Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-05
GOV. SHAW ON WHITE.
Gives Demsoratic Nominee a Quiet
Reproof.
A RINGING. SPEECH AT DAVENPORT.

IN which Political Issues Are Plainly
Set Forth = The Matter of Finan-
cial ituation-Assessment
and Valuations.
Davenport, Oct. 3.-When Fred
White, the democratic nominee for
governor, spoke in Davenport short
time ago, he made vicious personal
assault upon Governor Shaw. The gov
ernor's only reply was the following
preface to his speech last night:
"The ethical character of political
campaigns has undergone marked
change within the last quarter of a
century, and there is still room for
greater improvement. The Oldest law
yers remember when it was the prac-
tice of the courts to abuse the oppo-
site attorney, and his client, and his
witnesses, but that day has passed.
Lawyers of highest standing now refer
to the opponents only in terms of
greatest respect, and in the introduce
ton of evidence never ask question
which they think is vulnerable to OBJ
lection. In presentation of their cases
one now hears a courteous remark, I
understand your contention is as fol-
lows and the other attorney replies
Yes or makes any desired correc-
ton; and then upon this admitted is
sue the argument proceeds. The trend
is in the same direction politically. The
time is not far distant when men of
sufficient personal standing to receive
the endorsement and nomination of a
great political party will be exceed
ingly careful to say nothing and do
nothing unbecoming gentleman, and
when political campaigns, like cases
tried in court, will be heard upon the
high plane of merit
The governor then proceeded with
his regular speech, being listened to by
large and enthusiastic audience:
Fortunatel, there seem to be no
state issues. The democratic party en-
dorses the board of control; though. it
opposes contracting convict labor as is
now under consideration by the board.
The only law, however, which author
ICES the board to contract such labor
received the vote of every democrat,
every free silver republican, and every
populist in the general assembly, and
the proposed policy is upon the recon-
mendation of the Representative of the
democratic party on the board, who
has been many times honored by his
party, and twice its candidate for gov
ernor. During the four years covered
by the administrations of Governor
Boies, convict labor was furnished by
the state to at least two manufacture
ing establishments, and no protest was
raised against the same. I think every
one recognizes the undesirability of
contracting convict labor whenever
avoidable. What conclusion the board
will reach, I am unable to say. II is
purely question for it to determine.
The chief executive has no authority
whatsoever in the premises. 1 there
fore dismiss it as in no manner inyoly-
ed in this campaign.
IN state Debt .ti.
Two years ago, an attempt was in.
.dulged by the triple alliance TO make
state issues play an important part in
the campaign. The reports of state Of
ficers of June 30, of that year, showed
a debt of $410,0oo. No member of
either of the three political parties,
whose joint forces confronted us in
that year, even entered the capitol to
examine as to the correctness of those
reports, but it was openly charged that
in fact the debt exceeded $500, 900, and
some claimed it exceeded million.
Net Surplus s446.OOO.
Nothing is being said about the state
debt in this campaign, and for the rea-
son that every dollar of it was long
since paid and the reports Of June 80,
1899, showed a net cash surplus of
$445,ooo. This fact is not complained
of, nor is it commended. 1t is simply
passed over in silence. The opposition
parties, however declared their disap-
proval of the course pursued by the
republican party in placing, as they
claim, the burden of taxation upon the
farmers and common people to the pro-
lection of corporation interests. No
one of them has ever been to any state
Office to discover any fact on which to
predicate these charges. Republican
officers have always been charged with
being corporation tools. 1t is an aver
ment easily made, requires no proof,
and one that none will stop to deny.
The duty of republican officials is fully
met when they keep such charges I'M
true.
People Should Know the Facts.
1t is, however, due the people of the
state to know the facts about assess
ments, even though those facts are
somewhat prosy. The executive coun-
Gil is charged by statute with the duty
of assessing all railway, telegraph and
telephone companies doing business in
the state. This council is composed
of the governor, secretary of state, au-
ditor of state, and treasurer of state.
These same officials are also charged
with reviewing the assessments of all
other property, and they are authoriz-
ed to raise or lower any class or kind
of property in any county as they deem
just. Therefore, whatever assess
ments exist are either made or APPROX
ed by this council, and if any cause for
complaint exists this complaint may
well be directed against these officials,
as well as against the party responsible
for their incumbency.
Corporation Faxes Increased.
During the two years last past, the
executive council has annually increas-
ed the fpurep a te assessment nf rail