Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-31
IoWANs ARE IN EARNEST.
Republicans Prepare for Thoro Organ
ization and Campaiqn.

ization and Campaign.
Des Moines, July 2S.-Chairman
Weaver has perfected the scheme of
organizing republican clubs in the
state and announced it today. 1t COM
bines the features of the regular re-
publican club with a marching COM
pany into which the Rough Rider idea
is to be introduced. Every township,
if not every voting precinct is to have
club and county organization will
be undertaken, the officers to be ap-
pointed by the chairman of the repub-
lican county committee.
The responsibility for the execution
of the plan is placed upon the county
chairmen, who will be aided by the
township committeeman. The county
organization will be called regiment,
and will have colonel. lieutenant CO.
lionel and other regimental officers for
the marching clubs on the occasion of
great rallies. Some of these marching
clubs will be mounted and will be To-
cally styled Rough Rider clubs. Each
congressional district will be organic
ed into a brigade, which will bring the
marching clubs of the district together
several times during the campaign for
Ia big demonstration. The brigade Of
ficers will be appointed by the district
member of the republican state cen
trail committee. Chairman Weaver
said today:
Il have had letters by scores from
all over the state inquiring about the
republican club and Rough Rider or.
ganization for the campaign. After
careful consideration and consultation
with experienced men, we have agreed
upon the plan which is given out to-
day. This will have the effect of
bringing the activities of the county
and state organizations into closer
communion. We are prepared to do ev-
erything that can be done from the
state headquarters to help the club
organization. An experienced state
organizer will have charge of the work
with headquarters in the state commit
tee rooms, and he will have all the as
sistance necessary to push the organi-
cation all over the state. We will pro.
vide uniforms at very trifling ex-
pense, so that marching clubs, wheth-
er mounted or unmounted. will be well
fitted out at the smallest possible
cost.
l am urging upon the county chair
men and township committeeman the
Importance of early and thoro organ
ization. The efficiency of the state
committee depends altogether upon
how thoroly the local organization is
perfected. We are powerless to do
anything for community until we
have good, active representatives
there. and, to my notion, there is
nothing better than a good, live repub-
lican club. Where they have organiza.
lions we shall Of course recognize
them, as we do not want to disturb
any organization now in existence.
We will be well supplied with all
kinds of campaign material, which
will be supplied to the clubs when
they are organized.
The speaking campaign probably
will not open before the middle Of Sep
tember-that is, it will not be general
over the state before that time. A
conference of the Iowa members of
congress and the republican leaders in
the state will be held here about the
middle OF August and at that time the
details of the state campaign will be ar
ranged. / have personally invited ev-
cry delegate to the republican state
convention next week to call upon me
at the state headquarters while he is
in town, and | hope all will do so. I
want to meet the men who are doing
the party's active work all over the
state, find out what they need and
learn from them the situation in every
county. The state is in excellent con-
dition politically, as see it, but with
out thoro and active work we cannot
expect to make good showing in No
vember.