty years when
on the stump in Iowa every year. an
advocate of the election of the entire
republican ticket, and he made it so
plain that everyone must know that he
meant it, In northeastern Iowa the
senator's friends are so numerous that
they comprise almost the entire pop
ulation. If they follow his advice and
consider his interests they will vote the
ticket without a scratch. Here in Des
Moines it has been constantly whfs-
pered about by the democrats and their
allies that Cummins would not speak
for the republican ticket; but there
has never been any doubt about his po-
sition.
Senator CumminS will probably be