Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-23
TAKES A HAND in IT.

| PiSASAS " Siullc Over Tatner lHd0 talk
about.
TAKES A HAND IN 1T.
Dolliver Said to be in the Labor Com
missioner Fight.
Des Moines, Nov. 1S.-The chief mat
ter OF interest about the state house
today was the appointment of a
labor commissioner to succeed O'Ble-
ness, made SO by the story in circula-
ton to the effect that Congressman
Dolliver had taken hand. 1t had been
known that Deputy Labor Commits.
sioner Wilson and President Waters of
! the Trades Assembly, We're candidates
for the position, and opinion was di-
vided as to which of these men was the
stronger with the governor. The op-
position to Waters caused the story to
be circulated that he, as an officer of
the labor organization, had sent circu-
lars TO Dubuque and Pottawattamie
counties, calling upon members of la
Dor unions to vote against the repub-
lican candidates for the legislature.
They did this in the hope, SO it is said
today, that Governor Shaw, with a
leaning toward Gear, might seize up
on the statement as an excuse for
turning Waters down, it being known
that he was in perfect accord with the
Cummins resolutions, which were pass
ed by the labor organizations some
time ago. This was the situation
when the word leaked out that influ-
entail men about the state house had
received word from Congressman Dol
liver not to commit themselves on the
labor commissioner question until he
should have time to communicate fur
Their with them. This report was cou-
pied with another to the effect that
Mr.. Dolliver had. a candidate for the
position in the person of prominent
Scandinavian of Ft. Dodge. When
these reports had been run down and
found true the speculation naturally
turned to the weight that Mr.. Dolliver
would have with the governor. The
men. are said to be good friends, but
each no doubt has few political Sc
crets that he would not care to dis
close to the other. In political sense
they are in each others way, and
whether Mr.. Delivers recommends
tions will cut much ice in the deter
/ SOIAlulSS1OuSulD
is question on which the wise ones
do not agree. The plot has thickened,
however, since the tenth district con-
gresham has indicated that he will
have word to say, and the successor
to O'Bleness will be an interesting
topic of discussion until the matter
shall have been settled by the action of
the governor.
Waters Admits IL.
w. G. Waters, president Of the Des
Moines Trades and Labor assembly, adj
mits that his name was signed to the
circular sent to Dubuque prior to the
recent election, urging all laboring
men to vote against c. 7. Hancock, the
| republican nominee for senator.
The criticism of Mr.. Waters action
has become acute since he announced
his candidacy for the position of labor
ment to reporter for the Capital this
afternoon for the purpose of explain
ing fully his position He said:
1t is true the circular bore my sig
nature, but it is not true that I au-
shorized it or had anything to do with
it. I was appointed one Of commits
4 tee of three chosen by the assembly
for the purpose of taking political ac-
ton during the campaign. We decided
that our attention had been best di.
rected to the southeastern portion OF
the state and I spent week in Ma.
haska, Marion and Wapello counties,
in behalf of republican candidates for
Representatives. While was gone, the
remaining members of the committee
in Des Moines decided that it was to
the interest of the organization that
Hancock be defeated, and they pre-.
pared the circular and sent it out, with
my name affixed as chairman. I knew
nothing about what they had done un.
til returned to Des Moines three days
after the circular had been sent OUT.
"Now I have always been a republi.
can. was a delegate to the last con-
gressional convention and supported
Hull. l have been delegate to all re-
publican county conventions for q
number OF years and have served or
the registration and election boards
within the past year. am thorough
republican from the ground up and
worked for republican representatives
4