Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-02
TuR OTTUMWA COURIER THURSDAY. May 3. 1901

state who will say that the former
treasurer of state, Seventh district
member of congress, minister to Bra
I'll, and present minister to China is
not thoroughly qualified for the exec
utive chair of the leading state of the
nation and world. No other Iowa man
has had greater experience in compli-
Gated public affairs, and the public
records prove that he has been equal
to every exigency.
President Mckinley selected Major
Conger for the Brazilian mission be-
cause their personal acquaintance
when they were members of congress
demonstrated that Mr.. Conger is a.
man of peculiar merit and efficiency
Two years later the war cloud began
to appear in China, President McKin-
ley then selected Minister Conger as
the one man whom he desired to be
in charge of the affairs of this gov
eminent at Pekin and telegraphed him
that he wished him to accept transfer
from the Brazil to the Chinese mis-
sion. The transfer was promptly &C.
cepted and the history of the world
tells the story of the matchless man.
ner in which Minister Conger repre-
sented the United States governmnt
in the struggle to prevent hostilities,
during the long and deadly siege, and
in the long continued negotiations for
peace since the allied armies entered
the Chinese capital.
The people of all the world have
knowledge of these facts, and many
Iowa republicans believe that the very
best plan to destroy factionism and
preserve peace in the party is to NOM
mate Minister Conger for the COVER
norship and elect him by a majority
that will honor the state. He is cit
izen, soldier and statesman without
superior in Iowa history; his ability
and efficiency are admitted; and he
has never been connected with fac
Zionist differences in the party. Few
states have opportunities to secure
such able and experienced men for
governors, and at the same time Sc.
cure public safety and party peace
Des Moines Register.
What Democrats Are Doing.-The
democrats of Iowa are not doing any
thing for themselves directly. There
is not single democratic paper in
Iowa at the present time devoting the
least particle of space to discussion
of democratic prospects, policies or
candidates. So far as one may Judge
from democratic newspapers there is
no thought of even so much as meet
ing of the democratic state central
committee to call convention.
But the Iowa democrats are not idle
They have plenty of business. such as
it is. on hand. They are taking part
in the republican discussions. They
are like the men who go to meeting
the object of which they are not in
sympathy with, but who seek to mo-
nopolze the discussion. The demo-
Gratis are not giving any thought to
their own policies, or to the selection
of democratic candidates but they are
very active in seeking to prejudice the
action of the republican convention
which will be held in Cedar Rapids in
August.
In pursuance of this matter, the
democrats of the state are very much
united. Their sympathies are all with
one side. Their energies are directed
to the furtherance of the interests of
but one candidate. Their leading
newspapers talk about nothing else
They refuse to be drawn into the dis.
cussion of any question pertaining to
the democratic party as an organize
ton. The very name Of their party is
taboed in the columns of their news.
papers.
Does any one suppose that this
course of action is devoid of method?
Is anyone so short-sighted as to be-
lieve that this policy is disinterested?
Have republicans SO far forgotten the
story of the wooden horse, that they
fail to suspect these gift-bearing ad-
herents of democracy? If so, they
will find out later on, and to their sor-
row, that it is always good rule in
war and in politics. to find out what
your opponents want you to do. and
then do the other thing. The demo-
cratic wish is exceedingly apparent at
this time-Cedar Rapids Republican
Major Lacey.-It is said there is
talk of bringing out Major John F. La
cey for governor. Should his friends
determine to present his name to the
convention, it will mix up the situa-
ton to an extent that is now unguess-
able. Major Lacey is very popular
man, and counts his friends in all parts
of the state. He has been a consist
ent republican for always since we
have known him, and has a fine rec
ord as a soldier as we'll as congress
sional representative. Iowa can't af-
ford to ignore the claims of old tried
and true republicans in the interest
of any half-breed that ever showed up