Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1901 — HOW MRS. CUMMINS WORRIED SENATOR GEAR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOW MRS. CUMMINS WORRIED SENATOR GEAR.

A. B. Cummins, the nominee of the lowa Republicans for governor, is in many ways a remarkable man. The story following, by one who was on the scene, shows another side of the Cummins family, says the Chicago Tribune: “I was in Des Moines in the winter of 1894 when Cummins was a candidate for the United States Senate, to succeed that gritty old veteran in politics, John Henry Gear. There were

[six candidates, as I remember. Gear, of course, was the lion. Then there was another who had a big railroad influence. Then there was a plucky fighter, an editor from Sioux City; Another candidate hailed from - Council Bluffs. He was the plain people’s candidate, as he called himself. He used ’ to help the farmers cut their hay, and so on. Then there was a man from the center of the state. He had long hair and was an impressive sort of fellow. The other man was Cummi ns. Tail, rather, swarthy,

perfectly possessed when others were on the rampage, he was the one man whom foxy old Gear really feared. 1 was in Gear’s room one night with his manager, young Blythe, a shrewd railroad lawyer. He had all the pins in their proper places and told old John Henry Gear to go to bed. “ ‘Have you seen Cummins tonight?’ asked the senator. “The lawyer said he had not, but that Cummins’ headquarters were dark and nobody was about. “ ‘Then I stay up,’ said the wily old politician. ‘I don’t go to bed until 1 know where Cummins is.’ “His manager laughed and said he knew Cummins was at home —Cummins lives in Des Moines—and in be 3. “This did not satisfy John Henry Gear. ‘He can plot as much mischief there, or more,’ retorted Gear, ‘than anywhere else. Do you know Mrs. Cummins?’ The old man’s manager said he knew her in a casual way. “ ‘I know her the other way,’ said the old senator. ‘She’s the smartest

woman in lowa. I wish there was) some way to get Cummins a way from home.’ “This compliment I for Mrs. Cummins, from a man like! John Gear, meant a good deal; The old man, however, went to bed. The next day he summoned his manager j and said: “ ‘What did I tell! you? Do you know what Cummins and his wife did last night? See here. Here’s an invitation from Mrs. Cummins to me, to dine at her home this evening the other candidates! That’s Mrs. Cummins’ work.’ “Young J. w.

Blythe asked if that wasn’t all right. “ ‘Nothing gives me greater pleasuse,’ said the lynx-eyed senator, ‘than to be Mrs. Cummins’ guest ordinarily. I honor her. But this fihesse on her part is not according to the old way of political battling in this state. It’s a sort of lace-handkerchief, kid-glove way of getting the enemy into a corner and smothering him with perfume.’ “ ‘But you are going?’ asked Blythe. “ ‘Going? What else can I do? There’s where she unarms me.’ “The dinner was a pretty one, I was told. Mrs. Cummins went to the spread on the arm of the old senator. The other candidates were in their places. Not a word of politics was uttered. A few games, some music, and it was all over. “John Henry Gear won in the caucus and was elected, of course, on joint ballot. All the candidates spoke after the caucus, but the cleverest speech was that made by Cummins. And while he was talking old man Gear, radiant and bubbling, was assuring Mrs. Cummins of his admiration for her husband, and promised, so I was told, that when he finished the term for which he had just been nominated he would get out of the way for Cummins. But he didn’t. In 1900 old John Henry capered as gayly into the field as a spring colt and won. If Cummins lives he will reach the senate. He is, in his peculiar way, one of the smoothest politicians in the country.”