# History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/3/12

​ THE first political State Convention in 1896 was held by the Republicans at Des Moines on the 11th of March. Resolutions were adopted presenting Senator William B. Allison as a candidate for President on behalf of Iowa, to the National Republican Convention, and delegates were chosen to represent the State in that Convention.
At the Democratic State Convention, held at Dubuque on the 20th of May, it was unanimously agreed to present the name of Ex-Governor Boies to the National Democratic Convention as a candidate for President.
The Iowa candidates of the two great political parties were able and popular men who were eminently qualified for the high office; they received strong and enthusiastic support in the National Conventions, but the prominence of William McKinley, from the association of his name with a popular tariff bill, carried the Republican convention for him and the wonderful eloquence of William J. Bryan of Nebraska carried the Democratic Convention over any one who could be named.
A later Republican Convention nominated the following ticket for State officers: Secretary of State, G. L. Dobson; Auditor, C. G. McCarthy; Treasurer, John Herriott; Supreme Judge, S. M. Ladd; Attorney-General, Milton Remley; Railway Commissioner, E. A. Dawson.
The Democrats and Populists united upon the following ticket for State officers: Secretary of State, H. L. Karr; Auditor, G. W. Davis; Treasurer, John Foley; Supreme Judge, L. R. Bolter; Attorney-General, W. D. Boies; Railway Commissioner, Amos Steckel. The Populists also united with the Democrats in the support of Bryan for President.
​A small faction of the Democrats of the State and Nation supported John M. Palmer for President on a “gold standard” platform.
The Prohibition party nominated the following candidates for State officers: Secretary of State, W. G. Wright; Auditor, J. W. Wonder; Treasurer, J. E. Bye; Supreme Judge, Samuel Holmes; Attorney-General, C. E. Boardman; Railway Commissioner, W. S. Peile.
The National campaign was one of unusual vigor and enthusiasm, the great issue being for or against the gold standard.
The Republicans were successful on both the State and National tickets. The vote in Iowa was as follows:
| On President, | McKinley, Republican | 289,293 |
| | Bryan, Democrat and Populist | 223,741 |
| | Palmer, Gold Standard | 4,515 |
| | Levering, Prohibition | 3,192 |
| Plurality for McKinley over Bryan, 65,552. |||
| The vote on Secretary of State was as follows: |||
| G. L. Dobson, Republican | G. L. Dobson, Republican | 288,715 |
| H. L. Karr, Fusion | H. L. Karr, Fusion | 224,812 |
| W. G. Wright, Prohibition | W. G. Wright, Prohibition | 3,553 |
The Republicans elected all of the Representatives in Congress, eleven in number.
An extra session of the Legislature was held, beginning on the 19th of January, 1897, for the purpose of taking action on the report of the Commissioners appointed to revise the laws and prepare a new code, which, when completed, was published and known as “The Code.”
The Soldiers’ Monument Commission was abolished and a new Commission appointed by joint resolution to make a thorough investigation of the acts of the trustees, regents, commissioners and all officers of the various State institutions from July 1st to January 1st, 1897.
​The Democratic State Convention of 1897, was held at Des Moines on the 23d of June, at which the following nominations were made: for Governor, F. E. White; Lieutenant-Governor, B. A. Plummer; Supreme Judge, L. G. Kinne; Railway Commissioner, S. B. Crane; Superintendent Public Instruction, F. G. Rinehart. A lengthy series of resolutions was adopted denouncing the acts and general policy of the Republican party. State and National.
The “Gold Democrats” held a convention at Des Moines on the 7th of July and nominated the following candidates: for Governor, John Cliggitt; Lieutenant-Governor, S. H. Mallory; Supreme Judge, W. I. Babb; Superintendent Public Instruction, J. B. Knoepfler ; Railway Commissioner, Peter A. Dey. The resolutions reaffirmed the general policy of the National Gold Democrats, condemned the “Mulct Law” and favored a State Board of Control.
The State Convention of the Prohibitionists was held at Des Moines on the 27th of July at which the following ticket was nominated: for Governor, S. P. Leland; Lieutenant-Governor, M. W. Atwood; Supreme Judge, N. T. Hellyer; Superintendent Public Instruction, Marion H. Dunham; Railway Commissioner, A. N. Coats. The resolutions reaffirmed the former declarations of the party on the liquor question.
The People’s party held its Convention at Des Moines on the 19th of August and made the following nominations: for Governor, C. A. Lloyd; Lieutenant-Governor, B. H. Perkins; Supreme Judge, J. A. Lowenburg; Superintendent Public Instruction, William Blain; Railway Commissioner, L. H. Griffith. The resolutions indorsed the former declarations of the party.
