Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-31

Movements are sometimes made
hurriedly on the field of battle; also
upon the political field.
A certain new element of the par
ty starting out to advocate new men
the new methods, seemingly triumph
ed in the last two state conventions In
Iowa, putting new men at the helm
and grasping the party machinery,put
ting on the belts and connecting eV-
erything to the line shaft of new re-
publican machine. For time every
thing seemed to go their way. Hard
battles were fought, it is true, but the
victories were won. The public came
to expect great deal as the result of
the new order of things and hopes
have been high. 1t was believed that
appointments would be improved, a
better grade of men selected and
place hunters disposed of and dis
pensed with The triumph was SEEM
| ingly so complete that the question
sometimes arose as to where the axe
would next fall. and there was a dispo-
sition to call the roll of the politicians
| in the morning to ascertain who had
escaped the guillotine the night be-
II fore. 1t was felt in some quarters that
/ SOIlle Ol lJlt cHtllSueIl ltlolo NSlS
| ly on the headsman's waiting list, with
the man at the axe ready to shout
4 Next" on short notice. Over the
| camps of the sleeping and victorious
hosts the moon rose in beauty, cast.
ing its reflections over tree and sen,
try making we'll defined outline. The
faithful sentinels We're prepared to
shout, Twelve o'clock, and all is
we'll" In the midst of the stiffness
there came a shot. as If from an I'M,
seen source. A shell burst over the
heads of the triumphant host. The
shell was as startling as it was pierc
ing. The shell was the appointment
by the President of Leslie M. Shaw
supposed political derelict, if not g
political corpse, to the secretaryShir
of the treasury. Thus the old ele
ments We're brought to life and giver
new strength. Those who fancied thai
old things had passed away and al
things had become new rubbed theil
eyes in amazement and shouted: Gar
: these things be and overcome us like
summer cloud without our especia
: wonder?" The delegation in congress:
: awoke from their dream of peace ant
marveled at the suddenness of thu
event; were amazed that they were
not consulted. After some of the sud
denness had passed away they began
to cast around to see where they were
: at and where they would be at during
the next three or seven years. The.
said among themselves: There's tina
man Shaw, the country lawyer an
banker, whom we supposed was
mere accident a leaf floating on thu
great political sea, never to have
permanent place, and here it happen
4. that the man who has served his PAL
ty four years is preferred over thos
who habe been bearing the burden an
heat of the day for quarter of a Ger
: fury" And they said: He i
: to be secretary of the treas
.ury, in charge of the greatest depart
! ment Of the government. He is to cor
: troll the revenue, both internal an
S otherwise; he will have charge of al
!, ports of entry, all the special agents Q
? the treasury He will have charge Q
S thousands of appointees. He will cor
f troll an immense patronage. He is t
| be secretary three years, and if tn