Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-05
FEWER ELECTIONS.
Legislature May Submit Amends
ment for Biennial Elections.
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN is A NUISANCE

Disturbs Seriously the Business World
Free silver Agitation Promised
Next Year-Ohio Campaign
Puts Iowa i'm Shade.
Des Moines, Oct. s.-Annual cleo
lions are the curse of business, is the
general opinion Of those who do not
make their living out of politics, and it
Is not likely that there will be any ser
GUS opposition next winter to the sub
mission of the constitutional amend
ment to abolish the annual election in
Iowa. One in two years is plenty
often enough to go through the agony
and disturbance of political cam
paign, as other states have nearly all
decided. Even the politician will be
glad of a rest, most of them, so they
will not have to be on the alert the year
around, but will have time for some
thing else and to enjoy the rewards of
their efforts. Some have expressed the
opinion that the newspapers will be OPP
posed to the change. but such an opin-
4 Son proceeds from an entirely mistaken
idea OF the newspaper business. The
newspaper that can not,do ~ success
full business without the stimulation
and plea for support of annual cam
paigns doesn't cut much figure any
where, and the newspapers that have
influence, because of being able, honest
and Interesting, would prefer not to
have their columns abnormally cram
med with politics so much of the time.
The readers of newspapers do not like
the exclusion of everything to make
room for politics as much as is now
done. They will be glad when the news
papers are relieved from the pressure
aud can devote more time and space
TO other subjects of more general in
serest than the hnrrah of campaign.
Nor will the people lose their interest
in politics and become less interested
Citizens by reason of having more time
TO think and study and chance TO
come to their conclusions more delib-
erately and with less excitement. These
are some of the arguments that moved
the last legislature to submit the prop
psition to the next legislature to have
BIENNIAL elections. There was scarcely
hn-- opposition then, and none has de
iSeloped since.
III Already business men are contcm-
plating with alarm the agitation which
is now promised by the free silver co
horts next year. That another attempt
to establish that doctrine in this coun-
try will check the tide of prosperity
that is now rising so rapidly there can
he no doubt. Ut will hold back the hand
of every man who is thinking of invest
{ ing dollar, for though there will be
less danger of the success of free silver
<s2an d. there appeared TO be in 1896, We,
Here will be the chance. which tilnid
capital never likes to take. Very much
depends upon the results OF the cleo.
lions. Iowa and Ohio this year, for
their effect on the hopes of the free sill.
yerites will be very great. They are
& making a campaign this year, in Iowa
and elsewhere, on whatever appeals to
passions and prejudice they can con.
ceive. They are trying what there is in
Arousing the ignorant with the cry that
We are being led into government OF
militarism, and they are gathering to-
gether all the indictments and grum.
blers and iil-informed anti-expansion.
lists, hoping by the aid of all these tc
get a foot-hold for next year. Bryan
himself has quit talking silver and with
his iron jaw the Snowman is assailina
the government of his country because
1t has not hauled down the fac and
\ taken to its heels in cowardly retreat
4 taom lot of savages whom it is trying
:. TO helm. He has openly said that it dit
not matter whether the democrats wor
the elections this year or not, just sc
I they could make gains, to be claimed a.
free silver gains. These facts and thi.
situation will become so we'll known il,
iowa before election day, the part,
! leaders feel sure, that every republican
and sound money man will see how
much it his duty to cast his vote thi.
year to strengthen the party for thu
q next campaign. and prevent the silver
crowd from gaining 4 seeming advan
Sage. This is the theory of the lowe
campaign of 1S99-that ii is a skirmisl
line for 1900.
The Ohio campaign is attracting tn,
attention of the country to such an eN
tent that. nationally, Iowa is obscured
Ane general opinion outside of Iowa i
that Nova, is all right, anyway" 81
they devote their attention and effort
TO other states. Ohio is the scene of :
great battle, where John r. Mclean
several times a millionaire, is making
rich mans fight for governor, and OF
The administration of President Nc
d 5linley. Being the presidents state it
Importance oyershadows everything
else, and brings the party management
there unsolicited offers of help from al
parts of the country. congressman an,
other speakers feel that it is not a ha,
ahing to have done something in Obi
Il to. help the administration. So it i
hard for the management of the low
campaign to get the outside speaker
needed to assist in our campaign. Sen
ator Burrows OF Michigan has been Sc
cured for the Waterloo meeting Oct.
BY the personal efforts of Colonel Hen
derson and Senator Allison. othe
sneakers are hoped for, but not We
secured.
The next quarterly; bank statemen
showing the condition Of the state an
savings banks in Iowa at the close q