Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-19
Local Democrats Have semi-secret
Organization,
HAVE A MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 125.
Was Organized by Charles A. Walsh in
the City Recently-NIectins Was
Held i'll the City
Hall.

of the party in Iowa has almost been
completed, and Wapello county is a
part and parcel OF the whole with a
membership of 125. each OF whom have
| anted silver dollar and promised to
| pay So more when the coin is needed.
Senator w. A. McIntire is president of
the local branch and j. Don Kiser was
secretary. 1t is not known who the
other officers were or who succeeds
| Mr.. Kiser since his removal from the
| city. 1t is the intention to perfect Sim
liar organizations in every county in
Iowa with Il membership of not less
than fifty who will agree to pay into
the treasury of that organization the
sum of not less than So each, thus max
| ing a campaign fund of about $4,000
which, if used judiciously, is expected
to give Iowa to the democracy in five
years. No Ottumwa democrat has said
that that is the expectation, but the
| agreement to contribute for five years
would lend color to the suggestion.
Last fall scheme was originated
in the fertile brain of leaders in the
1 party. The local unterrified will not
tell or do not know who the originator,
is. AT any rate the state was divided
into districts and Charles A. Walsh
was given that part of the territory
of which Wapello county is part. He
proceeded to call meeting for the pur-
pose and forty local democrats re-
sponded. The meeting was held in the
city hall, its objects explained and of
ficsrs were elected. The organization
has been christened the Iowa State
United Democracy" and comprises
| members of the standard weight and
fineness from each township in the
county. The meetings are held behind
closed doors and none, not even demo-
Gratis, are admitted unless they have a
membership card or are known to the
ldoorkeeper to be members. Each per-
son who enters the organization agrees
to contribute the, sum of ST annually
and receives in exchange therefor a
card which entities him to member
ship, signed by Chairman Huffman,
OF the state central committee, and
countersigned by the organizer. The
card also attests that they are demo-
Gratis, true to the faith and interested
in the success of the party at the polls.
They agree. in Wapello county, to give
the further sum of SO when the same
is needed, and to repeat the gift every
year for five years. At the end of that
i.time it is figured that a campaign
tund will have been raised to enable
them TO Disseminate literature aud
4 educate the people in the faith of the
party. 1t is figured by those who are
fostering the scheme that the new
organization will create renewed in
terest in the party and at the same
time be an organized means of raising
| q campaign fund, something, democrats
say, they have not had for years. One
OF: the organizers, Il. w. Hillman, of
Des Moines, it is said, has organized
| over forty counties, but local demo-
Gratis say that the number greatly ex-
ceeds chat and that by this time near
ly the whole of the state has been can
vassed and an organization perfected in
each county.
Since its organization the members
have held several meetings and in n
few weeks will hold another. 1t is eA-
pected that it will cut quite scallop
in county politics this fall and at the
same time be solid unit in the work
of the state and national campaign,
SO far as it's influence extends. 1t is
said that at the present time the mem
bership comprises 1875 democrats, while
others say that 200 have Joined. Be
that as it may the democrats of Wa
pello county are making a beginning
for fight such as Wapello county has
not seen. They do not intend to make,
a dirty campaign, nor yet make a
still hunt" but will use every means
that a compact organization with mon
ey at it's command can make use of.
Democrats say that the organization
is nothing more than the formation
of county central committee on
slightly different lines than usual, but
republicans say that it has deeper
significance, some limiting that the
silver forces have hand in it. To this
last declaration democrats say that the
silver question will not be the main
issue this fall, altho it will not be en-
tirely dropped, but that the campaign
will be fought on entirely different
lines. Just what the issue in the coun-
ty will be unless it is Turn the rascals
OUT" is not known, or whether they
will have any issue at all. Another
thing that democrats are saying but
little about is the fact that 125 men
are employed at the Dain plant, all of
whom, it is said, are democrats, and
this will be factor for republicans to
consider.