Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-04
Addresses Large Audience at
Market Street Theatre
Friday Evening.
CAMPAIGN BEEN QUIET
Congressman From the Sixth District
Attributes 1t Not to Apathy, But to
"stasnation of satisfaction"-Meet
ing Last Evening a Good One.
IErom satnrdax,s 1ailY.1

IFrom Saturdays Daily.1
The closing gun in the campaign
was fired by the republicans last ev-
ening, when Congressman John F. La
cey addressed large audience at the
Market street theatre. The campaign
has been an exceedingly quiet one.
Congressman Lacey attributes it not
to apathy but to the general feeling
Of satisfaction, which he describes as
q "stagnation of satisfaction" The
meeting last evening was one of the
most successful political meetings ev-
er held in the city. There was large
audience present to listen to the adj
dress by the able representative of
the sixth district. Major Lacey held
the closest attention of his hearers
throughout. William Johnson was
chairman of the evening and he made
q short Introductory talk, introducing
Congressman Lacey, who spoke in
part as follows:
Mr.. Chairman Ladies and Gentle
men: We are about to close the quiet
est campaign l have ever witnessed. l
have spoken in every congressional
district in the state or visited every
congressional district during the past
eight weeks and have yet to hear two
men discussing politics on the streets
or On the street cars, unless | was
seen and questioned in regard to the
campaign. Why is this? Is it apathy?
Apathy means a lack of interest; it
means that the people do not care.
No, it is satisfaction. it is a stagna-
ton of satisfaction. The people don't
want change. Now let me warn you
: of something. That same condition ex-
listed in 1892, but the people wanted a
change, and they got it.
Issues Have Changed.
"When l left Washington last July
it was the understanding at Washing
ton, and in fact it was the understand
ing everywhere, that the campaign
would be fought on the Philippine
question, anti-imperialism so-called.
We have heard nothing Of this issue
since the opening of the campaign.
My friend, Mr.. Reese, in drawing up
his jewels, five in number. which he
calls his issues. left out this question,
and the reason is simple. In 1898,
when the war broke out, democratic
and republican congressman alike vot-
ed for war and voted for the appropri-
alton Politics were forgotten In
Kansas regiment was formed of pop
ulists. In Iowa there were four regi-
ments and they entitled us to briga-
der general. Now who was given that
position? The President appointed a
man who was rebel general in the
civil war. We We're a united people.
We saw two naval fleets sunk to the
bottom of the sea and two armies de-
feated. There was no politics in that.
People With the Boys in Blue.
When the treaty of Paris was sign
ed and sent to congress by the Presi
dent democrats and republicans voted
for ratification. 1t was not ratified on
party lines. 1t was seen that when the
flag was upheld by the boys in blue,
the hearts of the people were with the
boy and with the flag. | will bid good
bye to this question. | have no room
for it, and | want to address you to.
night on the questions of vital impor.
lance.
The Tariff.
I'm 171S the first tariff bill was
signed by Washington and since that
time we have had many tariff bills,
and always had tariff legislation,
sometimes smoldering, sometimes
breaking out into flame, but always
with lis. When talking about the tar
if, we should go back eighteen years
Eighteen years ago Grover Cleveland
was. elected president over that able
statesman, James G. Blaine. Then we
had four years of Cleveland and pros
perity. These names do not sound
well together now, but they did then,
why? Because he ruled under the
same policies as his predecessors. In
1883 William Mckinley wrote the
platform, and in 1890 his tariff bill
was introduced. Shortly after dem
ocratic president and congress were
elected and the bill was condemned
unheard and the Wilson law was en-
acted.
"Then there was the bitter expert.
ence of 1893 to 1897. when we had
Cleveland and prosperity In 1893
when it became certain that the Will
son bill would be passed, business
stopped and the result was the same
as in 1897 and in 1857.
The Balance of Trade.
Under the Dingley law our balance
of trade has been over $2,64O .0OO.-
900 in five years time; the previous
balance of trade in the United States
from the foundation of our govern,
ment to the Inauguration of Mckinley
was SSs2,o00, 900. Is not that splen-
did. record? Let me. state, it another
way: Every year since. 1887 the bal
ance of trade has reached larger fig
isre than during the 1903 years from