Omaha daily bee., 1895-05-18
NEWS FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS
General Francis Marion Draks Visits
Friends in Search Of Information.
TALKS ABOUT THE COMING CAMPAIGN
lie Thinks IL WIN he n Quiet One In
which the Republicans VIII lie
Easily Victorious over
All Opposition.

General F. NJ. Drake OF Centerville spent
few hours in the city yesterday and took
room at the Grand. where he met large
number Of prominent republicans. He came
here chiefly for the purpose, he said, Of call
ing upon Hon. George f. Wright John N.
Baldwin AMI other gentlemen here whom he
has known for years. Mr.. Wright and he
were boys together in the eastern part Of
the state. incidentally, Of course, General
Drake desired to ascertain how the western
Iowa republicans felt concerning his candi-
dacy for governor.
II have been visiting a dozen or fifteen
places In the state" said he, in a CHEEKY,
pleasant manner, but not altogether for the
purpose OF making a campaign. In fact,
don't expect TO make much Of campaign.
met few friends at Atlantic last evening,
and, after shaking hands with a few of my
old friends and acqualntances here l will re-
turn home. You can put me down as a re-
publican all the way along. l cast my first
vote for General Fremont and have voted
for every other car didate for president since
and at all state and county elections, except
during the four years | was in the army
You can also put this down as a sort OF
crystaiZation Of my political belief after
watching and studying all my life: What
| ever is good, inside the government and
out Of it, must be found inside Of the repub-
| lican party. The best advice can give my
| fellow republicans is to stay inside the re-
| publican party while 1t settles the grave
| questions Of the day. There are no other
means Of settling them. In the campaign In
| Iowa this fall both state and national issues
| will be discussed. l have no platform Of
| my own. The platform that the republicans
adopt will be my platform, and / will stand
/ ; ,tI md hat m
ing for the best interests Of the whole people
of the state
THE monetary question will be an impor-
| tant factor, and the position that the makers
of the state platform will take upon 1t will
| be my position. l think Senator Allison S
Marshaltown speech furnishes the keynote of
| the Iowa and the national campaign upon this
| subject. Mr.. Allison favors a platform pro-
| viding for an international agreement on the
| coinage of silver There is no issue between
| the factions OF the republican party today on
| this subject because there are no factions
The democrats are torn up, and are still a
tearing each other to pieces over 1t. The
administration democratic party Is composed
of and controlled by monometallists. They
care nothing for silver, but are willing tc
join the bulk of the party and acquiese in
| anything. Democratic principle has always
| been anything for success; republican prin-
ciple something for the good Of the people
| | am willing to trust the solution of the grave
monetary problems to the republican party
What else can you do? We are just like
the old darkey who was asked which he pre-
| ferred to ride upon, railway train gone
| at lightning speed over the land or a big shiI
on the ocean. Well, you see, boss wher
yo' is on de train an runs inter de ditch an
gifts all smashed up you is right dar, but II
yo' Is on de water an de ship goes down
whar is your We are not ready to trus
our national life to the uncertainties Of
ship, rudderless pilotless, charities, with 6
commander who is always at sea- with land
lubbers for crew, and as liable to sail to the
bottom with the first storm as to ever reach
safe haven.
81 do not think we will have a very ex
citing campaign in Iowa this fall. 1t will b'
a mild healthfu victory, just the kind tina
will do us the most good 'l"
During the afternoon the general shooi
hands with a large number Of citizens ant
impressed them very favorably. He Is &
fine looking vigorous gentleman, whose af
fabilty makes him very approachable. There
is no question, whatever, but that he woult
give a popular administration Of the stat'
government IL the convention should see A
to select him for its standard bearer.