Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-29
PHILLIPS ON VACATION.

MI. Phillips-it is well to begin 10
get accustomed to the name: Mr.. Phil.
lips is the democratic candidate for
governor-has issued what is called
a statement. A statement is unlike
an interview. A statement is an ex
preston put forth with elaboration
to conserve a purpose in the mind of
the party making the statement. An
interview is an extraction, which NAV
or may not be parted with willingly
An Interview frequently has to be
drawn out as with a corkscrew. and
fair minded people will make allow
ance where the matter of it appears
extraVagant, unreasonable or untrue
SO much of the responsibility for the
interview remains with the reporter
that 1t is not unusual to find the party
OF the first part denying the authen-
tlclty OF the interview, and in all such
cases 1t is matter for the reporter to
clear himself if he can. But state
ment does not involve the character or
intellectual attachments of the report
er. Everything is between the party
making the statement and the proof
reader, and the chance to impeach the
writing is therefore remote. Mr.. Phil
lips has made statement.
Ihe statement issued by Mr.. Phil
lips Is not notable for it's length. In
this respect it differs materially from
the ADDRESS of Mr.. Sharon, who had
the honor to preside over the tempo.
rary deliberations of the Des Moines
convention. Deliberations NAV not be
a good word in this association. but it
is familiar word and objection can
not be made to it on the score of cour-
tesy. What Mr. Phillips statement
lacks in volume is made good in other
ways. Mr.. Phillips is business man,
and he is not extravagant in the use
OF language. Pause is taken here to
express a sense of obligation to Mr..
Phillips for his promptness, the whole
state just now-if Ottumwa be except
ed-being in the height of curiosity to
know where Mr.. Phillips stands
The statement Mr. Phillips has made
will be disappointing 1t appears from
it that Mr.. Phillips does not stand
anywhere, except as he may be placed
here Or there for temporary expedi-
ency. Mr.. Phillips just now stands on
the Des Moines platform. He was
carried there by the vote of the con-
vention. After so many of the gentle
men spoken of for the nomination
including Mr.. Sells-had withdrawn,
Mr.. Phillips had reason to believe that
! he might beat Stiger-who is lawyer,
subject to tag Of corporation employ
ment-but Phillips had it in mind to
stand on different kind of platform.
He felt that silver. "having been twice
defeated, should take back seat, and
rather favored the resolution"-he
means the preamble to the resolutions
-"of the majority" 1t will be MOTTO
ed that Phillips has nothing against
silver only that it has been twice de-
feated. His reason teaches him that
having been twice defeated it ought to
take a back seat-as In the case of
Fred White-and give something else
a chance. That appears to Phillips a
sensible business proposition. He
would treat silver just as he would
coal. He is favor of putting on the
market commodity that will bring a
share of the orders. Silver, Phillips
understands, is not at present in ac-
tive demand in the political market,
man, he would be in favor of giving
silver a rest. But" continues the
statement, "the convention adopted
/ VIC outASi duu
me to stand upon it, and that is where
I stand" AS to the platform Phillips
does not say the convention did the
best thing; on the other point it would
not become him to speak directly in a
statement. When Phillips says, in a
tone of decision, that he was nominal
ed to stand upon the platform, "and
that is where | stand,' he shows that
he is man of determination and that
he does not mean to be shaken off,
The statement concludes with SEN
tence of apologize character. The
significance of this is that Phillips has
regret that he was not stood up in a
more attractive place. though disposed
to make the best of his surroundings
and reconcile himself to Buffers sub.
stitute as best he can. The conelu-
Esion which Phillips seeks to force up
on two millions of Iowans is that the
Butler substitute merely reaffirms the
Kansas City action after ALL Phillips
is quite right. That is all Merely
reaffirms the Kansas City action. 1t
| would have been hett or for Phillins in