Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-08
Speaks at Indianola on Issues Last
Thursday.
TOUCHES ON TAXATION QUESTION
Says There is no Controversy Between
Republicans and Democrats on
State lssues-Both Parties Declare
in Favor of Equal Taxation.

Indianola, Oct. .4-(special)- Gov
ernor Shaw made his first campaign
speech at Indianola last evening. Inc
governor devoted most of his time to
national issues, touching briefly upon
the question of taxation and promls-
ing in latter address to submit some
observations which will cover every
phase of this subject.
No interest But There Are Issues.
Governor Shaw said in part:
We have all heard that there is no
interest in the campaign this fall.
think this is true. We are also told
there are no issues to discuss-that
there is no controversy between the
two parties. This is not true. There
are always issues between democracy
and republicanism The republican
party will ever insist that it is better
qualified to. continue the supervision
of public matters, state and national,
than it's opponents; and while the
democratic party this year tacitly con-
cedes the claim, at some future time
| doubtless it will again demand public
recognition.
Conditions Compared.
A brief comparison Of the present
with the recent past may not be unin-
| teresting in this connection. Four
years ago conditions were quite differ
ent We had not then emerged from
the period Of gloom into which we had
been plunged. We were just begin
ming to see the light through the tree
tops, but it was still dark and shadowy
near the ground We had just elevat-
ed to the Office of chief executive of
the United States that prince of states
men, as we'll as prince of men, the
now universally lamented William Nc
kinley. But he had been in Office only
/ six months, and our political enemies
! insisted that times had not improved,
4 and that the promised prosperity was
not Forthcoming. | think you will re
member that in 1897 the democratic
party made it's nominations in the full
hope of success. Every democratic pa
per in the state put on its war-paint
and every Independent" paper con-
scientiously joined and loyalty support
ed the democratic nominee. remem
Der very well the fears expressed by
leaders of our own party at the state
: convention. A nomination four years
, ago was by no means conceded to be,
nor was it claimed even, the equiva'
lent of an election. On the eve of cleo
ton in 1897. the chairman of the dem,
ocratic state central committee issued
an official statement over his signature
in which he said II believe Fred White
will be elected governor as certainly
as believe next Tuesday will arrive
This was generally endorsed editorial
! ly by the democratic and 'independ
ent'' press But you will remember
the result was aSite satisfactory to re
publicans We elected our ticket by
the largest republican vote ever pollet
in an odd-numbered year.
Claims Were Mot justified.
: Two years latter the democratic par
: ty conceded that the odds We're slight
ly against them, and the independent
press, still seeking an opportunity tt
: get back to the democratic Leadership
$ predicted very much decreased repub
: lican majorities. 1t was said the oil
soldiers had been outraged because ;
: man, who, when lad, had served will
/ his father in the Confederate army
l. had heen made brigadier general. l
>, was declared that the soldiers of tn
Spanish war had been SO outrageousl.
: mistreated, both at home and at tn
l. front, and We're SO thoroughly out o
l. sympathy with the military operation
/ in the Philippine islands, that the
: would vote almost a unit against tn
= republican nominee. 1t was said tina
$, the laboring people were all agains
y the old party and would rebuke tn
, old machine and avenge their wrong:
1t was claimed that the Germans wer
in such sympathy with the Boer i
4 South Africa, and SO outraged at tn
s failure of he United States to pass re!
!. olutions of encouragement notwitl
standing the fact that no other coul
: try on the globe had expressed symp;
q thy, that they would vote, not so muc
for democracy, as against republican
ism. You will remember also it wa
: said the Swedes and Norwegians wer
= dissatisfied because their kin folk
le had not been honored as they deserve
er and that these good people were in r.
e. volt. 1t was also said that the farm
ers and the taxpayers had suffered il
y dignities untold and wrongs well mig
n Understandable, until forbearance ha
h ceased to be virtue, and that the
r would vote against railroad domin
J, ton and in favor of democratic int
~ rity and craftsmanship. And agail
ID just before election, the democrat
IS state central committee predicted vi
It tory, and the independent pre-!
- condoled us for our much merited d
. feat. But when the votes We're coun
lc ed it was found we had elected o,
IS ticket nearly doubling our plurality
,e two years before, and multiplied OF
= previous majority by four.
All Is Changed.
n. Now all is changed. The democra
I'd ic party is scarcely able to get chat
at man for their state central committe
- and the opposition press comedies {
ie unprecedented victory for the br
ne liant and able leader of our part
to Without much questions the plurali
IT, of the years ago will again be double
80 and the majority very largely increa
u ed. | think in two years more '
a ought to make it unanimous.
CHI BY this it must not be understot
N. that the opposition comedies any el
ment of merit in the republican part
or in past administrations, state
nations. President Mckinley duril
Y