Governor Drake declined to be a candidate for reëlection and, as it was regarded as certain that the Republican candidate would be elected, great interest centered upon the Republican State Convention which met at Cedar ​Rapids on the 18th of August. The candidates for Governor first in the field were Lieutenant-Governor, Matt Parrott of Black Hawk County; A. B. Funk, a prominent member of the Senate from Dickinson; J. B. Harsh of Union; L. M. Shaw, a comparatively new man in politics from Crawford; W. E. Fuller of Fayette, and Ex-Senator James Harlan of Henry. It was understood early in the campaign that the men who had for a quarter of a century been the most influential managers of the party machinery had decided to support Lieutenant-Governor Parrott for Governor, and as these managers usually succeeded in their plans, the general expectation was that Parrott would be nominated. Senator Funk was a journalist of ability who had served two terms in the Senate and had the support of most of northwestern Iowa, with strength in other sections. L. M. Shaw of Crawford had never been in any way prominent in State politics and was less known than any other candidate. When the Convention assembled it soon became apparent that the old leaders were about to transfer their support from Parrott to Shaw. Why, it was not generally known, but it proved to be true. On the first ballot the vote stood as follows: Parrott, three hundred forty-four; Funk, three hundred eight; Shaw, two hundred ninety-three; with the remainder of the votes divided between Fuller, Harsh and Harlan. It was in vain that the friends of Parrott appealed to the potent leaders to stand by him, the fiat had gone forth, “rally around Shaw.” Parrott gained a number of votes on the second ballot, but Shaw had gained enormously and it became evident that the next ballot would give him the nomination. Then began the landslide amid great excitement as the leaders whispered about the Convention, “keep your eye on Shaw.” The third ballot stood two hundred twenty-three for Funk, three hundred forty-six for Parrott, seven hundred ninety-three for Shaw, giving him the nomination.
J. C. Milliman a former member of the House of
LESLIE M. SHAW, Governor of Iowa, 1898-1902
​Representatives from Harrison County was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor. The other nominations were: Supreme Judge, C. M. Waterman; Superintendent Public Instruction, R. C. Barrett; Railway Commissioner, C. L. Davidson. The platform contained no new declarations of policy. At the election the plurality for Shaw was 29,876.
Upon the organization of his Cabinet President McKinley selected James Wilson of Iowa to be Secretary of Agriculture.
The assessment of the Iowa railroads for 1897 was fixed by the Executive Council at $44,405,196; sleeping cars were assessed at $150,607.
The Twenty-seventh General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 10th of January, 1898, Lieutenant-Governor Milliman presiding over the Senate. J. H. Funk was elected Speaker of the House. Leslie M. Shaw was inaugurated Governor.
The committee appointed by the last General Assembly to investigate the State institutions made an elaborate report early in the session, showing that its investigation had been thorough. Many irregularities were found in the management, some extravagant expenditures, and much to criticise in the general methods of doing business. The committee came to the conclusion that the institutions could be better and more economically managed by a State Board of Control which should have supervision of all of the institutions. The facts stated and the arguments presented for the establishment of such a system made a powerful impression upon the members of the General Assembly and resulted in the enactment of a law providing for such a Board of Control, to consist of three members to be nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate; the members of the Board to hold their positions for a term of six years and not more than two members to belong to the same political party.
A joint resolution was passed to amend the State ​Constitution to provide for biennial elections in place of annual elections.
The people of the United States had long sympathized with the citizens of the Island of Cuba, in their struggles to throw off the rule of Spain and to secure to themselves an independent government. The war against the revolutionists had been waged with terrible barbarity by Spain. Hostile demonstrations had been made in January, 1898, at Havana, against American citizens, and the battleship Maine was sent to Havana harbor on the 25th of January for their protection.
On the night of February 15th the Maine, while lying peacefully in the harbor, was blown up in some mysterious way and two hundred of her officers, crew and marines perished in the terrible explosion. The destruction of the battleship produced a frenzy of excitement and indignation throughout the country and, although Spain hastened to officially express regrets for the “incident,” the belief prevailed that in some way the Spanish authorities had at least been accessory to the terrible crime, if they were not the secret perpetrators of it.
A court of inquiry was convened by the President which proceeded to Havana and, on the 20th of February began a rigid investigation of the affair, reporting to the President in March. Yet, the way in which the crime or accident occurred was not unraveled and will doubtless always remain a mystery.
The indignation felt by the people of this country over the outrage, was one of the chief elements in bringing on the war against Spain which soon followed. Early in March Congress made an appropriation of $50,000,000 for National defense. Soon after a squadron of warships was gathered off the coast of Cuba, under command of Commodore Schley, of the American navy. In April, Congress declared Cuba free from Spanish control and directed the President to use the military forces of the United States to aid Cuba in her struggle to overthrow the authority of ​the Spanish government in that island. Congress at once passed an act to increase the regular army to 61,000 men and the President issued a proclamation to the general powers announcing war with Spain. The North Atlantic Squadron, under Rear Admiral Sampson was ordered to blockade the Cuban ports. This was followed by a formal declaration of war by Spain, and President McKinley issued a call for 125,000 volunteers.
Before the adjournment of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly the prospect for war seemed to render it prudent to take such action as would obviate the necessity for an extra session. An appropriation of $500,000 was therefore made, or so much thereof as might be necessary to be used in aid of the General Government in case of war. Anticipating a call for volunteers, the State authorities were making preparation to promptly fill any requisition that might be made for volunteers.
On the 1st of February, 1898, Brigadier-General Melvin H. Byers of Glenwood was appointed Adjutant-General. On the 21st of April a general order was issued to the company commanders of the regiments of the National Guard to have all officers and men of their companies undergo a physical examination. It was also ordered that all men with dependent families should, upon request be discharged; and that men under twenty-one years of age, who could not procure the consent of their parents or guardians and all who failed to pass the required examination, should also at once be discharged. It was ordered that none but ex-members of the National Guard and those having received military training, should be accepted.
On the 25th of April the Secretary of War sent to the Governor of Iowa a requisition for three regiments of infantry and two batteries of light artillery. On the same day Governor Shaw replied as follows: “Full quota will be mobilized at Des Moines and ready to be mustered in May 2.” Four regiments of the Iowa National Guard were ordered to report at Camp McKinley which had been ​located at the State Fair Grounds at Des Moines, for the purpose of being organized into volunteer regiments to be mustered into the service of the United States. Colonel J. R. Lincoln was placed in command of the camp.
