Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-21
PEOPLES PULPIT.

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I The United chrlstlan Party.
i Editor Courier-Permit me to call
your attention to the article jim your
newsy semi-weekly paper of Sept. ID
In which the workings Of the United
Christian party were presented to your
manv readers in such a light as to cast
reflections upon the business methods
of those having the committee work in
charge. and to raise in the minds OF
the neople a doubt az to it's ticket APP.
pearing on the official ballot. In the
first place allow us to extend to the
press of Iowa our sincere regards for
the courteous manner IN which they
have kindly made mention of our state
convention. and the expressions OF re.
spect for the principles which we there
presented to the state and world.
! We are aware OF the fact that an
up to date newspaper is anxious to
give to its patrons the news that will
enable them to keep informed on top
les of general interest, but we are also
aware that mistakes and errors some
times occur. therefore we are persuade
ed that your courtesy will grant US
space in your paper for brief state
ment of the facts In connection with
the work Of the committee.
The United Christian party corven-
ton was held In Des Moines, July 4
and s. at which time we nominated a
full state ticket. At that time the as
surance was given us that the parties
SO nominated would accept. However,
NO nomination rnners for signatures
were then sent out by order of the
committee. and what was done in that
| line by some was of their own accord
or at the request OF some other unau-
thorized person.
In about two weeks we We're notified
that the person nominated for Judge
of supreme court declined to have his
name on the United Christian party
ticket. Having been informed that
some nomination papers were being cir
culated bv unauthorized individuals,
we at once wrote to the .parties, tell
ing them that it would be better to
stop getting signatures until our ticket
was perfected.
We disclaim having written the let
ter reported to have been received by
w. c. Haines. from us, in regard to
Auditor Merriam informing us that
we would need new petitions, as we
have never. written to auditor .Mer-
riam, Neither did Mr.. Merriam ever
write to us.
" The state central committee having
provided for the vacancy on the ticket,
we now present the following: For
governor. C. c. .Heacock, of Brighton;
lieutenant governor, j. F. r. Leonard,
OF Ainsworth; judge supreme court,
h. W. Darner, of Ottumwa; tsuperin-
tendent public instruction, w. C. Pidg-
con, OF Rich1and; railroad commission
er, G. q. Lindley. Of Hedrick.
Nomination papers for this ticket are
now being circulated by the committee
and we are very confident that within
few days the papers will be filed
with the secretar-. of state with the
signatures OF far, more than the num-
Der Of qualified voters required. And
we are persuaded that the people of
IoWa will soon realize that the United
Christian party is neither dead nor
broken up. but is here to stay.
True. the United Christian party has
adopted as our motto What Would
Jesus Do" and we are fully convinced
that those who are identified with the
move are eneleayoring to answer that
question. each for himself, by practic-
| ing what they believe Jesus would do
were He in their place. Therefore, we
are not in the mld-singing business,
recognizing the fact that honest men
may honestly differ as to the method
for the accomplis hment OF certain ends,
And while we recognize this fact,
we believe that Christian men should
all be united at the ballot box for the
overthrow of the licensed saloon and all
other legalizeds wrong.
We are mot partisans in the general
acceDtation of the term, but we are
Christians advocating the unity Of all
good men for the good Of all mankind;
and we are persuaded that when Chris
tian men are enabled to see this ques-
lion in its proper light and will stand
united at the ballot box, the evil in
fuences OF bad and pernicious legisla-
ton can be completely done away.
1t seems to us that every Christian
ought to see the propriety Of voting as
he prays. "Thy will be done on
earth as it is done in heaven"
With respect. l am, yours FOR truth
and righteousness, G. Q. Lindley,
Chairman State Central Connrmittee,
of the United Christian Party.
Statistics Were Wrong.
led. ~. ~