Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-22
NAILS SOME RUMORS
Mckinley Never Intended to Re-
call Conger.
NO THOUGHT OF yACA1ING POST
If President Roosevelt Carries Out the
Designs of His Predecessor the Iowa
Man Will Stay in the Far East as
Representative of the United States.
Washington, April IS,

Washington, April IS.
In connection with the talk concern
ing Minister Conger and his possible
recall some statements have been in
dulged in by Washington papers
which require attention. 1t has been
intimated that an understanding exist
ed by the terms of which Major Con-
ger was to have resigned his post last
summer at the time his friends were
urging him forward as candidate for
governor of Iowa, and that President
Mckinley had the definite purpose in
view of nominating w. w. Rockhill,
|afterward made a special commission
er, to succeed Major Conger, and
that as this was one of the unfinished
plans of President Mckinley. Presi-
dent Roosevelt proposed to carry out
the desires of his predecessor.
Was Condition Candidate.
Let us consider this question from
the standpoint of facts. In the first
place it is too well known to require
Isubstantiation, that Mr.. Conger never
announced himself as candidate for
governor. He made the statement that
| if it seemed to be the desire of the
republicans of Iowa that he should
became their nominee for that office
and this could be consummated with
out a contest he would consent. Thus
at best Mr.. Conger was conditional
candidate only and, of course, the con-
ditions were never met. He made no
canvas, undertook no organization and
remained entirely passive. He was,
in fact, the minister of China, at home
for couple of months in the effort to
bring his shattered nervous system
back to something approaching nor
NAL conditions. There was absolute
| ly nothing in the situation demand
| ing the resignation of Major Conger.
ExpIodes Old Rumor.
| In this connection l am able to say
with the utmost assurance and upon
Authority unquestioned, that President
Mckinley had no notion of appointing
w. w. Rockhill to be minister of
China. He had no thought of the post
| becoming vacant He entertained the
highest possible regard for Mr.. Con-
| ger, both personally and as diplo-
mat He was entirely satisfied with
| the manner in which the interests of
| this government were attended to by
Mr. Conger.
Upon a certain occasion, when it
had been limited that a successor to
Mr.. Conger might be named, the ques-
ition was put at President Mckinley
point blank: "Have you any thought
of recalling Minister Conger?" Presi-
dent McKinley's reply, instantly and
without evasion, was in the negative.
Then the President went on to say
that Mr.. Conger's work had been per-
fectly satisfactory in every respect.
President Mckinley made inquiry as
to the situation in Iowa, querying as
to whether or not Mr.. Conger was like
Ily to be nominated for governor
When informed that the outlook was
not hopeful, he remarked that Mr.
Conger should remain.
Upon the same unquestioned author
ity am able to explode another bub-
Bile. Had Mr.. Conger resigned the
Chinese mission Mr. Rockhill would
not have succeeded him. The posi-
ton would have been offered to Mr.
/ Barrett of California, former minister
to Siam. These are facts.
I If President Roosevelt carries out
the designs of his predecessor Mr..
IConger will remain as minister to
China until he resigns of his own vo-
llition. Serious consequences might
follow an enforced resignation.
A Favored Spot.
During an informal discussion of the
beet sugar question, between mum,
Der of Iowa congressman recently the
remark was made by one of the mum.
Der that Secretary Wilson made the
, claim, based upon actual examination
that Muscatine island in the Missis
sippi river possessed a soil particular
ly adapted to the growing of sugar
beets, in fact it was claimed the sol
of that island would produce finel
beets than that Of any other spot or
earth. 1t was said that the precise
reason for this could not be given; the
soil resembled other soil in that sec
ton in a general way, but it possessed
some undiscoverable element that pro
, duced the sweetest melons and the
sweetest beets that grew upon the
, face of the earth. AS matter of fac
Muscatine watermelons are famous
the country over.
> Hepburn's Committee Does Hard Worl
: Col. Hepburn's committee. interstat,
and foreign commerce, has probabl,
: done more work during this session
, than any other committee in the house