On the 30th of April Governor Shaw was notified that the quota of Iowa had been changed to four regiments of infantry and two batteries of light artillery. On the same date the Second, Third and Fourth Regiments of the Iowa National Guard were selected as a basis for the volunteer troops required from Iowa.
In May the Second Regiment was ordered to New Orleans, its number having been changed to the Fiftieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Colonel D. V. Jackson commanding. This regiment was sent from New Orleans to a camp that had been established at Jacksonville, Florida. The Iowa soldiers were exceedingly anxious to be ordered to the seat of war but so rapidly did events in the field and on the ocean follow one another that the conflict was ended before any of the Iowa troops were ordered to the front. The Fiftieth Regiment remained at Jacksonville until the 13th of September when, the war being ended, it was ordered home. It lost by death, mostly from typhoid fever, thirty-two men and was mustered out at Des Moines on the 30th of November.
The Fifty-second Regiment left Des Moines on the 28th of May, and went into camp at Chickamauga Park, in the State of Georgia, where it remained until the 28th of August when it returned to Des Moines where it was mustered out of the service on the 30th of October, 1898. The losses from sickness were thirty-six men, thirty-one of whom died of typhoid fever.
The Fifty-first Regiment left Des Moines on the 5th of June for San Francisco, where it remained in camp until July 29th, then embarked on the transport “Pennsylvania” for the Philippine Islands, by way of Honolulu. Reaching Manila Bay on December 7th it participated in the following engagements: Gaudalupe Church, March 5, 1899; ​Quingua, April 23; East and West Pulilan, April 24; Calumpit, April 25; San Tomas, May 4; San Fernando, on several days; Calulut and Angeles on the 9th of August. On the 6th of September, 1899, the regiment returned to Manila on its way home and on the 22d sailed on the transport “Senator” arriving at San Francisco on the 22d of October, 1899. Governor Shaw, Adjutant-General Byers, Secretary of State Dobson and Auditor Merriam proceeded to San Francisco to meet and welcome the return of the only regiment of Iowa that had seen active service in the war. The Fifty-first Regiment received a most cordial welcome after its long voyage, from the Iowa State officials and on the 2d of November was mustered out of the service, the members reaching Council Bluffs on the sixth. The losses of the regiment were one killed and forty who died of disease.
The Forty-ninth Regiment left Des Moines for Jacksonville on the 11th of June, 1898, and was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division, Seventh Army Corps. On the 19th of December it was sent to Havana, Cuba, remaining until April, 1899, when it returned to the United States and was mustered out of the service. Before leaving Havana the regiment participated in the ceremonies attending the evacuation of that city by the Spaniards on the 1st of January, 1899. The losses were fifty-four men from disease. The regiment was not engaged in any battle with the Spanish Army.
In June, 1898, the War Department called upon the Governor of Iowa for two batteries of light artillery. From several organizations offering their services the following were selected: the Fifth Battery from Cedar Rapids under command of Captain George W. Bever; and the Sixth Iowa Battery from Burlington commanded by Captain Frank S. Long. These batteries went into camp at Des Moines on the 8th of July. But the War with Spain having closed before their services were needed they were mustered out on the 5th of September.
​In June, 1898, Captain Frank E. Lyman recruited a company of fifty men for service in the Signal Corps. They left the State for Washington on the 25th of June and were discharged from service on the 18th of April, 1899.
Amos W. Brandt of Des Moines was commissioned in June, 1898, to organize a company of colored immunes for service. This company left Des Moines on the 17th of July and was mustered into service at St. Louis as Company M of the Seventh United States Infantry Volunteer Immunes and was sent to Macon, Georgia, where it was mustered out on the 28th of February, 1899.
During the War with Spain, which began in April, 1898, and terminated on the 10th of December of the same year, it was not the fortune of any of the Iowa Volunteers to participate in battles, but they performed every duty in a manner that reflected credit upon the State and exhibited a degree of patriotism similar to that of the volunteers of the Civil War, thirty-seven years before.
The field officers of the several regiments called into the service were as follows: of the Forty-ninth, Colonel William G. Dows, Lieutenant-Colonel Clifford D. Ham, Majors S.E. Clapp, B. F. Blockinger and F. E. Fisher; Fiftieth Regiment, Colonel D. V. Jackson, Lieutenant-Colonel E. E. Lambert (promoted to colonel August 20th), Majors J. T. Moffit (promoted to lieutenant-colonel August 20th, 1898), John Tillie and H. H. Caughlan; Fifty-first Regiment, Colonel John C. Loper, Lieutenant-Colonel M. M. Miller, Majors W. J. Duggan, J. T. Hume and S. P. Moore; Fifty-second Regiment, Colonel W. B. Humphrey, Lieutenant-Colonel I. R. Kirk, Majors S. J. Parker, Otto Hile and W. A. Kirk.
Amos W. Brandt was commissioned Captain of Company F in the Thirty-second United States Infantry which sailed for the Philippine Islands in October, 1899. His company was in several engagements with the enemy during that and the following year and Captain Brandt ​received high commendations from his superior officers for the gallant manner in which he met and defeated the foe.
As the last Iowa regiment engaged in the War of the Rebellion was numbered Forty-eight, it was decided by the State authorities to make the numbering continuous and the first mustered in for the Spanish War was therefore numbered Forty-nine.
