Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-07
LACEY, REESE AND THE MINERS

LNSG', nGESE AMI TIE wi INERS.
Commenting on the nomination of
John P. Reese, president of district
No. 10, United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, for congress on the democratic
ticket, to run against Major John F..
Lacey, Dan Thomas, one of the most
prominent men in miners circles, who
until about one year ago resided in
Keb, says:
I'VE see in our daily paper that
John P. Reese has accepted the nomi-
nation as candidate in the Sixth dis
trict against John F. Lacey. l have
nothing against John P. Reese going
to congress. If he wants to get there
he should run against a different can
didate. We don't want to overthrow a
man that's doing all he can toward
the elevation of labor. Lacey has
done more for the working people this
year than all the people of Iowa put
together. He secured the release Of
John Haddow and had a bill passed
in congress providing for shot-firers
in Indian Territory s** A candidate
against Lacey this next term might as
well run against locomotive. If
there are 5000 miners in the district,
it is their duty to vote for a man who
has done something for their benefit"
The situation in regard to the cam
paign in the Sixth district is well por-
trayed by Mr.. Thomas. The question
that confronts the voters of this dis
trict Is, "Shall the miners assist in
sending a man to congress as their
representative, who is known to be
their friend and who has already
SHOWN his sincerity in the matter and
his ability by securing legislation in
their beha!f, or shall they try to elect
q man who has had no experience in
the methods of the workings of con-
gress, and who if elected, would be
in accord with the minority instead of
the majority of that body?"
1t is simply proposition such as
comes to every citizen and business
man in every day life shall we have a
man as our representative at the ma
tional capital who is thoroughly famil-
lar with the work or shall we send
one there who will necessarily be COM
PEELED to spend considerable time in
getting acquainted with the methods
used before he will be able to do any
thing at all, and who even then could
not do much because he would repre-
sent the minority party. Certainly
there is not successful business man
in this district, who, if he were con-
frontei With such proposition in Sc
lecting man to take charge of his af-
fairs, but would choose the tried and
experienced man.
While Mr. Thomas recognizes the
ability of Mr.. Reese in handling the af-
fairs of the miners organization in
this state, yet he says, "Mr Lacey
has done more for the working people
this year than all the people of Iowa
put together" and again, in speaking
about Mr.. Lacey, 1--WE don't want to
overthrow a man who is doing all he
can for the elevation of labor" He
further says: "If there ar 5000 min
ers in this district, it is their duty to
vote for the man who has done some.
thing for their benefit" This man is
Major Lacey, who has so efficiently
represented his constituents for SO
many years, the man who is looked
up to by his fellow congressman and
other government officials more than
any other one member in the house of
representatives.
These sentiments come from man
who is thoroughly acquainted with
the conditions which surround the
miners of this district and one who is
perfectly capable to judge of their
needs. Few men have made as thor
ough study of their work as Mr.
Thomas, and the fact that he is en-
tirely at home on mining subjects is
witnessed in the fact that two years
ago at ,he meeting of the Eisteddfod
held in Oskalocsa he delivered a pa
per before thai assembly on the sub
ject of THE Best System of Ventila
ton for Nine" and in recognition of
the merits of this discussion he was
awarded second prize. Mr.. Thomas at
present lives in Marquisville, having
gone there about year ago from
Keb, where he was well known in
mining circles.
There can be no doubt but that the
sentiments expressed by Mr.. Thomas
are those of large number of miners
throughout this district, and to the
miner as well as to every other citi-
zen, who is looking for the man to
best represent them and look after
their interests in the lower house of
congress for the next two years, we
can only say work for Mr.. Lacey dur
ing the coming campaign and when at
the polls this fall cast your ballots for
him.
Lon Fl. Boydson, editor Of the Mon