Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-02
VS.. KERR'SADDRESS
Last Of the Republican Campaign
In This City.
MANSFIELD DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN

MANSFIELD DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN
Ohio Legislator Speaks on tho Salient
issues of tho Day-His Views ON
the Question of Expan.
sion, Etc.
Hon. W. S. Kerr, congressman from
the Mansfield, Ohio, district, delivered
the closing address in the republican
campaign in this city last evening. The
meeting was held at the Turner opera
house, and was attended by an audi
ence which thoroughly appreciated the
strong forceful arguments in favor of
the present republican administration,
especially that pertaining to the poll
cy of William Mckinley in the Philip
pine question. Mr.. Kerr dwelt upon
the necessity of a full republican vote
at the coming state elections, which,
he said, would sanction the Mckinley
administration, and upon which will
largely hinge the result of the presi-
dental election in 1900.
Preceding Mr.. Kerr's address, the
Wapello Chief band rendered a number
of selections, after which Judge w. d.
Tisdale called the meeting to order, and
introduced the speaker.
Mr.. Kerr said he would not attempt
to discuss state politics, as he was not
familiar with the situation, but that he
would confine his remarks to a few sa-
lient points concerning the national is
sues. He said there are many reasons
why he was glad to come into Iowa to
participate in this campaign, among
which is the relation existing between
his native state of Ohio and Iowa. Sam
uel j. Kirkwood and Senator William
B. Allison were Ohioans, and Mr.. Kerr
named many other prominent men of
the state who were natives of Ohio, and
with whom he is intimately acquainted.
He also referred to the pleasant ac-
quaintance between himself and Major
John f. Lacey, and Colonel Henderson,
whom he considered grand examples
of Iowa citizenship.
Mr.. Kerr said that it appeared that
the democratic party ought to be sat
isfed with the past two years Of repub-
lican administration. When the demo-
Gratis were at the helm of the govern
nent the conditions became SO unsatis-
factory to the people that in 1896 it
was decided to put the republicans
back in control of the national affairs,
and Mr.. Kerr referred to the wonderful
wave of prosperity that has resulted.
But, they bob up again serenely, only
this time our opponents have new is
sue. In 1896 it was the money ques-
ton. They pictured little streams of
silver flowing through the land but it
failed to catch the people, and now
they have been compelled to take up
something new and come to US with
the anti-expansion issue. During the
last democratic administration they
failed to do anything for the people,
and consequently poor Cleveland was
made scape goat to expiate the sins
of the party. Cleveland, who is the
best democrat in the history Of the
party, a democrat who stood squarely
on the platform on which he was elect
ed, was sacrificed, merely because the
policy was not successful and failed
to please the people. Mr.. Kerr ac.
knowledged that the democratic party
is ingenious, in fact it is compelled to
be in order to conceive a new panacen,
as it We're, for the ills of each sue.
ceeding campaign. When they were
advocating the free coinage Of silver
they did not even dream that the Phil
ippine question would be the issue OF
the campaign this year, but as in all
past history, they have been compelled
to admit, after trial of republican
policies that they are right, and that
the democratic party was in the
wrong. 1t has been so throughout his
tory, and Mr.. Kerr very pertinently il
Illustrated his assertion.
He then went into the history of the
United States acquisition of the Phil
ippines; how it was the desire of repub-
licans and democrats alike that the
war in Cuba should be brought to an
end, which desire has been the cause
OF the United States acquiring terrific
ry that must he cared for. He referred
to the acquisition of this territory as
an opportunity to increase our com,
mercial interests, and ocean traffic, the
recent wars having opened up new
avenue for maritime commerce for
the United States which will render
the Philippines of inestimable value.
He gave as another reason WHY we
should keep the Philippines that we
are in honor bound to maintain and
protect that which has been lawfully
secured by conquest by the brave boys
who left their homes in the cause of
huma nifv and iuStioa
Mr.. Kerr said if the people wanted
anything good they were always com.
PEELED to look to the republican party
for it, and that is what they will do in
the coming election. They are salts,
fed with the good times and prosperi-
ty that have been brought about by re.
publican principles, and will not per.
init the advocates of the ''anti-imperi.
alist" doctrine to lead them astray on
this chance issue.
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