Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-30
SILVER MEN TO FIGHT.
That Element in Democratic Party
Will Battle for RIGHTS.

ssah SNss'S W. sA'shsSs
The silver democrats of Iowa de-
clare that they will make just as
strong fight for the reaffirmation of
the Kansas City platform in next
years state convention as they made
at the convention this year. The Kan
sas City platform was turned down at
the last state convention by margin
of about forty votes. The fight was
bitter one and the turning down of sill
yer was largely due to Ex-Governor
Boies, who desired to have the silver
issue out of the way in order that he
might be able to make a better run
for congress in the third congressional
district. 1t was also desired by Judge
Wade, who was elected in the second
district by the democrats. For sew
eral years the fight has been a bitter
one between the gold and silver fac
tons of the Iowa democracy. Up to
this year the silver men have always
won out by comparatively small major
tiles. This year they were defeated.
Shortly after the convention Will
liam Jennings Bryan, through the col
umns of the Commoner, urged the sill
yer democrats of Iowa not to lose
liCtii - vi EdllILG III 4lCAI ySdi anu OlSS
more reaffirm the Kansas City plat
form. Evidence is beginning to APP
pear that this advice Is being acted up
on by the silver men. Among those
who are particularly anxious to see
the Kansas City platform reaffirmed
is Walt. H. Butler Of Des Moines. In
speaking of the matter recently Mr..
Butler said: The fight of the next
state convention will be a bitter one.
The silver men are not going to give
up.
''They propose to insist on the reaf-
firmation of the Kansas City platform
every year until new national plat
form is adopted by the party. There
will be no giving up. We are in the
! fight to stay and believe that we shall
be able, to make a showing next year
that will insure the reaf1rmation of
the principles of democracy. The
state convention this year has not done
the party any good. We have polled
| fewer votes than in any congressional
| year for many years past. The con
! gressional election usually results in q
| greatly increased vote, yet the demo
| cratic vote this year is only slightly
| greater than that of last year This
1 is conclusive proof to me that the
\ democrats who repudiated the Kansas
\ City platform are not the men to con
troll the party"
4 In order to back up this contention
the silver democrats call attention tt
the fact that Judge Wade, the onl!
4 Iowa, received about 1000 less vote
A than the democratic candidate in tina
4 district did two years ago. Wade re
ceived 1926 votes and Vollmer, tn
I democratic candidate in 1900, receive,
21,737 votes. Wade is gold democra
and the second district is good gol
democratic district. 1t was the influ
ence of this district that finally result
ed in the reputation of the Kansa
City platform. However, 1t must b
taken into consideration that the vot
Of both parties this year was yer
:, light Wade received enough votes t
. have elected him in 1898. 10
Silver democrats point out the
!, most. of the silver districts shove
,, a falling off from Gthe,xotes of both 1S9
!. and 1900. This is taken as proc
, by the silver men that the repudi'
!, ton of the Kansas City platform wa
!, bad thing. In fact in the first, fiftl
: sixth, seventh, eighth. ninth, tenth an
!, eleventh districts the democra'
. polled smaller vote this year tina
! they rolled in 1898. In every distri
, they polled smaller vote than
q 1900 This latter statement Is true
!. the republicans also.
il On the other hand the gold dem
, M out hn th of tho =
i publicans polled a smaller vote on co
n gresham this year than they did
n 1898, in every district except the tent
. They claim that the falling off in Il
4 democratic vote was due to the gener
i apathy and show that it was not
r great in proportion as the falling off
o the republican vote. The vote at t
election this fall was very light. On
g slight increase was made over t
!. vote of last year, which was the sma
If est that has been polled in Iowa
e years.
Iee There is no doubt that the silv
II democrats are preparing for anoth
Ie big fight next year in the state conve
t. ton. The gold men are on the ale
n, however, and expect to be ready to t
is ish the work they commenced Il
n year. They have practical control
the state organization at the prese
time and expect to gain control of
next county and district organizatio
next year They will not be able. to
u this without a fight. In fact, they v
= have fight to retain what they
ready have, but they are confident
lie being able to do so.
al ---- = ---------
e. INCREASE CAPITAL STOCK.
Id
w. Janney Manufacturing Co. Raj
Amount to $4,000.