Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-20

II.
posed to the administration will not
JOIN such a party wrecking scheme
as that proposed by the Michigan and
California members. Five and possibly
six Of the Iowa delegation in the house
feel constrained from principle to op-
pose any concessions to Cuba. They
are loyal republicans and patriotic
Americans who believe the majority
should rule, and if the administration
forces shall muster majority at the
tuesday night caucus, the anti ele-
ment in the Iowa delegation will cheer
fully accept the situation. There is
no disposition to permit any ill-feeling
to creep, into the delegation over a
matter of this sort involving a ques-
ton of judgment. The Iowa congress
men have discussed the pros and cons
among themselves at great length, go
ing over every phase of the question
from patriotic and political stand
points and the divergent views enter
tanned represent the honest sentiments
of the members. Some of the delega-
ton have ben slow to reach a conclu-
sion. awaiting all possible light upon
the subject The lineup at this time
! is understood to be substantially as
follows: For reasonable concession
to Cuba: The speaker. Congressman
Cousins, Conner, Hedge. Opposed:
Congressman Hepburn, Smith, Lacey,
Haugen, Thomas. Captain Rumple
hopes for comprimise but rather in
clines toward the "antis." Captain
Hull has not been present to give ex-
lpression to his views.
Fight Lacey Mine Bill.
1t appears that the mine owners and
operators are putting up hot fight
against the Lacey bill for the protec-
ton of miners in the territories, which
passed the house. The opposition
comes mainly from operators who op-
pose the shot-firing feature. They
claim in Pennsylvania that shot-firing
is not resorted to and that accidents
are very uncommon. On the other
hand Congressman Lacey points out
that conditions in the territories are
not so favorable as in Pennsylvania.
President Mitchell says without the
shot-firing clause the bill will be of
but little service to miners. He has
notified all miners associations and
requested them to work upon their SEN
ators and urge the passage of the bill.
AS the matter now stands it appears
to be somewhat doubtful if the house
bill will pass the senate this session.
A DespicabIe Act.
When the case of the infraction of
the game laws, occurring in Greene
county, was brought to the attention
of Congressman Lacey, he quickly re-
marked that the crime of the alleged
deputy game warden was more serious
than that of the direct violator of the
law
! 1t appears that a man, representing
himself to be picture agent, called at
the home of James Andrew, well-to-
do farmer residing near Jefferson, and
represented that his wife was very i'll
in Jefferson and that she desired a
! piece of prairie chicken above any
thing else. The farmer informed the
alleged picture agent that it was un,
lawful to shoot chickens at this time
of year. but finally yielded to the
pleadiEgs of the agent and said that
to crafty sick woman he would en-
ldeavor to shoot him a chicken. Mr..
Andrews went out and got two chick.
The latter went straight to Jefferson
and filed an information charging An
drew with violation of the game law
farmer was to plead guilty and accept
the situation. He was fined the mini
mum, which with costs amounted to
$25. OF this amount the informer re.
ceived SIS.
Congressman Lacey takes the view
that the alleged deputy game warden
was more guilty than the farmer The
latter is admittedly man of honor and
integrity; law abiding citizen. He
was disposed to obey the law. The
fact that he violated the law was due
to the influence of the alleged game
warden. "The case is precisely paral,
lei" continued Major Lacey, ito my
inducing you to kill a man against
whom you have personally no enmity
yet under persuasion and false repre-
sentation work upon your feelings un
til you kill the man. You will be hung
and so will |. was an accessory and
equally liable with you. In fact
would be infinitely more guilty thar
you, because but for me the murder
would not have been committed. AS
matter of fact | actually committed
the murder and you were the tool OF
instrument through which the crime
was committed. In the case Of Farm
er Andrew and the agent the latter aid
ed and abetted and was directly re-
sponsible for the violation of the law
IF the facts are correctly stated
said Major Lacey, "the game warden
who induced the farmer to get the
chickens should be prosecuted and Civ
Ell the extreme penalty of the law
The law does not contemplate such
low-lived business as this and an ex
ample should be made of the man who
will, for the paltry S. in it, stoop to
such a despicable act The man may
be prosecuted any time within two
years"
In this connection it may be said
that the local representative of the
game warden in Greene county dis.
claims any Knowledge of the alleged
deputy a"d strongly condemns the
mode of I ocedure of the latter. The
farmers OF tho county have taken the
matter up 80 Indignation runs high
4o1