Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-07
How many came and went is another
thing. Probably 10000.
Crowds of People,

SHAFTS, anu all OIL the SeCOIlQ llOOT, were |
crowded with people all the time. A
continual stream poured into all OF the
four entrances, and almost as continu-
GUS stream poured out after the first
hour of the reception had passed. The
walks leading to each of the grand en-
frances were thronged with people.
Receiving Line.
The receiving line was stationed in
the governors Office. A crowd was at
the entrance all of the time, and it
was impossible for people who arriv-
ed after 8 o'clock to gain entrance inI
less than half an hour. In the receiy-
ing line We're Governor and Mrs. l..
M. Shaw, Mayor and Mrs. J. ]. Hart
enbower, Mrs. A. B. Shaw, Major and
Mrs. e. H. Conger, Miss Laura Con-
ger, Miss Mary Pierce, Rev. E. H.Con-
ger, brother of Minister Conger
from Galesburg, ILL.,, Mrs. Henry Sa,
bin, Mrs. c. E. Riser, Mrs. o. o. Roe,
Mrs. Fletcher Howard, and Mrs. Fred
Weitz Major Fleming presented the
guests.
Beautiful Scene.
The capitol, with all it's lights and
decorations, presented a beautiful ap.
pearance 1t looked almost as beau
tiful from without as from within, but
most of the people preferred to be in
side Around the balcony were flung
flags and festoons of bunting were
suspended from the chandeliers. I'M
der the great dome were the two Chi
nese cannon which Minister Conger
secured and sent to Governor Shaw
for the Iowa historical department.
They attracted general attention and
were examined by almost every one
who attended the reception. Their
curious workmanship and antique fit
things ELECTED many remarks. They
were used by the Chinese in firing on
the legations. The modern cannon
used by the Chinese at Taku and sent
to Curator Aldrich by Admiral Rem
ely was also there.
| Great Success.
The reception was a great success.
| if possible it was a greater success
than the afternoon reception. 1t had
the advantage of being entirely infor-
NAL, and this was appreciated by the
people.
The Iowa State Military band fur.
nished music for the evening. The re.
ception ended at 10 o'clock.
4 Des Moines, May 2. (Special)-In
the past few days there has been a re-
newal of interest in many and some
times conflicting stories which have
originated in Washington concerning
the alleged dissatisfaction of the
army officials, the war department and
sundry officials near to the admins
tration with the manner in which Maj
or Conger had conducted affairs at Pc
king following the raising of the siege
and during the early part of the nego-
tiations for the restoration of peace
and order. Major Conger is quoted
as saying heshas suspicion as to the
origin Of these criticisms upon his con-
duct. He has not made any public &C.
cusations. The facts, however, are
pretty well known to the Iowa delega.
ton in congress. The explanation
which is vouchsafed here, and which
i comes not through newspaper reports
but through politicians who get infor
nation at first hand, is that the origin
of the trouble was the GOODNESS and
conservatism displayed by Major Con
ger after the siege. He greatly offend
ed some of the military officials or
duty in China by refusing to permit
them to do as the commanders of 9th
er armies did. Major Conger took the
ground that the American soldiers hat
no right in China beyond that which
came to them in an effort to protect
American interests. They were moi
there on conquest bent. They were
not invaders with license to go about
and fight merely to make record fol
fighting. At time when he was hold
ing the Chinese government fully re
sponsible for the boxer outrages ant
when he had suffered the tortures o.
anticipated massacre for six weeks
: Minister Conger had the GOODNESS an(
the nerve to restrain himself and hol(
back the American soldiers on pillags
! bent. This offended the military arm
!. of the government, and the criticisms
which have been passed upon Ministe
Conger are believed by his Des Moine
friends to have originated in the arm,
: clique at Washington. But whethe
:. this is true or not the fact remain
: that Minister Conger and Presiden
Mckinley are on the best of terms an,
: nothing that any of the underling
. can do will cause any estrangement be
: tween them.
I How the PopuIists Organize.
The populist plan of organizing
a might easily be adapted to other pun
q joses. The populists of Iowa-the S.
!. mon pure brand-are carrying on OF
s ganization work year in and year out
j. Personal work counts with them, an
J. their state committee has had me-
n make personal visits to nearly ever
part of the state during the past wir
ter. They work largely in the cour
v try and seldom go into the cities an
d larger towns. But they find it hard t
Q make Roadway against present pro!
n perity. They are relying on anothe
panic to give them encouragement
The secretary of the populists stat
n committee declares his belief that tn
y panic which is to make populism pop,
:, lar cannot be put off more than yea
r and a half now. In the meantime a
- effort is being made to get men t
g agree to attend state convention
4, Slips are sent to persons who al
= known to be populists and they wer
=, asked to send in signed agreemer
y - to attend a populist state conventio
~ in Des Moines June provided sc
- signed. Up to date only about 15
~ have cipnad thu Ilu+ ~,