Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-12
BANKERS CALLED ON
Gov. Shaw Asks Assistance to Re-
turn Fifty.flrst Regiment.
WANTS THEM TO ADVANCE MONEY
ottumwa Bankers Consent to Request
on Conditions-WiIl Amount to
About -Four Hundred Dol-
lars for Each County,

o Shaw has sent to the bankers of
the state of Iowa a letter, in which he
asks them to make up the fund need
ed for the return of the Fifty-tirst reg
iment, Iowa volunteer infantry, from
San Francisco to their homes next
month. If the banks will join in bear
ing the expense, or condition that the
legislature will vote to refund the
money, it will require less than $500
a county. The governor feels confident
that they will furnish the money, and
there are rumor that the matter has
already beeen carried to a successful
conclusion.
The Ottumwa. Banking association,
Including the several banks of the city,
held a meeting soon after receiving the
request from Governor Shaw, and the
president, J. B. Mowrey, and Secretary
Calvin Manning We're instructed to no.
willing to raise the pro rata OF the
full amount is raised. The banks Of
this city also ask for the opinion of
the attorney general as to whether the
legislature has the power to make an
appropriation of this character.
Gov. Shaw Communication.
The following is the communication
from Governor Shaw:
"As you have doubtless been advised,
an effort is being made to bring the
Fifty-tirst Iowa home from San Fran
cisco at the expense of the state. A
movement is on foot to secure pledges
from prospective members of the next
general assembly sufficient to insure
the reimbursement. There will be
some delay in securing these sigma
lures. L therefore write you, as 1 do
all the banks of your county. asking
that you, separately or unitedly, join
with the banks of other counties in
pledging your proportionate share of
ties respond, less than $500 per coun-
ty will cover the outlay. 1t is a patri-
otto movement, and / feel confident
that the general assembly will unani-
mously vote to reimburse. During the
war of the rebellion, those who loaned
their credit or their money to the state
were not only held harmless, but their
names have since been kept in happy
and %endearing remembrance. l wish
you would either singly or in conjunc-
ton with the other banks of your coun-
ty hold yourself for such amount as You
may designate in your advice. This will
provide against all possible refusals, I
think. This money will be used in de-
fraying the expenses of transporting
the troops home. No committee will
be sent to San Francisco at state ex-
pense. When this shall have been done,
a list of the banks SO rendering their
aid will be published, in merited rec
ognition of the patriotic response.
shall be glad to include the name of
your institution in the list, or your in
dividual name if you shall prefer.
hope you will give this immediate at
tention. Like other matters of this
kind. it had better be attended to
promptly than be allowed to delay and
be forgotten. All the banks of your
county have been written to, and you
can probably adjust it in fifteen min
utes by telephone. May i not appeal
to you to take the initiative in your
county,"