Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-27
THIRD TERN TOSHAW
Friends Of the Governor Also Talk
Of Him for the Presidency.
POLITICAL SITUATION is SUMMED UP
Nothing Is Further From the Govern.
or's Thoughts Than Third Term,
But His Friends Are Laying Plans
to Keep Him in Public Life.

Des Moines Dec. 26.-The sugges-
ton, first publicly made by the Des
Moines Register, that Governor Shaw
should be given a third term is not
surprising to well-informed politicians.
The governor has said ever since he
appointed ]. P. Dolliver to be United
States senator that he expected at the
close of his present term of Office to
return to Denison and resume the.
practice of law, but his friends hope
to decree otherwise, and even talk or
the presidency for him.
He has said, and this was the gen.
eral comment upon that occasion, mat
he had deliberately shut the door in
his own face, so far as future political
honors in Iowa were concerned. Be-
lieving it to be his duty to appoint Mr..
Dolliver, he philosophically took the
consequences, and he thought of moth
ing else in a political way except that
he did what he could toward the sue.
cess of his friend and fellow-towns-
man, Judge Conner, as the successor
of Mr. Dolliver in congress. 1t was
highly important that friend of both
Governor Shaw and Senator Dolliver
should be elected from the Tenth dis
trict, and the friends of the governor
and Mr.. Dolliver attended to this.
Nothing seemed open to Governor
Shaw, tho his name has often been
mentioned in connection with the
treasury portfolio.
His Ability Recognized.
Nothing is now further from Cover
| nor Shaw's thoughts than to be
candidate for third term 1t may be
said without fear of contradiction that
he will never permit his name to be
| carried into contest for such nomi-
| nation. He is not unappreciative OF
the high honors which the party in the
state and nation has conferred upon
him in recognition Of his services in
office and as a public speaker. He
would neither embarrass the party
nor his friends with candidacy
which was contested In fact, he op-
posed the Titus amendment, tho it
gave him another year of office. New
ertheless, there has lately been some
quiet talk to the effect that it would
be a good thing for the state to recog-
nize' his exceptional ability by giving
him third term.
That he is a man of extraordinary
ability as political leader and stu
dent of affairs not even his rivals and
political opponents deny. In every
campaign, beginning with 1896, he has
been a conspicuous figure, rendering
valuable servicer to the party. In
the recent campaign he Travelled thru
nine states under the direction of the
republican national committee and
spent about two months outside Of
Iowa. Everywhere he went he was
urgently requested to return because
of the effective work he did.
Is a Vote Getter.
He is a vote getter. The purpose
for which he makes political speech
| is to convince those who are doubtful.
His training for years in democratic
county taught him the force of re-
specting the other fellows opinion. He
uses persuasive arguments instead of
attempting to drive! He never gives
offense to anyone in any of his speech
es If he can possibly help it. He,
thinks it is extremely foolish to abuse
the opposition, just as much in politics
as in lawsuit. He says he has al
ways observed that the man who has
a weak case invariably falls to abus-
ing the other side.
The governors recent address in
Washington on the occasion of the
celebration of the centennial of the To-
cation of the national capital in Wash
ington brought him still further into
national prominence. He was con-
spicuous figure on that occasion. His
address attracted the most favorable
comment. President Mckinley singled
it out for special commentator and
on that day Governor Shaw was the
only man outside the cabinet who
dined with the president. One of the
distinguished guests said of the gov
ernor's speech that it was the first
time he had ever heard poetry made
out of statistics.
Talked of for President.
The Iowa people in Washington and
Iowa men who have been east during
the past few weeks say the governor
lis looked upon as great national fig.
lure, born leader and one who is con.
campaign OF 1904. No attempt has
been made to start boom for govern.
Tor Shaw in this direction, but these
IICpOl SOllihS 1lOu Gus
tern states as well as from
states surrounding Iowa, have
led the friends Of the governor to feel
the time has come when the presidency
may cross the Mississippi river,as well
as the speakership of the national
house and that the first man to bring
it west may just as we'll be an Iowa
man as it was an Iowa man who
brought the speakership across the
river.
It would not retard this idea in its
, development over the country If Gov
ernor Shaw should be given a thirt
| term, altho of course contest to sc
cure such result would not BIZ
thought of by the governors friend.
, and admirers.
Await Decision.
Every politician in the state is wait
ing for the decision of the suprem,
court on the vitality of the Titu