The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-29
FIRST DISTRICT PoLIrlcs

the contest for the republican nomina-
ton for congress In this district prom
ises to be a lively but altogether a
friendly one. IT'S outcome is beyond
the ken Of ever the most astute polft-
lcai observer, as each candidate is
popular, able and has an extended &C.
quaintance throughout the district.
Each goes before the people with the
staunch and united backing Of the
home community, says the Burlington
Hawk-Eye.
congressman Kennedy is now serv-
Ing his fifth consecutive term in con.
.gress. He has proven himself an able
n industrious member and has sue
ceeded in accomplishing many things
for his district. He has been par
ticularly ~rainstakins in his cores.
pondence and in attending to the in.
dividual needs OF his constituents. AS
falls to the lot OF all congressman of
any length OF service he has his polit.
1cal enemies, the inevitable results of
p~ostof1ce contests and their ramiica-
lions, but just what bearing this mat
ter will lave on the contest is prob.
lematical. The chief contention OF the
opposition is that Mr.. Kennedy has
represented this district longer than
any other representative and that
neither Henry nor Louisa county has
ever been the home Of a first district
representative. This contention is
practically true, although VIM. S.
Thompson, a democrat Of Mt. Pleas
was q member of congress from
1S49 to 1850, and Judge Woolson, Mt.
Pleasant, was the republican nominee
in 1854. but was defeated by Benton
j. Hall of Burlington for election. The
nearest competitors Mr.. Kennedy has
in length Of service are George w.
McCrary of Keokuk, and Thomas
Hedge Of Burlington. Both these
gentlemen served four terms. On the
other hand. Mr.. Kenredy's supporters
contend with Considerable reason that
length OF se>Jdce naturally tends to
increase the value of ones service in
congress and point to Cannon. Mann,
Clark and other old timers in congress
as examples Of their assertion.
Believing that a list OF those. to-.
gether with their residence and length
Of service would be Of interest, the
herewith prints it:
Shepherd Lefler. democrat, Bur
lington, farmer; 1S47-1S51. g
VIM. s. Thompson. democrat. Mt.
Pleasant. lawyer; 1S49-1S5o.
Dan F. Miller, whig. Ft.- Madison,
1S5n-1S51.
Bernhart Hem, democrat. Fairfield;
1S51-1S55.
August Hall. democrat, Ke%osauaua,
lawyer; 1~S55-1S57.
Samuel r. Curtis. republican. Keo-
kuk. lawyer: 1s57-1S6S.
James F. Wilson. republican. Fair
field. lawyer: 1~SG3-1S69.
George w. McCrary. republican.
Keokuk. lawyer; 1S69-1S77.
Joseph c. Stone. republican. Bur
lin gton. physician; 1377-1S79.
Moses A. McCoid, republican, Fair.
field. lawyer; 1ST9-1SS5.
Benton J. Hall. democrat, Burling-
ton, lawyer; 1SS5-1SS7.
John H. Gear, republican,, Burling-
ton, merchant: 1SS7-1SS1.
John J.. Seerley, democrat, Burning.
ton. lawyer: lSo1-1s93.
John H. Gear. republican,. Burling-
ton. merchant. 1SeS-1S95.
Samuel NJ. Clark. republican, Keo-
kuk, editor: 1Se5-1S99.
Thomas Hedge, republican, Burling-
ton, 1S99-190T.
&. A. Kennedy. republican, Montrose,
n~urserynan: 1907.
The above table shows that Leffler
and Thompson were in congress dur
ing the same period. It was Just after
Iowa's admission as a state and both
representatives hailed from what is
now the first district. Thompson's
seat was declared vacant before he
served his full term and Dan Miller
was elected to fill the vacancy.
The Bawk-Eye is taking no sides in
the present contest. 1t recognizes the
fitness OF each aspirant and feels so
long as Des Moines county has no
candidate, 1t is not within its prov
.rce to ad%vocaee the nomination OF any
particular candidate. It does seem its
duty, however, IS a newspaper that
ci%rculates very widely throughout
the first congressional district to print
ell sides of the contest for the benefit
Of Its readers. It will print, as 1t has
already printed, all suitable comment