Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-04
A. C.STECK ATBUNCH.
Continued from Page 81

glad to see you here and especially
glad to see the ladies, because the be-
neficent influence of your sisters, moth
ers and wives is sure to have a much
desired effect.
Il have been in the southern part of
the country where l met and became
acquainted with number of good peo-
pie, and now | am glad to enter this
section and become acquainted with
more of them. ! confess that have
met many acquaintance; men who
knew me and whom | knew, and was
more than pleased to meet them, be-
cause if | had any trace of homesick-
ness it has all left me now.
People here who know me can YER
ify the statement that for twenty-five
years l have been in touch with the
counties. See here! There are people
--farmers-men who live in this coun-
ty, under whose roof I have enjoyed
hospitality for years.who know that my
friendship is sincere and true. If
there is man here of my acquaint-
ance who cannot verify this statement,
let him stand up. would like to talk
to you without regard to politics; as
an American citizen, leaving aside par
tizan feeling, whether republicans,
democrats, populists or free silver re-
publicans.
Il know too well there are men right
here who have the courage to shoulder
a musket in defense of their country
and their home, and march into the
jaws of death. No nation questions
the valor of the American citizen to-
day. Yet, listen. There are some
men with that very courage, after
peace was declared, who have not the
courage to discharge their civic duty.
They may in their innermost heart be-
lieve that it is to the best interest of
the nation to vote So-and-so, but they
are afraid. They have no civic cour-
age. They are at'raid-you remember
they used to be called turncoats, but
they do not use it SO much now. There
are men who have belonged to the
democratic or republican parties so
so long that they say, ooh, WE'LL per-
haps the administration has not acted
exactly right, but it will be better after
a while.
"You have men for officers both in
the county and nation to transact i'm
portant business for you. Some of
them you do not believe are just men,
but you say, oh, well, we might Just
as well let it CO. Why is it? l am
no politician and won't be made one.
You can't make one of me. If | go
there (pointing eastward toward
Washington l am going there in the
employ of the people. l am going to
work for you two years and just be-
tore the expiration of that time l am
coming back and tell you what have
done, and if what l have just
told you is not true, then get some
body else. Ask me then about my
stewardship! Ask me for an account
ing! IN tell you my friends, look
.nponsa public Office as public trust,
and not as a private snap.
Il want to tell you that, politics has
got to be a profession. Men in both
parties make it a business and live
from the proceeds as they would a
profession.
Il want to call your attention to
some facts. How long has it been
since any one dared to intimidate the
poorest voter and tar and feather him
and run him out of the county?" (Iere
the irrepressible Mark Box sung out:
sThe democrats have done it a good
many times.') Steck was slightly dis
concerted, but went on with but little
hesitancy.) L am speaking now gen
orally; as applied to either party. -Four
years ago employers said to their en-
ployes, You cannot work unless you
vote for Mckinley I know men who
marched with a Bryan club that lost
their jobs and have not got them back
yet.
"The greatest vote for either that
ever was cast in Illinois, was register
ed in 1895. l do not know how you
account for it, but they say that vot-
ers were registered whose homes were
on vacant lots. do not understand
1t.
How long has it been since in a
moral American community money has
been used (Mr. Steck evidently meant
to say collected) for the purpose of
carrying an election? l picked UP the
newspaper last Monday and read that
the republican chairman, Mark Hanna,
had moved over to Chicago where he
had a banquet and invited men of
means, who, according to report, were
invited there for the purpose of get
ting money. 1t is not denied. 1t is
notorious that elections are carried by
the corrupt use of money.
why, the other day, saw pos
tai card from the chairman of
a certain political party, l won't say
which one, addressed to the postmas-
ter of certain town, asking him for
$25. What for? We have got
clear away from God, Christianity and
morality. Is it for the purpose of ship
ping in voters in doubtful districts to
deprive you of your representative in
congress? Is it to bring in men from
West Virginia and send them back
again after electing republican rep
resentative? Again ask you what is
it for? have seen none of it (mean-
ing the money! Every dollar of the
expenses of my campaign has been
paid by Steck, and you know I have
none to spare. These matters are no,
torious in our country today, and these
are the things that are probably hav-
ing their influence in shaping affairs.
appeal to you, do you believe in it? 1t
would make me indignant if man
who did not have the finest of broad
cloth covering his breast, would come
L