Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-04
AUTOMATIC SEEKS ENTRANCE
Business Men of Des Moines Asked
Opinion Of System.
CIRCULARS SENT TO THEM
Coal shortage in Iowa Resulting
from ConfIscatiOn Of Coal In
Transit by the Rail-
roads.
SENT TO THEM

From a staff Correspondent
DIES MONIES, Ia, Jan. ~S.-CSpecial Tele-
gram)-The business men of Des Moine
were surprised today to receive a circular
letter opening the way for a new phase of
the telephone fight. The circulars were on
the Des Molnes Automatic Telephone COM
pany stationery and a stamped envelope
was enclosed addressed to a postoffice box
number. TIL business men we're asked
whether or not they would give support to
an automatic telephone system and gave
some Information how such a system works
and the advantages thereof. AS a matter
Of fact the circulars were sent out by rep
resentatives Of a big company engaged in
building large plants for the automatic in
various cities, and it indicates an intent
to reopen the telephone war. The Bell in
t%erests recently bought control Of the mu-
tual system, but the two have not as yet
been consolidated.
Coal Shortage.
There Is much complaint in the state
over coal shortage and today the railroad
commission received complaint of the rail-
roads confiscating coal consigned to ship
pers in small towns. II the cold weather
continues it is regarded as certain that
there will be great distress in northwestern
Iowa.
Candidate Against Carroll.
The lows progressive dinner Saturday
night is taken by the politicians to mean
that within a short time there Will be a
candidate in the field for governor In op-
position to the present incumbent. Just
who this candidate will be. seems to be
very uncertain. Thers was some desire
that II. w. Byers enter the race but as
he has decided to run for congress this
eliminates him. A number favor Lieute-
nant Governor George w. Clarke, but he
prefers to continue as lieutenant governor
one more term and then make the race for
govrnor, IL at all. He has not, however.
definitely stated that he would not he a
candidate II his friends insist. The
majority prefer Governor Warren Garst.
There is sentiment 20 the effect that he
was fairly entitled TO ii the last time and
that 1t was an accident that he lost out.
also that he is as much entitled to another
term as the present Incumbent. The basis
of the contest is that while Governor
Carroll always made some pretense Of
being with the progressives he has in
office, turned out all who had been at all
active as progressives and in fact has
shown himself to be not a progressive. The
most serious matter, however, is that in
general his administration has been dis
~tinguished by a lack of force and character
Starts County Campaign.
S. b. Allen, a prominent lawyer of the
city, has announced himself a candidate
for mayor at the city primary in the
spring. He was a candidate at the
previous primary and was defeated by
Mayor Mathis, who probably will not he
q candidate again. Allen was one of a
ommitte of lawyers that drafted the bill
for the commission plan. The primaries
Will be held in March and there will be a
hard fight to secure an entire new city
council.
Debated Temperance Question.
New Years day was distinguished at,
Cedar Rapids by a remarkable debate o
the question of resubmission Of a pro-
hibitory amendment, tho debate INDUCED
In by four state senator's who took pert
In the contest in the state senate last
year. These were Gillilland, Moon. Proud
foot and Van Law. 1t is planned that other
similar discussions be held in the state
and the temperance forces are more active
than they have been for years.
Rabbit Hunt Proved Failure.
A ridiculous fiasco resulted from the
rabbit hunt arranged by the pastor Of
Wesley Methodist Episcopal church. of
which church Governor Carroll is a MEM
Der. He announced a rabbit hunt with
clubs and dogs and Immediately there was
an cutlery against the cruelty of the
method and an effort to prevent II as in
violation of the game laws. The hunt was
held but the hunters did not get a whack
at a single rabbit.