Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-24

proud of the major and the Journal
has to say so even if we don't like his
politics. Journal (dem).
Can't Stand the SmeII.-Dropping free
silver is all right, and that the demo-
Gratis of Iowa have done. They
couldn't do otherwise. No particular
merit in letting it drop. Most any
person will drop dead body as quick
as it smells awfully.-Clinton Age.
James Baxter for Governor.-The
socialists of Iowa have nominated our
neighbor James Baxter, of Hiteman,
for governor While Baxter will hard
ly defeat A. B. Cummins for the place,
he is conscientious man who, if
elected, would serve with honesty and
justice to all.-Albia Republican.
Capt. s. H. Harper.-The republic
ans of Wapello county have nominal
ed one of the best men in Ottumwa to
represent the county in the state SEN
ate, S. H. Harper. He is a strong man
in every way and will make an infiuen-
tial senator. Wapello county has
been at discount in the senate since
Waterman retired, but Mr.. Harper
will put it back in the column of lead
ers.-Clinton Herald.
Democrats Want Estate lshooes."-
Chairman Mcconnell of the democrat
ic state central committee, has blown
his first blast in favor of combining
the democratic campaign to state
,ishooes,' and the independent Lead
er promptly proceeded to drag the
"Herriott protest. skeleton from the
closet and parade it for the benefit of
it's party. The "Herriott protest" was
effectually answered by the executive
council when it was first presented, and
it will be answered whenever the
democrats may desire to present the
skeleton during the contest of this or
any other year; and it will be answer
ed from the democratic standpoint, as
well as from the acts of every eXecu-
tive council since the law was enact
ed that provides for the present meth
cd of assessment of railroads. The
railroads have been assessed under
that law for twenty-seven years; four
teen legislatures have been in session
while the executive councils were as
|sessing the railroads, yet not a demo
cratic legislator, or any other legis-
lator, has ever introduced bill to
amend that law or enact a new law in
regard to the assessment of the rail
roads, and not until this year has any
democratic convention declared in ia
vor of the amendment of that law.
The increase in the value of rail
road stocks during the past eighteen
months has caused many people to be-
| lieve that the assessment of the rail-
ways should be increased, and that be-
lief has caused the agitation of the
past fifteen months. There can be no
party difference on that question, for
there is not republican in Iowa who
| is not in favor of the railroads pay
ing their full proportion of the taxes,
and little more in order that it may
| be made certain that they are paying
enough; and there is not a republican
in Iowa who is not in favor of the
next legislature Investigating the rail
way taxation problem, and then
amending the laws so as to provide
for their assessment in accordance
with the findings, if they are not now
assessed as high as they should be.
The Iowa democrats can have all
the. discussion they want on state
ishooes" We have had two demo
cratic administrations within the
memories of present voters, and there
is ample opportunity to compare
Iowa's unequaled state government
with any and all democratic state
government in existence, and on the
records. 1t is no wonder that the
Iowa democrats are anxious to escape
discussion of their own party princi
pies and records, but they will not be
permitted to escape their reaffirma
ton of all the iniquities of Of the Kan
sas City platform.-Des Moines Reg
lister.
Detectives Were to BIame.-One Of
President Roosevelts first official
acts should be to thoroughly investi
gate, renovate and fumigate the secret
service department, and then dismiss
two-thirds of the employees, for there is
no question but that the great major
ity of them are better comedians thar
detectives Take for instance, the as
sassination of the President. The
picked men of the great secret service
of the United States were standing OF
all sides of the President, supposed tt
be on the watch for cranks and brute'
with murder in their hearts, and ye
the assassin was permitted to reacl
Mckinley, all the while holding a re
volver in his hand. 1t was covered
with a handkerchief, it is true, bu
if you will take revolver in your hant
and try to cover it with handkerchie
you will readily see that it is impossi
bic to SO enshroud the weapon that it.
form cannot be made out If Czolgos,
had tried to assassinate the car, Kins
Edward of England, or any of tn,
monarchs of Europe, he would neve
have entered the building, for in thos
countries they have a secret servic