The State Board of Control, provided for by the General Assembly, was organized in the appointment by the Governor of Ex-Governor William Larrabee, Ex-Supreme Judge L. G. Kinne and John Cownie. L. A. Wilkinson was chosen secretary and H. F. Liebbe, architect. On the 1st of July, 1898, the Board took charge of the business management of the various State institutions, the treasurers retired from their positions, and the funds were turned over to the State Treasurer.
The first political State Convention of the year was held by the People’s party at Des Moines on the 2d of June, 1898. The following ticket was placed in nomination: Secretary of State, R. M. Daniels; Auditor, C. A. Wickes; Treasurer, A. M. Hutchinson; Attorney General, J. A. Lowenberg; Judge of Supreme Court, L. H. Weller; Clerk, Alli Reed; Reporter, C. R. Smith; Railway Commissioner, Joseph Ash. No new or important declarations were made in the resolutions adopted.
The Prohibition State Convention was held in Des Moines on the 28th of June at which the following nominations were made: Secretary of State, Malcom Smith; Auditor, Edgar Brintnall; Treasurer, J. C. Reed; Attorney-General, Samuel Holmes; Judge Supreme Court, H. F. Johns; Clerk, B. J. Bowers; Reporter, Benjamin Radcliffe; Railway Commissioners, R. M. Dihel and A. M. Johnson. No new issues were raised in the resolutions.
The Republican State Convention was held at Dubuque on the 1st of September at which the following nominations were made: Secretary of State, G. L. Dobson; Auditor, F. F. Merriam; Treasurer, John Herriott; Attorney​General, Milton Remley; Judge of Supreme Court, H. E. Deemer; Clerk, C. T. Jones; Reporter, B. I. Salinger; Railway Commissioners, Welcome Mowry and D. J. Palmer. The resolutions endorsed the State and National administrations.
The Democratic State Convention assembled at Marshalltown on the 7th of September and placed the following ticket in nomination: Secretary of State, C. R. Porter; Auditor, E. H. Gillette; Treasurer, N. Anderson; Attorney-General, J. M. Parsons; Judge of Supreme Court, W. A. Spurrier; Clerk, E. R. Perkins; Reporter, W. A. Ferren; Railway Commissioners, A. Hanson and H. E. Wills. The resolutions affirmed former positions on National issues and declared that the acceptance of free passes or mileage on railroads, by public officers, or free use of telegraph, telephone or express favors by such officials should be declared a misdemeanor and be punished as such.
The entire Republican ticket was elected by an average plurality of about 63,500.
The Socialists had a full ticket in the field which received in the entire State but little more than 1,000 votes.
The winter of 1898-99 will long be remembered in the upper Mississippi valley as one bringing widespread disaster to nurserymen and fruit growers. The most serious damage was done to nurseries and vineyards. In many localities the destruction was complete, leaving not a solitary tree or vine of varieties which heretofore had survived the coldest winters. The destruction of plum trees in the orchards was very great, and young apple orchards were in many cases entirely destroyed. Owing to some peculiarities of the season the roots of nursery trees, young orchards, grape vines, blackberry and rasp- berry bushes were found to be entirely killed, or so badly damaged that they could not be saved. At one time in the winter the cold was very severe but not a lower temperature than has often been experienced in Iowa since the ​first planting of orchards. Yet no such root killing has ever before swept entire nurseries, young orchards and vineyards out of existence, no varieties escaping. The “Iron-clads” were wiped out with the tender varieties. The Concord grape and Snyder blackberry, which had heretofore withstood the severest winters known in Iowa, were mostly destroyed or seriously injured. Iowa nurserymen were obliged to import trees and vines from States further south to supply their customers in the spring of 1899, and it was very difficult to find uninjured nursery trees anywhere in the upper Mississippi valley. The older orchards of apple trees were much less damaged, many escaped with slight injury. The State Horticultural Society made searching investigations into the causes which produced the widespread devastation, but there was a great difference of opinion as to causes and remedies for the future. The report of the secretary says:
“Perhaps no one can crystallize into a brief statement all of the many causes which resulted in so much damage to the fruit industry of the State. Some of these causes may be traced to the past few dry years in which the subsoil lost much of its moisture; to the cool air and rains of the last decade of October which stimulated an excessive root action late in the season; to a long cold winter without a blanket of snow to protect the soil from the alternating extremes of freezing and thawing.”
The damage was not confined to fruit trees, vines and bushes; red clover, evergreens and many varieties of forest trees were killed and such as survived were seriously injured. No such general damage to evergreens and forest trees was ever before known in Iowa.
The Prohibitionists held a State Convention at Des Moines on the 23d of May, 1899, and nominated the following candidates for the various offices: Governor, M. W. Atwood; Lieutenant-Governor, George Pugsley; Supreme Judge, H. F. Johns; Superintendent of Public Instruction, D. S. Dunlavy; Eailway Commissioner, A. ​B. Wray. Resolutions were passed reaffirming former declarations for prohibition of the liquor traffic.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 2d of August at which Governor Shaw and Lieutenant-Governor Milliman were renominated; J. C. Sherwin was nominated for Supreme Judge; Richard C. Barrett for Superintendent of Public Instruction; and E. A. Dawson for Railway Commissioner. Resolutions were adopted indorsing the State and National administrations.
The Democratic State Convention held at Des Moines on the 16th of August nominated the following ticket: for Governor, F. E. White; Lieutenant-Governor, M. L. Bevis; Supreme Judge, A. Wan Wagenen; Superintendent of Public Instruction, B. P. Hoist; Railway Commissioner, W. H. Calhoun. The platform enunciated no new principles or policy.
