Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-27
This is the Opinion Of a Phila-
delphian.
THROUGH STATE ON HORSEBACK
Political Gossip in Washington Is to
the Effect That Speaker Hender-
sons Friends Fear He May Be EN-.
barrassed in Official Position.
(BY HAROLD ]. MAHIN.)

resident of Philadelphia, widely known
as a traveller and African explorer,
declares that the inhabitants of Iowa's
rural districts are inhospitable, rude
and. inconsiderate. The doctor has
just returned from an equestrian trip
overland to the Pacific coast He was
gone about six months. Accompanied
only by his valet he covered a distance
of nearly 1000 miles, using wagons
but for the most part riding horseback
and trusting to friendly farmers for
food and shelter This, he declares,
he secured without difficulty in every
state except Iowa, where he met with
considerable difficulty. The novel trip
was made for both health and plea
sure.
1T was the most instructive and fas-
chatting trip l ever made" he said
1T is the best way in which to study
the United States and the only way in
which to become acquainted with her
people and the vast resources of the
country. The mere study of the man
or the reading Of books cannot convey
proper idea of the richness of the
land. The country must be seen and
the people talked to in order to learn
and appreciate fully how really great
this country is in natural wealth.
For the most part, the doctor said,
the farmers were friendly and hospi-
table, but he declares that these were
not characteristic traits of the resi-
dents of Iowa.
81 had great deal to contend with
In that state" he said. 81 found the
people lnhospitable and it was often
difficult for me to obtain a nights
lodging. Only one exception came to
my notice. There was one farmer
who gave me shelter from a severe
rain storm. One morning rain began
to fall and saw black, funnel
shaped cloud in the distance, which
gave fair promise for a tornado. |
applied at the nearest farmhouse for
shelter and the farmer consented to
allow me to stay until the rain was
over. He said in explanation that he
had come to Iowa several years before
from Illinois and had encountered a
day as severe as that one was. He
said that he had applied for shelter
and had been refused SO he made a
vow that when he had a home he
would never turn away traveller
DR.. Smith entered Iowa at Dubuoue
and went northwest across the state
from that city, emerging from the
northwest corner into South Dakota.
The old west is rapidly disappear,
ing" said DR.. Smith in conclusion.
The country is being settled extern
sively. This year alone there were
$4,000 emigrants token west by the
trains, while additional thousands
made their way by wagons. That sec
ton of the country will some day be
all powerful. In many states, howev-
err, the cowboy life is still left, and in
many of the small towns | found the
riotous and free-and-easy life that
made the west famous years ago.
Speaker Henderson's Future.
| Many congressman are beginning
to come to town in preparation for the
opening of congress next Monday.
Among other topics Dave" Henderson
comes in for considerable discussion.
| In this connection Mr.. Henderson, un-
| fortunately, is not receiving very kind
treatment. "If all signs are not mis-
leading" said an employee of the
house today. 'Mr. Henderson will cut
sorry figure at the forthcoming ses-
sion of congress. Some of his friends
would even feel easier if he would re-.
sign the speakership and thereby save
them from the sympathetic embarrass-
ment which they expect to be made to
suffer for him. Nearly every republi-
can member of the house who has
come to Washington since the cleo
ton has dropped some biting words
about the speaker. His sensational
withdrawal from the race in his dis
trict is general regarded as desertion
of his party in what at the time had
the elements of critical uncture
| While it is true his conduct inflicted
no noticeable harm on the party yet
it frightened or annoyed everybody
from the President down to the most
obscure candidate. General Hender-
son, it is feared by his sincere person
al friends, will be harried and veXed
| by an element of his party not ready
to forgive what the larger element in
I their fondness for the man is willing
to forget; for there can be no ques-
ton of the speakers great personal
popularity. In private intercourse he
has the charm of manner that draws
politicians to him, and some say this
had much to do in electing him
speaker"
Is in Bad Position.
Politically Mr.. Henderson is in a
bad position. AS a prominent Iowa
republican at Washington remarked:
He is in the fix of the man who
jumped overheard in mid-ocean. There
Is no political future for him in Iowa
and this talk about his election to the
governorship to succeed Cummins and
thereby placing himself in line for the