Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-10
Governor L. M. Shaw Delivers a Stirring
Address to People Of Eldon.
HE DEFINES The POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Iowas Chief Executive Able Campaigner That He U.s.
quits Himself With Unusual Credit Highly Success
full Neutrality-suspicious. S. H. Harper Acts
Chairman-The Governors Address.

lFrom Tuesdays Daily.1
The opening meeting of the repub-
1ican campaign in Wapello county,
held last evening in Eldon, was a de-
cided success in every particular.
Governor Leslie M. Shaw was the
principal speaker of the evening" and
that efficient campaigner made one of
the most able speeches he has ever
uttered. The audience filled the op-
era house despite the fact that the
weather had been bad all day and rain
fell during the evening. Governor
Shaw, with his matchless arguments
and eloquent diction, held the atten-
ton of the entire assemblage from
the time his first words were uttered
until he ended his address in beau
tiful word picture describing the Won
derful development of civilization
since America was discovered. Not
one man, woman or child left the
house until the speech was ended and
at the close of the meeting Governor
Shaw was forced to hold an informal
reception in front of the stage.
The meeting was called to order by
e. X. Daugherty, of Eldon, who intro
duced Captain S. H. Harper, of OF
tumwa, dis chairman for the evening.
Captain Harper made a few remarks
touching upon the Importance of us
ing good judgement in the selection of
suitable representatives this fall be-
cause of the approaching election of
two United States senators from Iowa.
Captain Harper's speech was we'll re
ceived by his auditors, and when he
introduced Governor Shaw, the speak
er of the evening, the chief executive
&<1 ~, 80
Governor Shaw said:
Mr.. Chairman. ladies and gentle.
men, fellow citizens:
l desire to endorse all that your
chairman has said about the county
ticket. desire to endorse every man
on the county and state tickets, and
had l time would go over the whole
list. But the hour of starting is later
than usual, and there is really nothing
that need be said of the candidates.
The candidates are not the men to be
considered by the voter. If contest
between the candidates were all there
is in politics, if it were a scrap be-
tween the rival candidates.. I would
have nothing to do with politics.
Democrats Present.
made little inquiry and | am
glad to learn that there are a few dem.
ocrats in this room. | am very glad
you are here, for you are the men !
want to talk to. l would like to talk
to all the democrats in the county;
not that / would expect to change
their views and win them over, for ]
realize that that is very hard under
taking. 1t is almost as hard to change
mans views politically as to make
him change his church. But would
like to address all those whose opin
ions differ from mine politically.
intend to say nothing against the
democrats personally. All l would
ask is that you, my democratic, friends
hear what / say, judge whether or not
am right, then hold your conduct &C
cording to that judgement. Then we
will be friends.
You expect your representatives il
the legislature to vote for the politi
cies that will conserve your best in
terests. In short, you expect them tt
be statesmen in. .DesN Moines, All
ask Is that you look to your best in
terests, that you be statesmen in Ell
don, that you vote for what con
serves your best interests.
No Guessing Matter.
confess that it is hard to chang,
a mans ideas, but l tell you that
come here in the hope of changin.
the ideas of some of my democratic
friends. l remember that in 1896, sit
ting in my office, an Irishmdan,
friend of mine, came in, and, sittin.
down. he said to me, do you remem
Der that in 1892 you told me that i
the democrats elected both house
and a president there would be har,
times? How did you guess SO well?
I said, my friend. didn't guess. |
was not guessing matter. There ar
certain political principles which ar
wrong, and which. if followed, vii
bring disaster, because they are no
wicked-erroneous. Then there ar
certain others which, if followed, wi