The Convention of the People’s party was held at Des Moines on the 30th of August and placed in nomination the following candidates: for Governor, C. A. Lloyd; Lieutenant-Governor, S. M. Harvey; Supreme Judge, L. H. Weller; Superintendent of Public Instruction, C. Wirth; Railway Commissioner, R. L. Dunning. The resolutions raised no new issues on State affairs.
The entire Republican ticket was elected by an average plurality of nearly 60,000.
The number of miles of railroad in the State on the 1st of January, 1899, was 8,518, which was assessed at $44,550,129. The sleeping cars on the various roads were assessed in the aggregate at $183,303. The taxable value of the telegraph and telephone companies of the State was reported at $1,028,845. The total value of the personal property as reported for the year 1899 was $361,196,017. The real estate was valued at $391,618,831.
The Twenty-eighth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 8th of January, 1900, and was organized by the election of D. H. Bowen, Speaker of the House, ​Lieutenant-Governor Milliman, presided over the Senate. Leslie M. Shaw was inaugurated Governor for a second term. In his message to the General Assembly the Governor made the following statement as to the improved financial condition of the State:
“The receipts of general revenue from July 1st, 1897, to the same date in 1899 were $5,079,403.29. There was a balance in the treasury July 1st, 1897, of $36,672.96, making the total revenue for the term of two years, $5,116,076.25.
“Against this sum warrants were drawn during the term, together with outstanding warrants to the amount of $4,165,786.58. The treasury is in better condition than it was two years ago by $1,008,580.50.”
The Governor continues:
“Iowa is exceedingly fortunate in her banking interests. She has more banks than any other state in the Union. At the date of their last reports, the deposits amounted to $163,715,560.85, showing an increase in two years of fifty-five per cent. Unquestionably the proportions of unencumbered farms in the State exceeds that of any other period.”
Speaking of the Board of Control provided for by the last General Assembly, the Governor says:
“The policy thus inaugurated has resulted in a very considerable saving to the State, and in addition, the service at most of the institutions has been improved. When the amount of work necessary to reorganize the operative forces of thirteen State institutions, and personally examine the practical operations of each, to inaugurate a system of bookkeeping applicable to each institution separately and to all jointly, to install a main office at the Capital with its corps of untried clerks and assistants is considered, it must be conceded that the three men composing this Board undertook on July 1st, an Herculean task. The results show more clearly than any words of mine how conscientiously this duty was undertaken and how earnestly, faithfully and untiringly it has been prosecuted.”
Among the more important acts of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly may be enumerated the following:
Regulating the taxation of telephone, telegraph, insurance and express companies; providing for the assessment and collection of taxes not found by the assessors; ​creating a Department of Agriculture; providing for a reformatory industrial institution for women at Anamosa; providing for the consolidation of the miscellaneous portions of the State Library with that of the Historical Department; creation of a Library Commission and providing for the establishment of free public libraries and school libraries throughout the State; providing for the appointment of a commission to determine the position of Iowa regiments during the siege of Vicksburg; and providing for the erection of monuments to mark the position of Iowa volunteers during the Battle of Shiloh. The Legislature passed a joint resolution to amend the Constitution of the State to provide for biennial, in place of annual elections.
The Republican National Convention of 1900 nominated William McKinley for reëlection and Theodore Roosevelt for Vice-President.
The Democrats nominated William J. Bryan for President and Adlai E. Stevenson for Vice-President.
The Prohibition party held a State Convention at Des Moines, June 12th, 1900, and placed the following candidates in nomination: Secretary of State, S. O. Pillsbury; Auditor, C. H. Lockins; Treasurer, W. L. Ransom; Attorney-General, J. P. Ferguson; Judge Supreme Court, J. A. Harvey; Railway Commissioner, C. H. Gordon.
The Socialists held their Convention at Davenport, July 1st, and nominated the following ticket for State officers: Secretary, J. M. Kremer; Auditor, B. H. Williams; Treasurer, E. C. Matson; Railway Commissioner, F. E. Macha.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines, August 1st, and placed the following candidates in the field: Secretary of State, William B. Martin; Auditor, Frank F. Merriam; Treasurer, Gilbert S. Gilbertson; Attorney-General, Charles W. Mullan; Judge Supreme Court, Emil McClain; Railway Commissioner, David J. Palmer.
FLOYD MONUMENT, NEAR SIOUX CITY
​The Democrats held their Convention at Cedar Rapids, August 16th, and nominated the following ticket: Secretary of State, S. B. Crane; Auditor, I. M. Gibson; Treasurer, H. L. Williams; Attorney-General, T. G. Harper; Judge Supreme Court, J. W. Freeland; Railway Commissioner, J. E. Anderson.
The Populists held a Convention at Des Moines, August 28th, and made the following nominations: Secretary of State, T. G. Wheeler; Auditor, R. Weller; Treasurer, M. E. Smith; Attorney-General, A. M. Hutchison; Judge Supreme Court, L. M. Morris; Railway Commissioner, O. Tyson.
No important changes were made in any of the party platforms.
The Republican candidates were elected on both the National and State tickets. The plurality for McKinley was 98,606, and the plurality for the Republican candidates on the State ticket was more than 96,000.
The constitutional amendment providing for biennial against it. The Republican candidates for Representatives in Congress were elected in each of the eleven districts.
