Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-07

magnificent crops this year and the
reputation of being the surest crop
country in the world-why, it really
isn't much wonder that the people of
Iowa are getting to be proud OF their
state, and that the rest of the world
regards it as an ideal commonwealth.
The politicians are now pretty gem
orally agreed that there really wasn't
much senatorial politics in the candi-
dacy of Mr.. Weaver or the organiza-
ton of the committee. None of the
committeeman who come from Gear
territory" were asked to pledge them
selves to any special course. The Gear.
managers did not even suggest pref.
erence for anybody for chairman. Mr..
Weaver was looked upon as Gear
candidate, but neither Gear nor any
recognized spokesman of the senator
asked single member of the commit.
tee to support Mr.. Weaver, or to op-
pose anybody else.
There is no denying that the middle
of-the-road populists have at least as
sumed the dignity OF being real po-
liticul party. In the past they have
been a good deal of a joke. But their
recent conference and convention have
been eminently respectable gatherings.
Chairman Weeks, of the state commit
tee. is going to be the whole thing
again this year. As a mark of conf
dence in his program, the committee
lseleeted him to be temporary chairman
of the convention, and he made Il long
speech. He declared that there are
two issues in this campaign: First,
trusts and monopolies; second, imper-
ialism. The money question he dis
cussed under the general head OF
trusts. His position on this is inter-
esting. He declared for the continued
free coinage of gold and silver at the
ratio of 16 to /, because the country
has eXtant obligations which il is
pledged to pay in these coins. But for
internal. and ultimate universal use,
he recommends sso-called scientific
money; that is, 100 per cent fiat
| money.
The acquisition OF Professor Heron
las the patron saint of the patty brings
to it a man who has had the adveftis-
ling which the party needs; a man of
culture and scholarly instincts, and a
man OF IDEAS. He will give character
to the party; his recent address will
attract attention, and impart character
to the organization before which it
was delivered. Your middle-roader
will hereafter represent something be-
sides a sore head and a disposition to
kick. Mr.. Weeks says red-hot cam
paign will be waged.
sxx
John MacVicar is out of it. That is,
he has announced he will not run for
mayor again next spring. 1t doesn't
mean he is ont OF politics, for good
many people take the announcement
race for the nomination for congress.
Mr.. MacVicar has been accused OF
wanting to be governor, congressman
and several other things of pretty big
caliber, and thus far he has never adj
mitted or denied any of the charges.
But he does admit that he has had all
he wants of the mayoralty. 1t is a safe
guess, however, that he will not re-
tire from politics just yet. He couldn't.
His disposition would not permit it,
and his friends would not consent to it,
He will be factor in Polk county as
long as he is here, and he will be
around the edges any time there is a
fight.
The executive committee OF the To-
wa Hardware Dealers association met
in Des Moines all day Wednesday and
! discussed plans for competing with
the catalogue houses and cut-rate
dealers The meeting was a special
one, called by President II. G. Cole, of
Council Bluffs. Mrs. III. Kupper, OF
Burlington, acted as secretary. There
We're sixteen members of the commit
tee present, representing that many
of the most prominent firms in the
larger towns Of the state. The SEES