Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-16

State law requiring corporations TO
make disclosure of their profits, is it
probable thai this company will build
their proposed ten or twenty 500 ton
plants in Iowa, or will they build them
in some state that has less objection
able legislation? And, mark you,
twenty beet sugar factories would not
constitute a monopoly. The price of
sugar would not be affected in the
least. The company would take the
risk of a removal of the present tariff
on sugar, which would quite probably
drive them out of business. 1t
would also take the risk OF
inducing the farmers to plant
beets, for without beets the plants
would be worthless. Do not let the
suggestion of beet sugar plants stand
in the way, gentlemen,of any legisla-
ton which may to you seem wise. 1
speak of it not to give assurance that
the plants will be built. know moth
ing about that, but refer to it as an
illustration. The same principles to
which refer will be applicable to any
other industry that may seek home.
Capital has powers of locomotion, and
like individuals its rendezvous is al
ways where it receives the kindest
treatment. You can compel capital
neither to come nor to stay. You can
suggest that its room is preferable to
its company, and it will heed the sug-
gestion. If all the states of the Union
could be induced to unite upon some
single policy, l would have no fears of
successfully combating monopolies in
this country. They might be built up
abroad, but they could then be effect
lively reached by means of a tariff. If
trusts are to exist anywhere, would
prefer them in this country, and would
as soon submit to the domination of
steel rail factories built and operating
in Iowa as where they are. If you can
devise some way TO bring about uni
form legislation, so that capital shall
find no more welcome elsewhere than
here, it will be my pleasure to cooper
ate with you, or, if you can devise
some statute which will relieve our
people from the domination of monop-
olies either at home or abroad, shall
be glad to add my signature when the
bill shall be presented for approval.
These evils did not exist in the first
half, or to any extent, in the first sew
enty-fve years, of the century. They
are of modern growth, and like every
other growth, animal and vegetable,
are incident to conditions. Change the
conditions, and you change the fauna
and fora of every country and every
mountain side. Any legislation that
will bring widespread financial disaster
and ruin will result in the abolition OF
trusts and combines, and will scatter
all aggregations of capital. 1 think it
is generally conceded that the trust
problem must be treated by the ma
tional congress rather than by state
legislatures. | have, therefore, refer
red to the subject and perhaps INDUCED
in discussion of unnecessary length,
rather to stimulate thought and inves-
tigation than TO furnish basis for leg
islative consideration.
| have already briefly referred to the
death within the two years last past
of one of Iowa's most honored and
best beloved citizens, whose public SER
vice was varied and of great value to
both state and nation. Hon. James
Harlan, Iowa's first superintendent of
public instruction, was elected to the
United States senate in 1855, where he
served with distinction until appointed
secretary of the interior by Abraham
Lincoln, which office he held during
the administration of Andrew Jackson.
He died at his home in Mt. Pleasant,
October 5, 1899.
Hon. Cyrus c. Carpenter was regis
trar of the state land office from 1867
TO 1871; was representative in the Sew
enth and Twentieth general assem-
blies; was member of the Forty-sixth
and Forty-seventh congresses of the
United States, and for two terms, 1872
to 1876, governor of this common
wealth. He died at his home in Fort
Dodge May 81, 1898.
Hon. Samuel Merrill, governor OF
Iowa for two terms, 1868 to 1872, died
in Los Angeles, California, on the Sd
day of August, 1899. His remains were
brought to Des Moines, his family
home, and there inferred.
Hon. James II. Rothrock died Jan
uary IA, 1899. He was field officer
| in the volunteer forces during the
civil war, state senator in the Ninth
general assembly, judge of the district
court of Iowa from 1867 to 1876, and
| judge of the supreme court of Iowa
| from 1876 to 1897.
| Hon. John S. Woolson served with
distinction as an officer in the United
States navy during the civil war; wal
for twelve years member of the state
senate; in 1891 he received the appoint
ment as judge of the United States dis
trict court in and for the southern dis
trict of Iowa, and died in Office on De
cember 4, 1899.
Hon. Charles L. Davidson, railroad
commissioner of Iowa from 1894 to his
death, died suddenly March IS, 1898
lie was a member of the house of rep
resentatiyes in the Nineteenth Genera
Assembly of Iowa.
Hon. L. S. Gates died suddenly dur
| ing his first term as dairy commits
sioner on October II, 1898.
Charles A. Schaeffer, LII. D., presi
dent of the State University of lowe
from 1887, died at his home in lowe
City on September %, 1898.
Hon. II. L. Gilman, for many years
superintendent of the insane asylum
at Mt. Pleasant, died suddenly during
his term of office on October Q, 1898.
/ These each and all lead honorable
lives, discharged public service faith
fully, We're much beloved by those wht
knew them personally or wer associas
ed with them officially, and are deepl,
mourned by the people of their state