An important historical event took place on the 30th of May, 1901, when a monument in memory of Sergeant Charles Floyd, was dedicated near Sioux City. The idea of erecting this memorial to the member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition who was buried on the bluff, was conceived by John H. Charles a quarter of a century ago. Through his efforts combined with the influence of Hon. George D. Perkins, who secured an appropriation from Congress of $5,000 towards the work, and liberal aid from the State Legislature, Woodbury County and Sioux City, as well as from private citizens, the monument stands as one of the most beautiful and appropriate historical memorials in the United States. Captain Chittenden, the United States engineer under whose direction ​the monument was constructed, says: “It is a solid masonry obelisk built in careful conformity with the proportions of the ancient Egyptian models.” The material is Kettle River (Minnesota) sandstone. The shaft is slightly more than one hundred feet above the base with two massive tablets of bronze bearing historical inscriptions. At the dedication of the monument Hon. John A. Kasson, Iowa’s distinguished statesman and diplomat, delivered the principal address which was characterized by Hon. George D. Perkins as a “distinct contribution to the history of the Louisiana Territory and purchase.” In the address Mr. Kasson says:
“In honor of the dead they dedicated to his memory both the burial bluff and the little river in which they were moored. Thenceforth for all time these two objects in nature will preserve the name of their dead comrade. So does the name—a mere sound in the air—become more imperishable than any structure of human workmanship. Unaffected by flood or tempest, or war’s destructiveness, it is repeated from father to son, for all generations. But this lofty monument is not erected solely to commemorate the modest life and humble career of the army sergeant whose bones were deposited in this soil long before the plow of civilization had disturbed it. Nor will the memorial serve only to celebrate the splendid exploration accomplished by his more fortunate companions. It also perpetuates the memory of a great historic act which influenced the fate of three nations and opened the way to new liberties and increased the happiness of mankind. It changed the development of our people and gave a new pathway to the march of our young republic. It is this historical significance of the monument which induced the National Congress, the Legislature of Iowa, and the patriotic people of Sioux City to combine their efforts for its erection.”
In conclusion Mr. Kasson said:
“May this great memorial stand for ages to come to remind our children of the manly virtues of their race, which in the Nineteenth Century made the Republic so glorious in the annals of history.”
The first political State Convention in 1901, was that of the Prohibition party, which convened at Des Moines on the 21st of May. The candidates nominated were A. ​U. Coats for Governor; A. B. Wray, Lieutenant-Governor; J. A. Harvey, Judge of the Supreme Court; Ella Moffatt, Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Wesley Suddoth, Railroad Commissioner. The platform made the usual declarations.
The great interest of the campaign was concentrated upon a remarkable contest which began early in the ranks of the Republican party for the control of the State Convention by two well defined wings of the party. Albert B. Cummins, a brilliant lawyer living in Des Moines, was a prominent candidate for United States Senator in 1894, when Ex-Governor John H. Gear was nominated by the Republican caucus of the Twenty-fifth General Assembly. In 1900, he was again a candidate for the same position when Governor Gear was a candidate for reelection. His supporters were enthusiastic and remarkably well organized and for a time it seemed not improbable that he might be successful. But in addition to his great personal following and eminent qualifications for the position he had filled with marked ability. Governor Gear had the active support of most, if not all, of his colleagues from Iowa in Congress, as well as that of the old time Republicans of the State and most of the Federal officials. Mr. Cummins and his friends made a determined contest and their followers throughout the State were numerous among the younger men who organized a compact wing of the party, which came near winning a victory. When the campaign opened for nomination of a candidate for Governor to succeed Shaw, Mr. Cummins friends at once announced that he would be a candidate for that position. The dominant wing of the party, which had controlled its political conventions and selected its candidates for many years, now endeavored to unite upon a candidate who could defeat the nomination of Mr. Cummins. In the years which had elapsed since he had entered the field of politics Mr. Cummins was inclined to act independently of the party leaders and now had the largest personal following of any ​man in the party. When the old time leaders determined to defeat the nomination of this independent and aggressive new leader who was steadily gaining strength, Mr. Cummins in a public speech in Des Moines, threw down the gauntlet and boldly declared his purpose to become a candidate for Governor without the consent of the time-honored chieftains. Then began the most notable contest within the Republican party since the famous Harlan-Allison senatorial campaign of thirty years before. Every county in the State was fought for most vigorously by the contending wings of the party and almost every Republican in its limits was drawn into the conflict before the State Convention assembled. The former leaders were for some time unsettled as to the choice of a candidate who could be reasonably expected to unite all elements of opposition to Mr. Cummins and overcome the strong tide which was evidently turning towards the new leader.
It was finally determined to rally all of the opposition upon Major Edwin H. Conger, the American Minister to China, who had recently won world-wide fame in the defense of Pekin against the Boxers. He was communicated with and announced his willingness to become a candidate for Governor. He was on his way home and a special train was chartered to meet him at Council Bluffs and extend to him a royal welcome. Governor Shaw and other State officials gave Minister Conger an enthusiastic reception as he entered Iowa and escorted him to the Capital where thousands greeted his safe return with high honors. But when the county conventions were held for the selection of delegates to the State Convention which would nominate the candidate for Governor, Mr. Cummins carried a majority of the counties in the home district of the two candidates. No artifice could alienate the mass of his enthusiastic supporters and, although desperate efforts were made by the leaders to unite and concentrate all elements of opposition against Mr Cummins, when the Convention assembled at Cedar Rapids on the 7th of August, with ​1,641 delegates, the contest was settled on the first ballot. Senator Harriman of Franklin County received three hundred and fifty-nine votes, Senator James H. Trewin of Allamakee, three hundred and sixty-nine; Major E. H. Conger, forty-two; while Albert B. Cummins having eight hundred and sixty, a clear majority over all, was nominated amidst wild enthusiasm. John Herriott, late State Treasurer, who had a strong support for Governor, was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor. Judge S. M. Weaver of Hardin County was nominated for Judge of the Supreme Court, Richard C. Barrett for reëlection as Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Ed. C. Brown, for Railway Commissioner. The new declarations in the resolutions were as follows:
“We favor such changes in the tariff from time to time as become advisable through the progress of our industries and their changing relations to the commerce of the world. We indorse the policy of reciprocity as the natural compliment of protection, and urge its development as necessary to the realization of our highest commercial possibilities. We favor such amendment to our interstate commerce act as will more fully carry out its prohibition of discrimination in rate making, and any modification of the tariff schedules that may be required to prevent their affording shelter to monopoly.”
