Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-07-31
JUDGE SMITHS SPEECH
As Temporary Chairman at State
Convention yesterday.


thank the convention for its apparently
cheerful acceptance OF the action Of the
committee.
congratulate you upon being chosen
as the representatives Of the dominant
political party in this state at time
when Iowa is more potential in public
affairs than at any other time in it's his
tory and when either by reason thrsof,
or at least coincident Herewith, the
nation and the state are enjoying high
err degree Of prosperity than was ever
before enjoyed by any state or country
since the dawn Of recorded history.
Ever since her admission to the IN
ion Iowa has held high place in the
councils Of the nation, but never before
so high as now. With Leslie NJ. Shaw
at the head Of the Treasury, with
James Wilson at the head OF the De-
partment Of Agriculture, with William
B. Allison at the head OF the Appropri,
alton Committee Of the Senate, with
j. p. Deliver his colleague in the
Senate, with David B. Henderson as the
Speaker Of the house. with j. A. Il. Hull
as Chairman Of the Committee on Mill
tary affairs, with w. p. Hepburn as
Chairman Of the committee on Inter.
state and Foreign Commerce, with John
F. Lacey as Chairman Of the Committee
on Public Lands. and with the position
held by other Iowa members in the
House it is safe to say that Iowa's post.
ion in national affairs is not surpassed
by that of any Of the states.
Not long since gentleman requested
me to indorse him for an appointment as
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. 1
told him l would gladly do 80, but as
Iowa already had the Secretary Of the
Treasury, the Solicitor Of the Treasury,
the Director OF the Mint and Deputy
Auditor of the Treasury for the War De-
partmet, it nigh be possible that
come of the other forty-four states would
claim some OF the minor Offices.
The Republican party is dedicated to
promoting the honor end glory OF the re-
public and the freedom, prosperity, NOR
al wsIl-being and happiness OF all Of it's
children, whether they dwell at home
or In the islands beyond the sea that
have added to its history.
We are proud of the great achieve
ments of the party in the past forty
years the union saved, of slaves
made free, OF free labor better paid and
more constantly employed than in other
days OF greater prosperity and increased
wealth, Of the wider diffusion Of knowl-
edge and happiness among all the
people.
II the republican party is proud of it's
history 1t is no less pround of all it's
great men who have made that history.
1t is proud of all it's chief executives Of
the nation from Abraham Lincoln to
Theodore Roosevelt, and proud OF all it's
chief executors OF the state from James
W. Grimes to Albert b. Cummins.
1861 to 1893 the democratic party was
never in any true sense in power. True
it had the presidency from 1885 to 1889,
but during no portion Of that time was
it in control OF the Senate, and so il
was unable to enact any Of its favorite
doctrines into law. In the thirty-two
years from the time that the democratic
party went out OF power in 1861 until it
come back to power in 1898 new gen.
Grafton Of voters had been born and
grown to manhood, who knew not the
baleful effects OF democratic national
administration. In 1892, lin the lang
uage OF lowa's junior senator, the ad.
ministration Of James Buchanan was as
distinctively part Of ancient history as
the Bsbylonish captivity. And because
I'VE forget the democratic party was
placed In control of the executive and
Legislative departments Of the govern
ment. Words Of mine cannot depict the
horrors Of those years from 1893 to 1897
the longest and weariest four years in
the memory OF men now living. In 1896
an embarrassed, impoverished chastensd
and repentent people turned with SUI
preme confidence to the republican
party for relief, and as IL knowing the
great task befor it called to it's leader
ship that honest, able, clean, high.
: minded Christian statesman William
mckinley OF Ohio. He was elected to
the presidency and with republican
congress set about the redemption Of
the people from the condition into
which they had been cast by four years
OF democratic craftsmanship. The re-
publican party reconized the fact that
! there can be no steady prosperity with.
out staple standard and it by law de
clarsd the gold dollar to be tn,
standard and gave to the country tn,
most abundant circ ulating medium il
I all its history, composed OF gold, silvel
aud paper, but every dollar as good al
gold. While realizing that sount
currency is essential to Commercial
courage, the republican party als'
realized that above all things the pros
J. perity of a people is dependent upol
= the amount Of work they have to dc
All work may be roughly classified int,
that which is incident to the product
ion Of things Of current consumption
: such az food, clothing, fuel and lights
and that which is incident to tn
production of permanent works. such a
buildings. railways and highways. N
CO untry eyer enjoyed fair measure Q