Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-02
OFFICE SEEKS MAN
Ex-Mayor Phillips Name Heard for
Governor on Democratic Ticket.
THE ISSUE WILL BE ON STATE LINES
Charles A. Walsh Hopes That Cum
Minis Will Not Be Nominated-Says
This as Democrat-As Citizen
He Hopes He Will.

Minis Will Not Be Nominated-Says
This as Democrat-As a Citizen
He Hopes He Will.
Des Moines, April PA vigorous
fight for more equitable method of /
assessing railroads will be inaugural
ed by the democratic party in this /
years state campaign. A plank on
railroad assessments will be inserted
in the form. If the consensus of
opinic developed at Fridays
confe Of leading members of the
party all sections of the state is
any the policy of the democ-
racy IVA this year will be radical
and oul.poken. The railroad commits
sion will be marked for obliteration as
a useless piece of state furniture, out
of which the public gets no benefit. A
tax on the franchises for public ser
vice utilities is advocated, and in gen.
eral state policy that will be so
sharply defined and aggressive as to-
compel the attention of those that areI
dissatisfied with present conditions.
Although yesterday was the date of
the meeting of the state central COM
mittee, the important developments of
the day were in the conference that
preceded it. The work of the commit
tee was easily transacted. 1t was de.
cided to hold the state convention at
Des Moines, August 81, two weeks af-
ter the republican convention. Tenn
porary officers were selected with few
contests. In the conference, the poll.
cy of the party in Iowa this year was
virtually, though not formally, mapped
out
Harmony apparently prevailed
among the different elements that
have heretofore gone to make up the
fusion opposition to the republican
party. There was no agitation of the
silver issue or of other questions with
which the state campaign has nothing
to do. 1t was the general sentiment
that the party should unite regardless
of past factions. 1t was given out
that the sentiment of the populists in
many sections of the state was in ia
vor of continuing with the democrat
ic party and instead of maintaining a
separate state and county organiza-
ton.
Walsh is Chairman.
Charles Walsh, of Ottumwa, secre-
tary of the national committee, was
the chairman of the conference. A. E.
Jackson, of Tama, was secretary. Fifty
two democrats were assembled, the
conference being held in the club
rooms of the Savery.
Many Addresses Made.
The conference was held at 2 o'clock.
Following it the state central commit
tee held it's session. Each congress
sional district in the state was repre-
scented. The districts were called in
order and the representatives from
|. each responded The whole tenor OF
the remarks was in opposition to the
} present method of railway taxation
J The demand for taxation Of franchises
for public service utilities was almost
} equally pronounced. The railroad
commission came in for scathing de
nunciation on account of it's disregard
: of the welfare of the public and its
seeming disposition to lend aid to the
railroads.
The conference was meant to be
secret, but it's developments were toe
entertaining to be kept in the darl
long. There was no timorousness
> manifested about having the railroad
assessment question go before the
. state convention. Nobody suggested
the thought that the convention coult
: not pass wisely on a railroad assess
J. ment plank.
go before the people of the stat
}. on the railway assessment ISSUE" de
clared one speaker, "and make it clea
(. to them just what the facts are ant
e how unjust the present railway assess
8 ment is, and you will sweep the stat
: in November.
{ Cato Sells Grows Eloquent.
). The longest address at the confer
n ence was made by Cato Sells of Vii
n ton. Mr.. Sells has been probing deeI
ly into the question OF taxation of lat
and has devoted several months r.
Gently to study of taxation of raj
!. roads and franchises for public util
$ ties. 1t is not too much to say he wa
n loaded to the guards. He entered O
% an exposition of present railway al
IS sessment methods and to stateme1
d of the reasonableness of the taxatio
&c of franchises for public utilities thu
e aroused enthusiasm. He stated tn
% steps he proposed were not radio;
when it was considered what othe
states had done. On the question
franchise taxation, he cited the exam
pies of New York and Missouri an
ID other states. He quoted from report
to show the large revenues New Yor
had derived from the source mention
10 ed. He indicated that ultimately /
~ favored the municipal ownership
ie public utilities. The tax on the
IA franchises as he advocated it, woul
Is be levied by the state.
ID AS to the railroad assessments,
favored enacting a law which wou
10 compel the executive council, witho,
IN giving it latitude to waver to asse.
q, the railroads on the basis of their a
re tual values, as determined from the
&c stocks and bonds. While advocatir
X these reforms, Mr.. Sells disclaime
any desire to interfere with the yes
n ed rights of any person or corporatio
e. John S. Murphy, of Dubuque, MAJ
OF an address. He looked with favor
er the Australian methods of taxatio
but did not seriously urge the par
ne to adopt them. The feeling, as e
n pressed by one of those present, WI
ne that the party should take up wi