The Democratic party held its Convention at Des Moines on the 21st of August and placed the following candidates in nomination: for Governor, T. J. Phillips of Wapello County; Lieutenant-Governor, G. E. Ferguson of Harrison; Judge of the Supreme Court, John Shortley of Dallas; Superintendent of Public Instruction, W. P. Johnson of Carroll; Railway Commissioner, A. C. Brice of Taylor. The resolutions made no new declarations.
The People’s party held a State Convention at Des Moines on the 23d of August and nominated the following ticket: for Governor, L. H. Weller of Chickasaw County; Lieutenant-Governor, Perry Engle of Jasper; Judge of Supreme Court, J. R. McDonald of Polk; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ira C. Harlan of Woodbury; ​Railway Commissioner, Luke McDowell of Shelby. The platform indorsed the well-known principles of the party.
The Socialist party held its Convention at Des Moines on the 5th of September and made the following selections for State officers: for Governor, James Baxter of Monroe County; Lieutenant-Governor, W. A. Jacobs of Scott; Judge Supreme Court, A. F. Thompson, Appanoose; Superintendent of Public Instruction, E. E. Stevens, Des Moines; Railway Commissioner, H. C. Middlebrook of Lyon. The declaration of principles may be condensed as follows:
“We believe Socialism to be a scientific solution of the labor problem and that it will provide an ethical construction of society, whereby equal and exact justice will be meted out to every individual. We declare our unalterable opposition to competition for bread and to the capitalistic control of the means of production and distribution. And to secure a system whereby want, misery and poverty shall be forever eliminated, we pledge ourselves to the final and complete overthrow of the competitive and capitalistic system and the substitution therefor of the coöperative commonwealth and the collective ownership of all the means of production and distribution.”
“Our methods are peaceful and our appeal is to the reason and conscience.”
The country was shocked by the intelligence that President McKinley was assassinated on the 6th of September, 1901, while addressing the people at the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, New York. An anarchist by the name of Czolgosz, an Italian by birth, approached the President and with a concealed pistol suddenly fired but a few feet from his victim, inflicting a mortal wound. The President lingered between life and death until the morning of the 14th when he passed away in the presence of the members of his Cabinet who had been summoned to Buffalo, when hope for recovery had been abandoned. Vice-President Roosevelt reached the city the afternoon of the same day and the oath of office as President was administered to him immediately. The new President issued a proclamation the same day announcing the
ALBERT B. CUMMINS, Governor of Iowa.
​National bereavement; notice of the death of President McKinley was officially communicated by the Secretary of State to foreign nations.
Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest man who had ever been elevated to the highest executive office of the Nation, being but forty-two years of age. All of the members of McKinley’s Cabinet were invited to remain in their positions, and President Roosevelt announced that there would be no change in the policy of the McKinley administration.
This was the third assassination of the Chief Magistrate of the Republic since Iowa became a State. In each case swift punishment overtook the perpetrators of the cowardly crime, and although the whole civilized world held the crimes in horror, the peaceful succession of the lawful successor in each case demonstrated the solidity and perpetuity of our republican government.
Albert B. Cummins and the entire Republican ticket were elected by a plurality of more than 83,000 over the Democratic candidates, in a vote of more than 390,000. The Democrats polled over 143,000 votes; the Prohibition candidate for Governor received 15,659; the Socialist 3,463, and the People’s party candidate seven hundred eighty-two.
The Twenty-ninth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 13th of January and Willard L. Eaton of Mitchell County was chosen Speaker. Lieutenant-Governor John Herriott presided over the Senate. In Governor Cummins inaugural address to the General Assembly were declarations which fearlessly and scathingly arraigned some of the attempts which, for years, have prevailed among a class of people who have sought by disreputable methods to control legislation in the interest of corporations. He said:
“Wealth gives to him who owns or controls it power for great good and for great evil; it gives him power to endow schools, found libraries and relieve want; but it also gives him power to seduce and coerce his ​fellow men, and this power should be most jealously scrutinized. Incorporated wealth has many rights; but it should always be remembered that among these is not the right to vote. Corporations have, and ought to have many privileges; but among them is not the right to sit in political conventions or occupy seats in legislative chambers. The conscience and intelligence of the natural man must be the sole factors in determining what our laws shall be and who shall execute them. One phase of corporate interference ought speedily to disappear under the righteous indignation of honest men. The professional lobbyist has, I regret to say, become one of the features of legislative assemblies; he has become a stench in the nostrils of a decent community and ought to be driven out with the lash of scorn, pursued by the penalties of the law from the presence of every official and from the precincts of every legislative body in the republic. The lobbyist who is for or against anything for hire, who haunts the chamber of legislation and taints the atmosphere with his corrupt designs, who shadows members at their homes and hotels, injecting his poison into the public service, is a criminal, whose approach is an insult, and to whom the doors of the Capitol should never swing inward.”
