Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-24
I. ]. PHILLIPS TALKS
Democratic Candidate Interviewed
at Sioux City.
MENTIONS LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE
Says He Did Not Bring Bryan Into
the State to Speak During This Cam
paign and Knows Nothing About the
Arrangement.

Hon. T. ]. Phillips of Ottumwa,
democratic candidate for governor,
was in Sioux City yesterday shaking
hands with the faithful. Incidentally
porter after this fashion, while enroute
from the depot to the home
of Judge Van Wagenan, gentleman
not unknown to the political world:
ooh, I'm having a fine trip going
through the state,' he replied to
question about his novel speechless
campaign. "No, amt making any
speeches; Pm just calling on promi-
nent democrats and the county chair
man and looking after the organization
and shaking hands.
I'm pretty well satisfied with this
way of doing. I'm being well accepted
by the people and I'm getting lots of
assurances of support. think I'm 60
ing to do pretty WE'LL
at Looks Good"
do you think that you will be able
to increase the democratic vote in
Iowa over last year?"
well, it looks good-it looks good.
I'm pretty much encouraged. l think
I'm going to do pretty WE'LL
Mr.. Phillips expressed complete ig-
norance about the story that he had
driven William Jennings Bryan out of
Iowa and interrupted the free silver
orators series of meetings under the
auspices of the state committee.
\ What story's that?" he queried
when he was asked about the truth of
his alleged action.
Haven't you seen the Registers
story about your compelling Bryan to
leave the state?"
IT don't know anything about it;
haven't seen it,
well, Mr.. Phillips, did you make
any suggestion that Mr.. Bryan's
speeches had better be canceled?"
Phillips and Bryan.
/ II don't know who brought Bryan in
to Iowa and arranged for him to talk
at Newton. | didn't have anything to
: do with it. He came without my ask
: ing him. You know, it was understood
t down at Des Moines when l was nom
mated that there wasn't to be nothing
Y said about national issues in this cam
: paign; it wouldn't do to bring them
: in. We've got state issues to fight on
r and that's what the people want.
. That's what this campaign is being
3 made on"
But did this attitude of yours
prompt you to ask Mr.. Bryan to can
+ eel his other dates in this state?"
t 'No, 1 didn't do anything like that,
E he replied firmly, and he started on
/ his walk up town with the reception
n committee to take carriage for
9 Judge Van Wagenen's residence.
What are the state issues you be.
lieve are entitled to more prominence
: than national issues, Mr.. Phillips?"
He quickly renewed the converse
; ton, switching his heavy grip sacl
from one hand to the other.
The Letter He Wrote.
: Didn't you see my letter of recep
tion?" he queried.
Pardon me, Mr.. Phillips, what was
I it you said? didn't quite under
\ stand"
II Didn't you read my letter of recep
II ton of the nomination-the one
wrote to the state committee?
II wrote about my views in that"
e well, what, in your opinion, is the
u foremost state issue?"
"a "TaXation-railroad taxation. It.
" wrong and unjust now. The systems
10 wrong"
~ "In what respect is it unjust now?
10 We'll, the railroads amt payin
Is their right proportion of the taxes
g they're getting off too light. Now tn
man with home in the city or a farm
Is in the country, he's got to pay more
IS The railroads are assessed too low
80 The method of determining values il
lie wrong, and"
h. He paused there, and when he wen
no further he was asked to suggest
is remedy.
ne There ought to be an equalization
lie of the burdens of taxation" he re
lit piled, shifting his grip sack before h
ventured on another sentence. 9Th
to railroads ought to be made to pa
Id their share SO that there will be jul
u tice for all, and
n Nothing impossible.
rs 'But how do you expect to accor
ne plish this if you are elected governor!
se' well, it can be done in the equa
"a. ization board; they can do lot t
40 ward it; they can make the asses
er ment better. And then, maybe, SON
rs legislation might help, if the equaliz
ton board can't do it without, and
"a The main thing, though, is to try ar
al, fix the matter right"
he tits pretty serious problem
'g- handle after all, isn't it, Mr.. Phillips
oh he was asked when he hesitated in flu
ther discussion.
of eyes," he replied, 'but there ism
eff nothing that's impossible"
is what paper are you WITH" I'll
nd democratic candidate then asked ,tur
zee mig somewhat anxiously to the newsp
tn per man.
,u- "The Journal"
of SIS it republican or democratic?"
re- Its republican. It's ex-Congres