Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-05
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
; IOWA PRESS COMMENT
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Jorlty of the Iowa democrats IN state
convention at Des Moines recently re
affirmed their former position on the
currency. They seemed to think any
old thing will do for a platform now
But this was the money plank of Their
platform in 1896, which they have re
affirmed in 1901:
I'VE denounce as transparent fal
lacy the claim that labor can be bene
fitted by the maintenance of a single
gold standard as basis of our finan
cial system. The experience of all
ages and of every country alike clear.
ly demonstrates that contracted cur.
rency invariably compels contrac
ton of business the lessening of in
ness Of the working classes, and moth
ing which the human mind can con
ceive is more clearly self-evident than
the naked truth that the wages of la
Dor must always be adjusted to and
correspond with the prices of labors
products in the markets in which they
are sold"
When the above is read in the light
of events that have transpired since
1896, it is amazing that any set of men
with their eyes and ears open would
reaffirm it. "A contraction of bust.
ness!" "lessening of industrial enter
prises! J" enforced idleness! !" The
very reverse of these conditions now
exist under the gold standard. Who
could be more purblind than the demo.
Gratis who reaffirmed their former plat.
form on the money question ?-Musca
tine Journal.
Where MIR. Phillips stands.-The
Dubuque Herald asserts that "Mr. Phil
lips stands squarely with both feet on
a platform that demands the equal
taxation of all property" AS the can.
didates of both parties stand upon
that kind of platform, there is no is.
sue on that point But when it comes
to free silver coinage at the ratio of
16 to l, the Dubuque Herald will be
forced to admit, and probably will dc
SO with alacrity and fond delight, that
Mr.. Phillips stands with only one foot
on the Kansas City platform. The 9th.
er is firmly moored on the gold plat.
form. That there may be no doubt
upon that point we quote from Mr.
Phillips authenticated interview in
the Hawk-Eye:
81 am satisfied with the platform
adopted. OF course, I felt that silver
having Deen twice defeated, should
take a back seat and rather favored
the resolution of the majority. But
the convention adopted the Butler
substitute and nominated me to stand
on it, and that's where I will stand.
r o,,11y
City action. after ALL"
Mr.. Phillips is practical business
man and takes no stock in the silver
nonsense, which his party has reaffirm.
ed; but as the party nominee he Is it's
servant for the few weeks of the cam
paign; and putting one foot on the
Bryan platform he Stands" there un.
til after the election. But the other
foot is on terra Characterization
Hawk-Eye.
Major John F. Lacey has been in
vited by the Ohio Republican State
committee to take part in the Ohio
camjaign. He has received like in
vitation every year for several years
but has not been able to accept owing
w IhSs AiSSSooieISo VI GhC campaign stI
home. He will go to Ohio this year
and spend week or ten days in the
campaign. Politics are quiet in Iowa,
but they are quite warm in the Buck
eye state.-Oskaloosa Herald.
Just About PhiIIips-If the Hon.
Thomas Jefferson Phillips will ever
get that first interview Strengthened
out, the campaign will proceed.
Thomas had better get out of it by
saying that he "ain't literary anyway
y Candidate Phillips has now said
that he never said nothing to nobody
about the state platform" Poor Mr..
Phillips. But perhaps he doesn't rea-
lie it.-Cedar Rapids Republican.
The New Democracy-The Omaha
Bee has the following to say of Mr..
Phillips, our nominee for governor.
Thomas j. Phillips, of Ottumwa,
who has been selected by the demo-
Gratis of Iowa to head their ticket as
candidate for governor this year, is
one Of the younger politicians of the