Among the more important acts of this session may be mentioned, one requiring railroad companies to follow a uniform system in making reports to the Executive Council to aid in the assessment of their property; an act making it a crime for a tenant to sell property upon which the landowner has a lien for rent; an act making a special levy of taxes for the benefit of the State University, State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and the State Normal School; an act to provide for an exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition; for the erection of monuments to mark the position occupied by Iowa regiments in the siege of Vicksburg, and at the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. An act was also passed for the creation of a commission to superintend the completion of the State House; and one making important changes in the supervision of road work. The supervisor districts are consolidated into but one composed of an entire township, over which one superintendent has entire charge. The whole road tax is to be paid in money and the work to be done by contract.
The joint resolution passed by the Twenty-eighth ​General Assembly proposing to amend the Constitution of the State to provide for biennial elections, was passed by this Legislature. The salary of the Governor was increased to $5,000, that of the Supreme Judges to $6,000, and the salary of District Judges to $3,000.
A question was raised in the District Court in Washington County as to the validity of the amendment to the State Constitution providing for biennial elections. In a case tried before Judge A. E. Dewey in that county it was decided that the amendment was not legally adopted, “not having been entered upon the journal of the House of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly, it was not adopted as required by our Constitution and has not become a part thereof.” The case was appealed to the Supreme Court which confirmed the decision of the District Court.
The Republican State Convention for 1902 was held at Des Moines July 30th, at which the following candidates were nominated for the several State offices: Secretary of State, William B. Martin; Auditor, B. F. Carroll; Treasurer, G. S. Gilbertson; Judges of the Supreme Court, Scott M. Ladd for full term, and Charles A. Bishop for the vacancy; Attorney-General, Charles M. Mullan; Clerk of Supreme Court, J. C. Crockett; Reporter Supreme Court, W. W. Cornwall; Railway Commissioner, Edward A. Dawson.
At the Prohibition State Convention held at Waterloo, August 20th, the following nominations were made: Secretary of State, William Howard; Auditor, J. W. Leedy; Treasurer, A. W. Hoff; Judges of Supreme Court, J. A. Harvey, long term, and D. M. Turnball for vacancy; Clerk Supreme Court, E. A. Graves; Reporter, W. P. Briggs; Railway Commissioner, E. H. Albright.
The Socialist State Convention was held at Davenport, September 2d, and nominated the following candidates: Secretary of State, W. A. Jacobs; Auditor, T. J. Grant; Treasurer, F. F. Fetters; Attorney-General, J. S. ​McGrilles; Clerk Supreme Court, A. M. Lauren; Reporter, W. H. Luebbe; Railway Commissioner, J. S. Lorimar.
The Democrats held their State Convention at Des Moines on the 3d of September and made the following nominations: Secretary of State, Richard Bourke; Auditor, T. J. Grant; Treasurer, R. U. Chapman; Judges of Supreme Court, Thomas Stapleton for full term and J. H. Quick for the vacancy; Attorney-General, J. S. Denison; Clerk of Supreme Court, J. T. Tripp; Reporter, J. F. Dalton; Railway Commissioner, T. J. Denson.
The Republican candidates were elected by a plurality of about 79,000. In the Congressional Districts the Republicans carried all but the Second, which elected Judge M. J. Wade, Democrat, of Iowa City.
The summer of 1901 was one of the hottest ever experienced since the first settlements were made in Iowa, the mercury reaching the one hundred mark during many successive days. Early in July the heat became very oppressive with occasional hot winds from the south, unrelieved for weeks by the usual rains. Streams dried up, springs failed and thousands of wells furnished no water. The corn crop, which early in the season gave promise of an unusually large yield, was withered by the intense heat and long continued drouth which blasted the ears and greatly damaged the crop. Thousands of large forest trees died and fruit trees as well suffered severe injury.
The summer of 1902 was on the other hand one of the coolest on record. The rains began, in May, to be serious from the frequency and almost continuous moisture which rendered thousands of acres of low lands too wet for cultivation. In many portions of the State the small grain made such rank growth that it was prostrated by winds before it matured. The fields were too wet for the use of reapers, and a large portion of the oats was lost. Much hay was seriously injured for lack of sunshine to cure it, and threshing was impossible on large areas of flat land. ​All through the northern portion of the State the immature corn was seriously damaged by early frosts.
Notwithstanding these extremes of drouth and excessive heat in 1901 and excessive rains in the year following, Iowa produced a large surplus of the principal farm products. J. R. Sage, Director of Weather and Crop Service, made a report from which the following items are taken relating to the chief products of the two years. In 1901 the corn crop yielded an aggregate of 227,000,000 bushels which was valued at $118,000,000. In 1902 the crop was estimated at 296,950,230 bushels, valued at $83,000,000, or about 69,000,000 bushels more than in the previous year but, owing to the damage from wet weather and lower price, the aggregate value of the crop was far below that of 1901. The report from the entire State showed forty-seven per cent. of the crop to be sound and fifty-three per cent. soft and unsalable in the markets. The oats crop suffered greater damage than any other cereal from the excessive rains. The estimated yield was $40,209,000, while the crop of 1902 was worth but tons, valued at $30,721,000; while the yield of 1902 was 4,439,040, valued at $30,071,592. The prairie, or wild hay yielded in 1902, 1,202,860 tons, valued at $6,615,730, while that of the previous year was 1,268,700, worth $7,992,000. The fruit and vegetables in 1902 were valued at $9,500,000. The total products of the farms of the entire State were valued at $215,722,339 for the year 1902.