The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-01-17
Republican Congressman From the
Second District Says That he
viii Retire From the
Political Field.
GIVES REASONS FOR 1T
1t is Said However That the Antason-
ism Of cummins Against Him
Is the Real Reason for
His Retirement.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. Ire
preventative A. F. Dawson, of the
Second Iowa district. will not be a
candidate before the primary next
June for denomination. This announce
ment was made by Dawson. His re-
tirement from the field is another
move in the Cummins-insurgent fight
against Iowa Republicans. Mr.. Daw-
son is believed to have been virtually
forced out of the congressional race
by threats of slaughter at the polls
by Cummins factionalists.
Congressman Dawson's announce
ment was made in the following let
ter:
DaWson's Letter.
Washington, D. c., Jan. IA, 1910
Hon. Joseph R. Lane, chairman Re
publican congressional committee,
Second Iowa district, Davenport, Iowa.
my Dear Lane.-Pursuant to the
suggestion l made to you some weeks
ago, think the time has come when
should make public announcement of
my intention not to be candidate for
congress before the primary next June.
In making this announcement, the
! thought uppermost in my mind is that
of gratitude to the Republicans Of the
district for three unanimous nomina-
tions and to the people, irrespective OF
party, who have by their votes at the
polls ratified these nominations and
commissioned me to represent this
great district in the congress of the
/ United States. For these renewed
expressions Of confidence | am pro-
foundly grateful and have found my
4 greatest pleasure in showing that ap-
probation by unremitting and undecid-
j ed efforts in behalf of our district and
country.
The position of representative in
congress is not only one of high honor
4 but includes exacting duties and is not
without it's cares, burdens and disad-
vantages, especially from the domes-
} tic and personal standpoint. My con-
ception of the proper discharge OF
} these duties has impelled me to de-
vote my entire time and attention to
them. Holding this view of public
duty, have not deemed it proper to
take any part of the time which be-
longed to the public to devote to pri.
vate business.
Every man owes it to his family
to provide against the day of need
and having devoted six years to the
service of our district, | feel that plain
turn to private life in order that
J may have an opportunity to make a
financial provision for those dependent
]. on me.
Il shall carry with me into pri
vate life, to be treasured as long as
live, the keen satisfaction that the
: cares and burdens of the office will
' sink into insignifcance beside the
r loyal friendships / have formed among
5 the people of the district. 1t will al
r so be most gratifying to remember
{ that | have been favored with the un
. divided support of my party in the
3 district without a tinge of factional
: ism, a support which is of immeasur
: able strength to member of con
= gress in the successful performance
t of his duties and of corresponding
n benefit to the constituency which he
o serves.
} Despite the fact that Mr. Dawson
J 1 IL
1 reasons, Washington politicians gener
/ ally believe his decision to retire i:
, due to factionalism in Iowa. Ever
+ with a united Republican party behint
him, Mr. Dawson always had a hare
r fight in the Second district, and whel
4 Senator Cummins decreed factionalisn
e should continue in Iowa, it is believed
8 Mr.. Dawson saw little hope of re
y election and decided to avoid a bit
8 ter fight.
u Senator Cummins has been quietl.
J. informing his friends that he feare
$ Dawson would be defeated at th'
polls, and such "tip' from the in
5 surgent chieftain was accepted by hi
. followers as an intimation that he dc
q sired Dawson retired. Too many c
L Cummins' Second district friends ar
y stamch supporters of Dawson, how
% ever, for the senator to openly brin
I out a candidate against Dawson, an
y the indications are that Dawson wa
to have been slaughtered at the poll
instead of at the primaries.
% ,o.,-