Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-10

desperation, Will re-enlist to fight
against their own convictions in end
less war. The Philippine swamps and
Filipino bullets will finish the work OF
destruction.
sFhe censor in the Philippines now
forbids the publication of all news
that would show up the horrors of the
war and the tremendous sacrifices the
people of this country will have to
make to conquer warlike people,
solely for the exploitation of carpet
'baggers and corporations. Returning
TO their homes the volunteers would
quickly make known to the American
ineople the real conditions in the Phil
ippines and death knell would soon
be sounded to the un-American policy
of conquest and buster.
+ Mr.. Governor, will the people of
your state permit the war department
to add this crime to the horrors of
Camp Chickamauga, Camp Merritt and
embalmed beef? Let us assure you
that these horrors will pale into in
Significance with those to result from
the disbandment of the volunteers in
San Francisco. We ask you to use
your utmost influence on the admins
istration to- change its present pol
ICY"
Governor Shaw,s Reply.
"Your circular letter Of July 90 is
received and carefully noted" writes
Governor Shaw in reply, "tbut the, sem
timents therein expressed are in no de-
20 l>l 4L,,%
speak for the local labor council of
San Francisco, but it will be difficult to
convince the people of my state that
your utteranees will be approved by
the american Federation of Labor,
with which yon claim to be affiliated,
or by the council for which you pro-
fess to speak.
Recalls kirkwSod,s Advice.
81 do not anticipate that the men OF
the Fifty-first Iowa will be easily be-
guiled by what you are pleased to call
Irresistible attractions You must
have failed to have come in contact
with this regiment when in camp in
your city. The four regiments were
enlisted from the best young men of
our state, each able to furnish cer-
titicate of good character, and they are
prepared to sustain themselves and
their good name. They will not be-
come soldier tramps, nor will they
attempt to beat the trains nor will
they be put off on mountains and in
deserts and there miserably perish
On the contrary, they will return self
respectful and respected citizen sol
diers. with record of which they will
be so justly proud as to furnish good
measure of protection against what
might perhaps overcome weaker men
with no reputation to maintain.
"There will be no check placed upon
the utterances of these men concerns
ing the cause in which they have been
engaged. If they see fit to discredit
1t, it will be their privilege to do so,
but many of their fathers in former
generation likewise returned from a
service which was here and there de-
nounced, and, as / remember it, it was
never safe to denounce that service
in the presence of returned soldiers.
One of my predecessors once said in a
public speech:
LII you hear anyone utter one syl-
\ liable against the government of the
United States or against the president
our boys are fighting, or do aught In
disrespect to the flag that waves over
them, shoot him where he stands.
They may arrest you, they may try
you, they may convict you, but they
shall never hang you. I'm governor
of Iowa
Spirit of Patriotism Lives.
THAT spirit of patriotism sown
broadcast by the heroic Kirkwood il.
not dead on Iowa soil, and while heroic
measures will not be necessary now, 1
am free to say that no returning Iowa
soldier need fear to resent, in any Dig
nified and manly way, any disrespect-
full utterances concerning him or the
use for which he has voluntarily and
heroically risked his life.
Il fear, my dear Sir, you have not
kept much in touch with the thought
and sentiment of your country. Ger
tainly you have not caught the spirit
of the Iowa people or of the Iowa
troops"
To further the movement to have
the Fifty-frst Iowa returned to Des
Moines for its final muster out a
meeting of all citizens of those towns
and citizens represented in that organ
ization has been called for this city.
The call was issued today over the
| signature of Robert Kissick, the auth
or, who first interested himself in the
movement. 800
The call is addressed to s'citizens of
Des Moines, Villisca, Glenwood, Knox
vile. Shenandoah, Oskaloosa, Creston,
Bedford, Corning, Council Bluffs and
Red Oak" and reads thus:
"You are respectfully requested to
send representative to Des Moines on
Thursday, Aug II, to meet with the